Keegan clears Jihai of ‘bizarre’ own goal that sends Boro to top half of table

Manchester City 0 Middlebrough 1

The unlucky Chinese full-back produced Middlesbrough’s only shot on target during the entire 90 minutes when he was caught out by Richard Dunne’s failure to clear Gaizka Mendieta’s 29th minute right-wing cross.

Yet his prod past startled Danish goalkeeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard proved enough to give Boro a 1-0 win as City’s barren scoring run extended to almost seven and a half hours.

“It isn’t an issue,” said Keegan. “As far as I am concerned he is completely blameless. There was no way he could do anything about it. It was just a bizarre own goal.”

Keegan’s side dominated from start to finish, yet a combination of stout Middlesbrough defending and the failure of Robbie Fowler and Paulo Wanchope to make the most of a string of a chances saw the Blues finish pointless for the third league game on the trot.

“I have never been involved in a game like that,” admitted Keegan.

“They didn’t have a shot or a corner, yet they have got the three points. It was an incredible match and it is hard to believe the result.

“Chances have gone begging at the end but I don’t think the players could have given me any more.” After suffering a humiliating UEFA Cup exit to Polish unknowns Groclin on Thursday, Keegan took the bold step of axing both Fowler and Steve McManaman from his starting line-up.

The City boss seemed certain to receive a rich dividend for his brave approach as his side tore into Boro from the kick-off. However, as the minutes ticked by, City’s frustrations increased. They were denied a clear penalty when referee Mike Riley failed to spot Danny Mills hauling Wanchope back as he tried to reach a loose ball.

And then, after his introduction for Sun Jihai midway through the second period, Fowler failed to hit the target with two excellent opportunities after being set up by Nicolas Anelka and Antoine Sibierski. “We didn’t play well but we got something to defend and did it magnificently,” admitted Boro boss Steve McClaren.

“It was a performance of true character,” he said.

It was Boro’s fifth clean sheet on the trot., a club record, and took the Teessiders into the top half of the table.

MAN CITY: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Jihai (Fowler 66), Dunne, Distin, Sommeil, Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Barton (Sibierski 74), Sinclair, Anelka, Wanchope.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Mills, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Doriva (Greening 36), Boateng (Nemeth 73), Mendieta, Zenden, Ricketts (Riggott 83), Juninho Paulista.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).