Aitor Karanka’s men have ended Boro’s seven-year exile from the top flight in achieving promotion and will look forward to a fixture against City which has a rich history.
In the first of our “We Meet Again” series, we look back at the memorable meetings and the idols we share with one of the newest additions to the Premier League.
The Last Time…
City 0-2 Middlesbrough – 24/01/15
It’s fair to say that Boro enjoyed their last visit to the Etihad Stadium.
The then-Championship side produced a giantkilling act on a weekend of FA Cup shocks to dump City out at the fourth round stage.
Patrick Bamford put the visitors ahead after 53 minutes and, though Manuel Pellegrini’s men produced a number of presentable goalscoring opportunities, Kike killed the game with the second deep into stoppage time.
One to remember…
City 3-1 Middlesbrough – 7/10/07
Elano was at his devastating best when Gareth Southgate brought his Boro outfit to the Etihad in October 2007.
Sven’s men were flying at the time, flirting with the upper echelons of the Premier League table after an exciting summer of transfer activity.
Chris Riggot put through his own net to give City an early lead before Elano arrowed a 25-yard strike into the top corner on 33 minutes to double the advantage.
The brilliant Brazilian netted his second free-kick against North Eastern opposition in successive home games when he curled one past Mark Schwarzer just after the hour mark.
The win preserved City’s 100% home record and kept Eriksson’s side third in the league. Heady times!
One to forget…
Middlesbrough 8-1 City – 11/05/08
Unfortunately, you can’t mention Middlesbrough and Manchester City in the same sentence without thinking about this one…
It was the final day of the same season when City travelled to the Riverside and, when Richard Dunne was sent-off for fouling Tuncay with just a quarter of an hour on the clock, the tone was set for a miserable afternoon.
Stewart Downing scored from the resulting spot-kick and the Teesiders went on to score seven more unanswered goals before Elano scored the least consolatory of consolation goals with two minutes left.
Still, that goal sent the away end into conga lines up and down the stands, proving that our supporters can retain their sense of humour, even in the grimmest of circumstances.
One we both love…
Malcolm Allison
An exuberant character with a real lust for life, “Big Mal” is one of the most cherished figures in the club’s history.
As assistant to Joe Mercer between 1965 and 1972, Allison was an integral contributor to one of City’s golden ages as the Blues swept past all before them to land every domestic trophy, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Allison eventually went out on his own and enjoyed spells in charge at Crystal Palace and Plymouth, before taking up a role with Middlesbrough in 1982.
He was in charge for 70 matches at the old Ayresome Park and, although Boro were struggling at the bottom of the old Second Division, he certainly left his mark in the North East.
Keith Lamb, formerly Chief Executive at Boro, said of Mal: “Malcolm Allison was a remarkably knowledgeable football man, who was way ahead of his time in terms of football coaching and thinking.
“Long before the age of superstar footballers, he was one of the game’s most charismatic figures.”
