On this day: Middlesbrough edge out Birmingham City in eight-goal thriller

Middlesbrough and Birmingham City may be battling it out in the Championship this season, but 11 years ago the two clubs were bidding to qualify for Europe from the Premier League.

As ambitions soared, the two sides met on this day in 2004, and it ended in a 5-3 triumph for Middlesbrough on a thrilling afternoon at the Riverside Stadium.

The wind caused problems for most of the match, but the early signs were promising for the hosts as they broke the deadlock inside five minutes through Gaizka Mendieta, who found the space in the box to slot home after good work from Juninho.

© Getty Images

Mendieta and Juninho proved to be difficult to pick up for the Birmingham defence, and the former played a key role in doubling the lead when he beat a couple of challenges before delivering a low cross to allow Massimo Maccarone to tap in.

Birmingham reduced the deficit two minutes later when a lapse of concentration from Danny Mills resulted in Mikael Forssell curling past a helpless Mark Schwarzer.

The visitors should have drawn level when Stan Lazaridis found the space to connect with a free header, but Schwarzer reacted impressively to keep the ball out.

Steve Bruce's side would be punished for the missed opportunity on the half-hour mark when Gareth Southgate converted after Mills had met a corner at the front post.

A frantic first half continued with both sides missing chances as Jonathan Greening dragged a shot just wide before Forssell struck the post.

It looked like Birmingham would go into the break 3-2 down when Clinton Morrison tapped the ball in after Schwarzer had denied Forssell.

© Getty Images

However, there was another twist a few moments later as Maccarone collected a clever pass from Mendieta before picking out the top corner with a stunning effort.

Birmingham continued to keep the match alive with their attacking intent as Morrison struck the crossbar before Stern John somehow managed to clear the bar after latching on to the ball in the box.

The Blues eventually pulled within a goal thanks to Forssell, who added his second of the afternoon by heading in off the post from Martin Grainger's cross.

Steve McClaren's Boro defence survived the onslaught which followed, and they added gloss to the scoreline late on when Szilard Nemeth took advantage of a weak header from Matthew Upson to beat Maik Taylor.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Mendieta, Doriva, Juninho (Nemeth), Greening, Maccarone (Ricketts), Job (Downing)

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Grainger, Cunningham, Upson, Martin Taylor, Lazaridis, Hughes, Clemence, Johnson (John), Morrison, Forssell

Written by
Callum Mulvihill