Boro downed by late Jagielka rocket
Gareth Southgate's position could come under pressure after losing to Sheffield United
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Saturday, 30, Sep 2006 07:38
Sheffield United registered their first Premiership win in 12 years thanks to an injury-time rocket from midfielder Phil Jagielka that snatched a memorable victory over an out-of-sorts Middlesbrough.
Both sides struggled to create chances worthy of the name in a turgid opening spell, before suddenly James Morrison's pass sliced open the Blades' backline and put Aiyegbeni Yakubu clean through on Paddy Kenny.
The Nigerian rounded the 'keeper with ease but saw his angled shot rebound off the post and back into the arms of the grateful Kenny.
Rob Hulse made the Teessiders rue that miss when, on 35 minutes, he met Colin Kazim-Richards low cross from the left flank and slotted past Mark Schwarzer.
However the home team clearly had not learnt from their earlier defensive error and four minutes into the second half Yakubu converted an almost-identical chance to the one he had been afforded before the break.
Set free by Emanuel Pogatetz's long ball, he kept the finish simple, firing low and hard into the bottom left.
But rather than spur on the visitors the goal galvanised United, who pushed Middlesbrough back as they refused to settle for a single point.
One-time Middlesbrough target Keith Gillespie had Schwarzer sprawling across the Bramall Lane turf to claw away a low drive.
Danny Webber came close to restoring the lead with a bustling run and low shot that skimmed just wide.
For all their pressure it seemed Middlesbrough had ridden their luck well enough to hold Neil Warnock's side at bay as the board went up to indicate injury time, but then Jagielka struck to spark delirium in the stands.