Robbo's Wem-Boro-ly Dream Dashed Again

By Anthony Vickers on Mar 29, 06 12:26 PM

IT IS easy to forget an anniversary. There was a lot on my mind, pet. I've been really busy at work, honest, what with mighty Boro's home and abroad double silver quest. Sorry. I'll make it up to you. Here's some garage forecourt flowers and a bottle of cheap plonk.

Lest we forget, in our post-Cardiff glow of optimism for the future and arrogant assumptions of glory, on this very day in 1998 Bryan Robson's Boro were taking on mighty Chelsea in the Coca Cup final.

It was Boro's third trip to the Twin Towers - 'Wemboroley' as it was then dubbed - in just 12 action packed months. And it was a hugely significant moment. After relegation, the double cup final heart-ache, the trauma of the three points saga and the departure of the iconic Brazilian and the Italian Whine, revived Boro were back.

Boro fans had dragged themselves off the floor and put rancour and recriminations behind them and united in a sense of righteous anger to urge Robbo's team to a swift return to the Premiership.

And they got a chance to rebuild morale with a sparkling cup run too. Suddenly we were offered the chance to redress the balance at Wembley against the ancient enemy.

Boro had battered Liverpool in the semi-final with an awesome show of pride and passion. We had done the touristy, looking around in awe bit. This time we were going there to focus single-mindedly on victory. What could possibly go wrong?

robbo at wembley.jpg

Boro battled and chased and matched Chelsea physically but lacked a cutting edge to penetrate a well organised defence. Hamilton Ricard was lacklustre while Marco Branca failed to complete th fairytale he started with a quickfire goal on his debut.

But they defended well and with Nigel Pearson pushing his dodgy knees through yet another magnificent display and marshalling the back four superbly it looked as if Boro had Chelsea's measure.

The tense game went to extra time amd the magnificent fans were almost hysterical at the thought we might just nick it.

Not so fast wild eyed optimists with no sense of Boro's historical burden of failure. Once again hearts were broken as Frank Sinclair headed in a Dennis Wise cross six minutes into extra time then Robbie Mustoe failed to cut out a corner and Roberto Di Matteo stabbed home.

Gutted. Chelsea again. Matteo again. Was it never to be? Was the tale of a gypsy curse on Ayresome Park demonstrably true.

Footie trivia buffs will remember it for a unique event: Paul Gascoigne made his debut at Wembley after arriving from Rangers in a £4m move that fell well short of value for money.

The Dunston Rocket gave his medal to fans' favourite Craig Hignett, whose place he took. It was the least he could do and almost the first time he had completed a pass to a team mate all day.

The Teams:
BORO: Schwarzer, Festa, Kinder, Vickers, Pearson, Mustoe, Maddison (Beck 102), Ricard (Gascoigne 65), Branca, Merson, Townsend. Sub: Fleming.

CHELSEA: De Goey, Petrescu (Clarke 75), Le Saux, Duberry, Leboeuf, Sinclair, Newton, Di Matteo, Zola, Hughes (Flo 83), Wise: Sub: Hitchcock.

Att: 77, 698