Last time Hull City played Middlesbrough, it was a fantastic occasion. It was also a defeat. Now, defeats shouldn't really be fantastic, but the nature of this one, coupled with the stresses Hull City and the Tiger Nation were going through at the time, made it more enjoyable and more positive than your average reversal should ever be.
Phil Brown had only been in charge a month, having been appointed to clear up Phil Parkinson's mess at the beginning December 2006. City had been more than poor in Parkinson's short reign - disorganised, panicky, unconfident and negative. Brown had begun to do some short-term steadying of the ship as he began his task of rescuing the club from relegation, and during this period Middlesbrough had come out of the hat in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup.
It was a home draw, and having had a stout festive campaign which included two straight wins, the Tigers entertained Gareth Southgate's men with the pressure off, though everyone knew that a good performance and a positive outcome could have the sort of knock-on effect that the League form was praying for.
Middlesbrough picked a strong side and got into the habit quickly of creating lots of chances and missing them. Finally, they took the lead through Mark Viduka's low shot via the near post, only for City to press and get an equaliser six minutes later when substitute Nicky Forster headed in David Livermore's swerving free kick.
It was a good Cup tie, considering Hull City don't really do the FA Cup to any great extent. A replay at the Riverside Stadium was a welcome night out for everyone, and what a replay it was.
The most remarkable thing about City's performance was the way they decided they were never going to believe the tie was over. At 3-0 down, you couldn't blame the hardy professional for deciding to activate the damage limitation plan, avoid needless injuries and look ahead to the next League game (which, given that it was against Peter Taylor's Crystal Palace, was one we all wanted a full strength squad for).
But not this City, the one taken on by Brown. The character of the performance will live long in the Tiger Nation memory bank, and the confidence it instilled in the players was crucial to the ultimate survival from relegation. In many ways, Brown can say that his path to success with the club began at the Riverside - even in defeat.
City were overrun initially by the killer duo of Viduka and Yakubu, both exceptional at goalscoring. Each had acquired one of Boro's three by the early stages of the second half.
Then City began to play. Andy Dawson headed what seemed a consolation goal for the Tigers. Then the superb Forster won a penalty which Jon Parkin put away, an act which was pretty much the last correct thing he managed for the Tigers. It's suddenly 3-2 with more than 20 minutes to go, and the Tiger Nation are whooping it up, especially as opposition goals weren't greeted with Boro's dreadful Pigbag celebration music, so we all sang it by ourselves instead.
Rottenly, Viduka scored again immediately after the restart. 4-2. A bubble had been popped almost as soon as it had been blown. But wait - City get a free kick within five minutes which Dawson gorgeously curls over Mark Schwarzer and in via the bar. It's 4-3, Dawson has two, there are 20 minutes to go, and only one side is in the game.
That final 20 minutes could have seen City score four or five times, but only defending bordering on the heroic from Jonathan Woodgate prevented a comeback of club-making proportions. Woodgate's tour-de-force was a sneaky, last-ditch touch tackle on Ryan France as the midfielder prepared to score in front of an open goal from Forster's keeper-isolating cross. The final whistle was greeted with bigger roars of approval from the defeated than the victorious.
City have changed a lot since that evening in January 2007, with six of the starting XI remaining part of the first team action as Boro visit the KC this weekend. What hasn't changed is the feeling of euphoria and optimism which was cultivated that night at the Riverside.
.jpg)
