GORDON STRACHAN’S unsuccessful spell as Middlesbrough manager is hardly remembered for scintillating football. Wins were hard to come by too, so when Strachan’s Boro side headed to Loftus Road to take on QPR in December 2009, it is safe to say that hopes were hardly high.
Boro had failed to win any of their previous five matches as Strachan strove to reignite a season that was stuttering badly following the October dismissal of future England boss Gareth Southgate, and were still waiting for their first win under their new boss having played out a disappointing draw with Peterborough United in their previous game.
Another drab encounter? Anything but. In a sensational display that was completely out of keeping with pretty much everything else they did in the Strachan era, Boro’s players ran riot in west London, thrashing QPR 5-1 to claim their biggest win of an otherwise largely forgettable season.
The visitors had the upper hand from the off, with midfielder Mark Yeates crashing an early effort against the crossbar, and after Sean St Ledger forced a fine save from QPR goalkeeper Radek Cerny, Boro claimed a deserved lead in the 31st minute.
Yeats was upended by a clumsy tackle from Fitz Hall, and when Gary O’Neil swung the resulting free-kick into the area, Dave Kitson, who was on loan at Boro from Stoke City, turned home from close range.
The half-time scoreline gave little indication of what was to unfold after the interval, with Boro doubling their lead five minutes after the break and cutting loose from that point onwards.
Ben Watson was penalised for handling in the area, and Leroy Lita stepped up to blast a confident spot-kick past Cerny.
QPR boss Jim Magilton responded with a double substitution, and his side threatened to get back into the game as they pulled a goal back. Rowan Vine crossed, and from close range, substitute Patrick Agyemang was able to sweep home.
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Boro responded immediately though, restoring their two-goal advantage within seven minutes of Agyemang’s goal. Mikele Leigertwood’s error ceded possession to Lita, and after cutting inside, the striker fired a well-struck finish past Cerny to claim his second goal of the game.
Lita came within inches of claiming a hat-trick as his long-range strike cannoned against the post, but O’Neil was on hand to tap home the rebound and claim Boro’s fourth goal.
Strachan’s side continued to pour forward, with midfielder Julio Arca and Isaiah Osbourne also enjoying good games, and added a fifth with three minutes left.
Yeats broke clear of the QPR defence, and while Lita was screaming for the ball inside him, desperate to claim the match ball, the midfielder took matters into his own hands by dispatching a clinical finish past Cerny.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” said Strachan after the game. “I saw it coming because we played well against Peterborough and Crystal Palace. We created chances in those games, and in this one we scored our chances. Goals lift you and deflate other teams.
“Our target has been to get into the top six, and if you can do that, you can then see if you can catch the big boys.”
In fact, Boro won just one of their next eight matches in all competitions and ended a disappointing season in 11th position, eight points short of the play-off positions.
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