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| Middlesbrough’s Kike makes perfect start to overcome Birmingham City | Middlesbrough’s Kike makes perfect start to overcome Birmingham City |
| (10 days later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 Roberto Carlos with dashing good looks and a Devonian accent – dodging a couple of markers before letting himself down by shooting tantalisingly wide. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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, 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. | |
| “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.” | “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.” |