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Middlesbrough’s Kike makes perfect start to overcome Birmingham City Middlesbrough’s Kike makes perfect start to overcome Birmingham City
(about 1 hour later)
The sunshine was almost Iberian and, long before the end, Middlesbrough fans had turned the afternoon into a fiesta. “Ole, Ole, Kike, Kike,” they sang in homage to their new Spanish striker whose debut goal sealed a stylish win against an admittedly somewhat dishevelled Birmingham City. The sunshine was almost Iberian and, long before the end, Middlesbrough fans had turned the afternoon into a fiesta. “Olé, Olé, Kike, Kike,” they sang in homage to their new Spanish striker, whose debut goal sealed a stylish win against an admittedly somewhat dishevelled Birmingham City.
Deceptively, Boro began on a bad note, Ben Gibson limping off after sustaining an injury within 30 seconds. With Jonathan Woodgate not deemed quite fit enough for the bench, on came Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruou – a defender unlikely to be the last player borrowed from Aitor Karanka’s big pal, Jose Mourinho. “It was a good performance, very good,” said Aitor Karanka, Boro’s manager, as he embarked on his first full season on Teesside. “Kike is a main player but we looked like a proper team.”
Fresh from marking France’s Karim Benzema and Argentina’s Lionel Messi while playing for Nigeria at the World Cup, Omerou seemed unfazed by Lee Clark’s frontline as his team-mates road-tested the adage about attack being the best form of defence. Deceptively, Boro had begun on a bad note, the hamstrung Ben Gibson limping off inside 30 seconds. With Jonathan Woodgate not fit enough for the bench, on came the Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo – a defender unlikely to be the last player borrowed from Karanka’s big pal, José Mourinho.
Since escaping relegation to League One on the final day of last season – when a Paul Caddis’s injury time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Bolton saw them stay up on goal difference – Birmingham have been radically re-modelled, with Clark signing 11 new players. Fresh from marking Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi while playing for Nigeria at the World Cup, the assured Omeruo seemed unfazed by the visitors’ front-line; not that he was overly exerted. Kike looked encouragingly sharp and mobile. Even better, he combined seamlessly with Lee Tomlin, excellent as a deep-lying second striker.
Unfortunately they looked like a team of strangers as Kike and company delighted in persistently pulling them out of shape. When the one-time Liverpool centre-half Daniel Ayala advanced un-marked to connect with Grant Leadbitter’s corner and head Karanka’s side into the lead it was fully deserved. Not to mention seeming to confirm the impression that Birmingham’s captain, Paul Robinson, is no natural central defender. Since escaping relegation in injury time on the final day of last season, Birmingham have been radically remodelled with Lee Clark signing 11 new players. Unfortunately they looked total strangers as Kike and company delighted in pulling them out of shape. When the one-time Liverpool centre-half Daniel Ayala advanced unmarked to connect with Grant Leadbitter’s corner and head Boro into the lead, it was fully deserved. It also confirmed that Birmingham’s Paul Robinson is no natural central defender.
Suitably encouraged George Friend dribbled forward from left-back – think Robert Carlos with dashing good looks and a Devonian accent – and dodged a couple of markers before letting himself down at the end by shooting tantalisingly wide when he really should have scored. Maybe it was a case of too much fancy footwork from the former Exeter City defender. Boro’s player of the year last season, Friend is a man of talents, something highlighted when he recently graduated from with first-class honours in journalism and broadcasting from Staffordshire University. Suitably encouraged, George Friend dribbled forward from left-back – think Roberto Carlos with dashing good looks and a Devonian accent – dodging a couple of markers before letting himself down by shooting tantalisingly wide.
By the time Tomas Mejias, Boro’s former Real Madrid goalkeeper, was given his first real fright – as Stephen Gleeson’s shot whizzed by – half time had almost arrived. With Birmingham’s rather confusingly incoherent formation – sometimes it looked 4-3-3 at others 4-2-3-1 - clearly malfunctioning Clark’s team were very much on the back foot. Boro’s player of the year last season, Friend is a man of many talents who recently graduated with first-class honours in journalism and broadcasting from Staffordshire University.
Although the visitors perked up a little in the second half it took a splendid save from Darren Randolph to deny Albert Adomah at the end of a typically slick and speedy home advance. With Birmingham’s rather confusing formation – sometimes 4-3-3, at others 4-2-3-1 – clearly malfunctioning, Clark’s players foundered and Tomas Mejias, Boro’s former Real Madrid goalkeeper, looked embarrassingly under-employed.
Big on fluent passing and movement Boro merited a second goal and those choruses of “Ole, Ole, Kike Kike,” confirmed it could not have been scored by a more popular figure than the Riverside’s new hero. Although the visitors perked up a little in the second half it took a splendid save from Darren Randolph to deny Albert Adomah at the end of a typically slick and speedy home advance. Big on fluent passing and movement, Boro merited their second goal and those choruses of “Olé, Olé, Kike Kike,” confirmed it could not have been scored by a more popular figure.
When Tomlin’s deflected shot fell into his path and the Spaniard’s right foot, 10-yard finish ensured that the score line reflected Boro’s clear superiority in all departments. When Tomlin’s deflected shot fell into his path, Kike’s right foot, 10-yard, finish ensured that the scoreline reflected the hosts clear superiority in all departments. Further heroics from Randolph prevented Kike registering a second after a clever interchange involving Leadbitter and Tomlin.
But for further heroics from Randolph, Kike might quickly have had a second in the wake of a clever interchange involving Leadbitter and Tomlin. “Disappointing,” said Clark. “We’ve given two crap goals away and we were negative. When we had the ball we never threatened. But Middlesbrough’s Spanish boy looks impressive up front. His movement’s fantastic, his work ethic’s brilliant and he can finish. He’s going to be a big hit. If you’ve got a striker like him in the Championship, then you’ve got a chance.”
Since Steve McClaren’s departure eight years ago Boro have been on a downward trajectory. Karanka’s class of 2014-15 will face much, much tougher opponents than Birmingham but, on this evidence, the lean years might just be ending.