The Carling Cup, 2004

Middlesbrough beat the jinx that lasted 128 years. Helped well by Gaizka Mendieta, almost as good as Pavel Nedved, the flying Czech.

This penalty kick, where Boudewijn slipped, and kicked the ball twice, should have been retaken. Not so, and Allardyce, Bolton's manager, was apoplectic when he found that out. After the game, of course.

Bolton 1-2 Middlesbrough

Press Association
Sunday February 29, 2004

Middlesbrough sparked a celebration party that had been 128 years in the planning as they secured their first ever major trophy and a place in Europe with victory in the Carling Cup final. Boro's trophy cabinet has hardly been groaning under the weight of the 1976 Anglo-Scottish Cup or the winners' medals from the old Second Division in 1974.

This success, however, was long overdue as Steve McClaren underlined his emerging credentials as a potential long-term successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson, becoming the first Englishman in eight years to win one of England's three main prizes. Gareth Southgate had been in that Aston Villa team, coached by Brian Little, and it was entirely fitting that he lifted the trophy to the deafening cheers of the long-suffering Boro supporters.

With a first-half comedy of defensive errors, this final may not have been stylish but it was hugely entertaining nonetheless. Joseph-Desire Job gave Boro the lead after just two minutes and on-loan Boudewijn Zenden, who could yet finish the season as the only Chelsea player to win a medal, then converted a mis-hit penalty.

Bolton gamely battled back, with Mark Schwarzer's careless mistake enabling Kevin Davies, who sat in the stands for Southampton's FA Cup final defeat last season, to pull a goal back after 20 minutes. However, while Per Frandsen struck the post in that frantic first half, McClaren's side, who were inspired by Southgate in defence and Gaizka Mendieta in midfield, steadied their resolve in a far more formulaic second half.

And so Bolton, who were denied a late penalty claim and are still without a major trophy of their own since 1958, lost out. However, they had been on the back foot ever since the second minute as the pre-match fireworks continued on the pitch. Boro's initial thrust came after just two minutes in a sweeping counter-attack, with Mendieta inviting Zenden to attack down the left flank and his cross was swept home by Job from close range.

Bolton immediately responded, with Youri Djorkaeff's drive being tipped over the bar by Schwarzer. However, Sam Allardyce's side were left bemoaning their fate just three minutes later when Emerson Thome was penalised for pushing Job from behind as he attempted to turn inside the penalty area. Bolton complained hard but Job had merely accepted the invitation to fall over and referee Mike Riley, who had been urged to make common-sense decisions by Allardyce, pointed to the spot.

While Zenden slipped just before making contact - and actually made contact with the ball twice - Jussi Jaaskelainen was unable to keep it out with his trailing leg. Bolton were left somewhat dazed by two such early blows, with Thome then miscuing a clearance from Juninho's cross over his own bar. However, Schwarzer then handed them a route back into the game after just 21 minutes with a hapless mistake.

Davies had virtually no support when he took aim, more in hope and desperation than anything else, from a tight angle 20 yards out. However, the ball bobbled just in front of Schwarzer and slipped through his arms to sneak inside the post. There was a moment's silence before it dawned on those inside the stadium that the ball had not, in fact, struck the side-netting.

Bolton were instead back in contention and after Jay-Jay Okocha skimmed the bar with a free-kick, Schwarzer partially redeemed himself to deny Djorkaeff from close range after Frandsen had struck the post. Boro's normally solid defence were in disarray as Djorkaeff had one effort deflected just wide and then forced Schwarzer into a fine one-handed save, while the Australian also dropped a cross. Not that Bolton's rearguard was looking any more secure though, with their midfield being stretched by the attack-minded deployment of Kevin Nolan and Djorkaeff either side of Davies, with Okocha further back.

Bolton nevertheless still had to search for an equaliser and, with Nolan wasting a free header, Allardyce turned to Henrik Pedersen in place of Frandsen. His side still remained vulnerable to the counter-attack, with Job putting Mendieta through but the Spaniard lifted his lob onto the top of the roof. Boro otherwise concentrated on holding onto their lead, with Southgate commanding his troops with stature, and they succeeded in their task. Mendieta and Michael Ricketts - against his former club - were denied the game's crowning glory, while there was a late scare as substitute Stelios Giannakopoulos' shot deflected wide off Ugo Ehiogu's shoulder. Riley was nevertheless unmoved and McClaren's side were at last able to celebrate in style. It was about time too.

Gareth Southgate said after the game: "You only have to look behind me to see what it means to the people of Teesside. After more than 100 years of waiting we've done it for them. And Steve Gibson is the biggest supporter we've got - Middlesbrough wouldn't be here without him. It was 'pinch yourself' time when we went two goals up early on - but then Bolton threw everything at us."

Southgate's central defensive partner Ugo Ehiogu added: "It's important now to steady ourselves, get up the league and continue to improve." Boro manager Steve McClaren said: "The game was won in the first 10 minutes when we went two up but after that it hinged on three tremendous saves by Mark Schwarzer after they got one back. Mark made a mistake for their goal but he was magnificent after that."

The former Manchester United number two added: "You come to a final to win and we have come a long way as a football club. It was a tremendous game with chances at either end but over the 90 minutes I thought we deserved it."