Stuani sees Boro through a scare but spectre of ’97 heartbreak is in the air
THIS late victory was as nervy as Middlesbrough’s fight against relegation threatens to be in the coming months but their manager Aitor Karanka refuses to be intimated by the spectre of history and a charge on Wembley will continue to run parallel to their scrap for survival.
It was exactly 20 years ago that Bryan Robson’s side were relegated and lost in the final of both domestic cup competitions.
The current vintage are now two games away from the FA Cup final but, ominously, are also just two points clear of danger at the wrong end of the Premier League, where they have not won for two months.
Boro needed the late intervention of substitute Cristhian Stuani to avoid an unwanted replay after League One Oxford recovered from two goals down to draw level in the second half.
Karanka said: ‘We had the game under control but you make a big mistake when you think everything is won. This was a good lesson for the future.’
Boro had been cruising at the break, thanks to Grant Leadbitter’s spot-kick and Rudy Gestede’s first goal since joining for £6million from Aston Villa last month.
But two goals inside 60 seconds from Chris Maguire and West Ham loanee Toni Martinez brought Michael Appleton’s men level, and deservedly so.
It was, then, a cruel blow when, four minutes from time, Stuani poked in from close range to send Boro into the last eight for the first time since 2008. Appleton said: ‘Frustration is the biggest feeling I have. We came here to win it, not just to enjoy the day. We believed we could and I thought there was only one winner when it went 2-2.’
Four of Appleton’s players stayed on the pitch after fulltime to watch a replay of the winning goal on the big screen.
The manager said: ‘We didn’t think it should have stood. (Alvaro) Negredo was pinning him (defender Curtis Nelson), grabbing his shirt so he couldn’t attack the ball.’ In truth, it looked like strong centre-forward play and Negredo’s power allowed Uruguayan forward Stuani to nick his fifth of the season.
Karanka added: ‘Stuani is so important for us. It’s a shame he’s not recognised for how good he is and how much he is helping us.
‘His numbers since arriving are amazing, but also the moments in which he produces. This was a difficult moment and he was there again.’
Boro bossed the first half but Scotland midfielder Maguire clipped home a delightful freekick after 64 minutes to give Oxford hope. Martinez duly hit the equaliser and the game’s closing stages turned into a tale of two substitutes.
Oxford’s Conor McAleny fired wide when in on goal — but Boro’s Stuani made no such mistake moments later.