22/04/2000  Chelsea 1 Middlesbrough 1

It was all a bit after the Lord Mayor's Show.

There was a distinct feeling of what-might-have-been about 
Stamford Bridge today after the valiant and breathless 
performance in midweek against Barcelona when Chelsea came 
within seven minutes of a European Cup semi-final.

Instead, after this mundane draw, they have the prospect of 
going to Old Trafford on Monday for Manchester United's 
Premiership title party knowing they have precious little 
chance of joining the English champions in the Champions 
League next season.

And, in truth, Chelsea have only themselves to blame.

They outplayed Middlesbrough for large parts of this match. 
They displayed all the quality, most of the style and created 
a series of gilt-edged opportunities after Gustavo Poyet had 
given the Blues the lead with a close-range header within the 
first 10 minutes.

But ultimately, whether through tiredness or anti-climax, 
they failed to deliver the three points which would have at 
least given them a battling chance of finishing in the top 
three.

And so often hasn't that been the story of Chelsea's season 
in the Premiership - losing games they should have won easily 
because they had one eye elsewhere.

A banner in the West Stand proclaimed 'We're so proud of 
you Chelsea' in honour of their European exploits.

There was little on show to instil pride this afternoon and 
manager Gianluca Vialli must hope that his side can recover 
their best form in time for the FA Cup final next month, which 
now provides them with their best chance of a European 
place.

Not that we should undersell Middlesbrough, who have 
flourished with a late-season rally and showed the battling 
qualities manager Bryan Robson has been calling for all 
season.

In Paul Ince they had the deserved man-of-the-match, a 
feisty, tenacious performance of typical rumbustiousness.

Chelsea, however, could not have started more brightly, 
threatening to overwhelm Middlesbrough in the first quarter of 
an hour.

As it was they scored after just nine minutes and that man 
Dennis Wise was inevitably involved.

Wise leads the Stamford Bridge statistical count of most 
passes, most crosses and most tackles by some considerable 
distance.

This time it was one of his wickedly swinging corners which 
caused chaos in the Middlesbrough defence, allowing Poyet to 
rise and head home from a couple of yards for his 16th goal of 
the season.

It was a thoroughly deserved lead for a Chelsea side which 
was without George Weah and Celestine Babayaro, away on 
international duty, and which included right-fullback Mario 
Melchiot, bought from Ajax and who has been recovering from a 
broken leg, making his first start of the season.

It seemed Chelsea would run away with it such was their 
domination in those early stages, but they do have a tendency 
to sit back and admire their own passing patterns.

And suddenly Middlesbrough awoke from their slumbers to 
equalise completely against the run of play.

They won a corner on the right and Christian Ziege swept 
over a deep cross which Gianluca Festa latched onto at the far 
post, heading the ball back across goal for Ricard to tap home 
his 14th goal of the season from six yards.

Still Chelsea looked in control and we sat back and awaited 
the goal rush.

Indeed, in the 56th minute Chelsea could not have come 
closer to scoring. Ambrosetti latched on to Zola's pass and 
steamed forward before unleashing a left foot shot which 
struck the inside of the post and ran across the goal-line 
before running away to safety.

Zola went close before being replaced by Tore Andre Flo and 
Poyet produced a fine tip-over save from Boro goalkeeper Mark 
Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough also had their chances and no-one could fault 
the extra application Robson has instilled in his side in the 
latter stages of the season.

Indeed, Ince might have scored with a 20-yard thunderbolt 
which went just wide and then Ricard was clean through with 
only Ed De Goey to beat but he fired straight at the 
goalkeeper's legs.

Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly their ageing 
side looked very, very tired.

The Londoner's Premiership run-in is daunting - Manchester 
United on Monday and then away games with Liverpool and 
Arsenal before finishing their season at Stamford Bridge 
against Derby.

How Chelsea might regret last week's defeat against 
Sheffield Wednesday and today's draw.

For Middlesbrough fans, whose team are safe but marooned in 
a lower mid-table position with 44 points, all that remains 
are the final mundane throes in what has been a frustrating 
season.

Not that it looked that way as they battled bravely and 
brilliantly this afternoon.