Teams: Blues: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Upson, Johnson, Savage (Kenna 90), Clemence, Hughes, Forssell (John 83), Morrison (Carter 88). Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Downing (Doriva 45), Zenden, Boateng, Greening (Nemeth 63), Ricketts, Job (Maccarone 45). Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
Taylor 23, Savage 57, Forssell 79 Nemeth 75 Match Report 
This time, however, there was a different story as Blues resumed normal service with their performance, and out-battled the Carling Cup winners to earn a deserved victory.
The FA Cup exit gave Steve Bruce every justification in wielding the axe with regards his team selection, and he certainly did that in defensive areas. Out went Jeff Kenna and Darren Purse, whilst in came Matthew Upson at left-back and Martin Taylor for his full debut at the heart of the defence alongside captain Kenny Cunningham. Stephen Clemence returned to the starting eleven, replacing David Dunn, as he had done for most of the Sunderland game. Middlesbrough took the opportunity to rest the likes of Gaizka Mendieta and Juninho following their exploits at the weekend.
From the off, both the home crowd and home team looked to be on edge, almost wary of another disappointment. George Boateng tested Maik Taylor from distance, whilst highly-rated Stewart Downing terrorised Olivier Tebily down Middlesbrough's left-hand flank. As the game progressed though, Blues began to gain some self-belief as Robbie Savage began to boss the midfield - as well as wind up the opposition with a reckless challenge on Danny Mills.
After 23 minutes, Martin Taylor celebrated his full debut with a goal - though how much he knew about it remains to be seen. Savage took a quick free-kick and played in Bryan Hughes, who pulled the ball back to Mikael Forssell. Forssell hit a powerful drive that was deflected home by the 6'5" defender. Certainly the majority of Blues players went to congratulate Taylor, so one can only assume that the goal will be credited to him - some first impression!
Prior to the opener, Clinton Morrison had hit the side netting, and he was again involved in Blues' other best moments of the first half. Initially, he centred for Hughes, whilst he himself struck a sweet shot on the turn after good work by Damien Johnson. Mark Schwarzer was on hand on both occasions to save Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough brought on Doriva and Massimo Maccarone at half time in an effort to get back into the game, but it was still Blues who were in control. Ten minutes into the second half, Doriva was penalised for a foul on Clemence, and Boateng disputed the decision with referee Rob Styles. The Dutch midfielder earned himself a yellow card and Blues an extra ten yards through his dissent, and Savage duly capitalised with a sublime free-kick off the underside of Schwarzer's crossbar from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.
The visitors threw on their final substitute in Szilard Nemeth, and on 74 minutes the Slovakian striker gave them a glimmer of hope with a fine strike. Cunningham's defensive header was poor and fell at the forward's feet, and he hit a low drive firmly past Maik Taylor to bring Boro back into it.
The glimmer of hope was soon extinguished, however, just four minutes later, thanks to Forssell. Johnson picked up on a loose Boro ball on the right and went on a surging run forward. His cross just eluded Morrison before Forssell took the ball on his chest before prodding home a close range effort into the top corner to settle the game.
With five minutes to go, Boro's night of misery was complete when Dutch winger Bolo Zenden was dismissed for a second bookable offence. He followed his cynical first-half challenge on Savage with an equally cynical effort at halting Johnson's advancement. Though he hadn't done much else wrong, both challenges meritted bookings, and so the decision was correct.
A quick word on Martin Taylor, and his first real appearance in a Blues shirt. He appears to be an awkward player, simply because of his height, but it became apparent as the game went on that he is solid defensively - making several good blocks and interceptions, good in the air (as you'd hope he would be at his height) but also good with the ball at his feet. Whilst Darren Purse will always have his backers, he will hoof the ball forward far too often. Taylor never resorted to this once, and always looked to play a ball that would retain his side possession - and more often than not succeeded. It was a very promising display.
Overall, Blues needed any result to go some way to erasing the memory of the previous week. They not only got their result, but after a nervous start were back at their best in their tough-to-beat, in-your-face style of play. The result also took them within 3 points of fourth place in the Premiership. Who'd have thought you'd have been saying that well into March?
Blues 3 Middlesbrough 1 .. BluenoseRon Reports
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