Football: Few cheers for Gascoigne cameo

IT WAS a game that was always going to have a lot to live up to after all the Gazzafying of the previous few days, not to mention the Italian connection on both sides. And as if that was not enough the pre-match music and pyrotechnics would have done any rock concert at the old stadium proud.

Despite the image problems that the Coca-Cola Cup has suffered in recent seasons, its sponsors certainly know how to throw a party and the quality of the football, especially yesterday, has been in marked contrast to the last two May finals.

All eyes were on Boro's latest signing from Rangers, of course, who started on the bench. With hindsight, that is where fans of Paul Gascoigne's latest club will probably be wishing he had stayed.

Paul Merson, his red boots outshining Roberto Di Matteo's white carpet slippers, was causing problems aplenty down the right and looked as likely as anyone to provide Middlesbrough with the extra ingredient they were missing when they finished up on the losing side in both finals last season.

The game and the terrific atmosphere rarely flagged for an hour, although every time a Middlesbrough player went down injured a mood of feverish anticipation engulfed the red half of the stadium as the substitutes, including Gascoigne, began warming up.

Ten minutes into the second half and the stretching of those heavily insured legs grew more serious. On the hour, Bryan Robson decided the time had come.

Picking up English football where he left it, with a broken leg in the 1991 FA Cup final, Gascoigne replaced the Colombian Hamilton Ricard. He was greeted by a foul from his former England room-mate, Dennis Wise, before Gascoigne himself lunged carelessly at Mark Hughes after losing possession.

Within a few minutes of his arrival the nature of the game had changed. Instead of attempting to go with the flow of what had been a fast and entertaining game, the less than fit Gascoigne demanded the ball from his new team-mates and proceeded to slow it all down.

The old Gascoigne petulance flared up after 10 minutes when he was booked for a foul on Gianfranco Zola. Not to be outdone, Wise then followed him into the book for a bad foul on Gascoigne.

Gascoigne's most positive contribution was an 87th-minute free-kick which Neil Maddison headed just wide, but England's talisman knows he will have a share in the blame for Boro's downfall. In attempting to find Merson with an ambitious ball through midfield, Frank Sinclair easily intercepted to begin the move that led to Chelsea's opening goal.

There was no way back for Middlesbrough after that, and the sight of Gascoigne booting the ball high into the stands at the final whistle was one that England fans will hope has a happier postscript this summer.