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Juninho's first win bonus
Brazilian star Juninho today looked forward to collecting his first Premiership win bonus as a Middlesbrough player. But the exciting £4.75 million signing from Sao Paulo should, perhaps, spend some of his hard-earned cash buying a drink or two for club colleague Nick Barmby.
England midfielder Barmby scored one goal and made the other in this thrilling victory at the Riverside Stadium.
And Liverpool winger Steve McManaman left the pitch shaking his head in disbelief after missing a golden opportunity of grabbing a point for the visitors.
Juninho and Barmby are developing into a partnership that may be small in stature but is big in quality. It has taken Juninho four Premiership matches to celebrate being part of a winning side in the top flight. But the signs are that he and Middlesbrough will continue to prosper and develop.
Juninho's touch and Barmby's industry played a major role in defeating a Liverpool side who have now picked up only one point out of a possible 12. That is hardly championship form, and they went behind after only two minutes when Neil Cox scored a rare goal for Middlesbrough. The stylish defender raced into the penalty box to be on hand when Barmby skipped round Rob Jones and delivered the ball into his path. It was Cox's first goal of the season and Middlesbrough's first in three games after failing to hit the target against Wimbledon and then Tottenham.
Liverpool goalkeeper David James then did well to tip away a drive from Barmby, with Neil Ruddock mopping up to clear the ball for a corner.
Middlesbrough were playing some fluent football and Juninho linked up with Jamie Pollock, who played a nice ball into Jan-Aage Fjortoft only for the Norwegian to stray offside.
The home fans howled in anger when Phil Babb floored Juninho as he raced clear on goal after a fine ball from Fjortoft, but referee Dermott Gallagher decided a caution was sufficient. Middlesbrough almost got a second when James made a marvellous save from a powerful angled shot by Fjortoft after Juninho had carved out the opening.
Middlesbrough keeper Gary Walsh was next in the book when he handled the shot from John Barnes just outside the area. But to loud cheers from the home support he managed to hold onto Ruddock's free-kick. The Liverpool centre-half got his reward after 63 minutes when he brought them level, heading firmly home a cross from Jason McAteer. But the celebrations were short lived with Barmby regaining the lead for Middlesbrough a minute later when Ruddock deflected a cross from Cox into his path.
Then came that astonishing miss from McManaman as Middlesbrough pushed up for offside when Fowler released the pass. Somehow McManaman managed to drag the ball wide when in front of goal. McAteer then saw a shot diverted by Steve Vickers as Liverpool desperately tried to salvage something from the game. But it was all in vain and it is Juninho and Middlesbrough who are celebrating tonight on Teeside.
Middlesbrough player-manager Bryan Robson paid tribute to his rising young stars today after the thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium. He said: "When a team plays like that you enjoy it and the result becomes almost secondary. It was a cracking game and it is always nice to win like that. I have a lot of young lads in the team. They worked hard and deserved it."
Goals from Neil Cox and Nick Barmby secured victory, although Neil Ruddock pulled one back for Liverpool, who have now picked up only one point from their last four games.
Manager Roy Evans said: "We have got to be more aware of our defensive duties. Middlesbrough ran us all over the place in the first half. We dropped off them too deep and they have very capable players in Juninho, Barmby and Jamie Pollock."
It was Juninho's first win in the Premiership since his arrival from Sao Paulo and he is quickly becoming a folk hero on Teesside. Robson said: "Juninho was class in the first half and he was behind a lot of our moves. The movement of Barmby and Phillip Stamp gave them the space in which to work. Both players are strong runners, especially Nick."
Evans added: "We are having a bad time but we have got to grit our teeth and work our way out of it. At least we created some chances in the second half."
Copyright - Press Association
England midfielder Barmby scored one goal and made the other in this thrilling victory at the Riverside Stadium.
And Liverpool winger Steve McManaman left the pitch shaking his head in disbelief after missing a golden opportunity of grabbing a point for the visitors.
Juninho and Barmby are developing into a partnership that may be small in stature but is big in quality. It has taken Juninho four Premiership matches to celebrate being part of a winning side in the top flight. But the signs are that he and Middlesbrough will continue to prosper and develop.
Juninho's touch and Barmby's industry played a major role in defeating a Liverpool side who have now picked up only one point out of a possible 12. That is hardly championship form, and they went behind after only two minutes when Neil Cox scored a rare goal for Middlesbrough. The stylish defender raced into the penalty box to be on hand when Barmby skipped round Rob Jones and delivered the ball into his path. It was Cox's first goal of the season and Middlesbrough's first in three games after failing to hit the target against Wimbledon and then Tottenham.
Liverpool goalkeeper David James then did well to tip away a drive from Barmby, with Neil Ruddock mopping up to clear the ball for a corner.
Middlesbrough were playing some fluent football and Juninho linked up with Jamie Pollock, who played a nice ball into Jan-Aage Fjortoft only for the Norwegian to stray offside.
The home fans howled in anger when Phil Babb floored Juninho as he raced clear on goal after a fine ball from Fjortoft, but referee Dermott Gallagher decided a caution was sufficient. Middlesbrough almost got a second when James made a marvellous save from a powerful angled shot by Fjortoft after Juninho had carved out the opening.
Middlesbrough keeper Gary Walsh was next in the book when he handled the shot from John Barnes just outside the area. But to loud cheers from the home support he managed to hold onto Ruddock's free-kick. The Liverpool centre-half got his reward after 63 minutes when he brought them level, heading firmly home a cross from Jason McAteer. But the celebrations were short lived with Barmby regaining the lead for Middlesbrough a minute later when Ruddock deflected a cross from Cox into his path.
Then came that astonishing miss from McManaman as Middlesbrough pushed up for offside when Fowler released the pass. Somehow McManaman managed to drag the ball wide when in front of goal. McAteer then saw a shot diverted by Steve Vickers as Liverpool desperately tried to salvage something from the game. But it was all in vain and it is Juninho and Middlesbrough who are celebrating tonight on Teeside.
Middlesbrough player-manager Bryan Robson paid tribute to his rising young stars today after the thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium. He said: "When a team plays like that you enjoy it and the result becomes almost secondary. It was a cracking game and it is always nice to win like that. I have a lot of young lads in the team. They worked hard and deserved it."
Goals from Neil Cox and Nick Barmby secured victory, although Neil Ruddock pulled one back for Liverpool, who have now picked up only one point from their last four games.
Manager Roy Evans said: "We have got to be more aware of our defensive duties. Middlesbrough ran us all over the place in the first half. We dropped off them too deep and they have very capable players in Juninho, Barmby and Jamie Pollock."
It was Juninho's first win in the Premiership since his arrival from Sao Paulo and he is quickly becoming a folk hero on Teesside. Robson said: "Juninho was class in the first half and he was behind a lot of our moves. The movement of Barmby and Phillip Stamp gave them the space in which to work. Both players are strong runners, especially Nick."
Evans added: "We are having a bad time but we have got to grit our teeth and work our way out of it. At least we created some chances in the second half."
Copyright - Press Association
