Sport

Holdsworth puts end to Robson's silverware hopes

DEAN HOLDSWORTH knocked Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup with a deadlock-breaking goal at a near-deserted Selhurst…

Wed Feb 14 1996 - 00:00

DEAN HOLDSWORTH knocked Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup with a deadlock-breaking goal at a near-deserted Selhurst Park last night: Only 5,220 spectators saw the £4 million rated striker end a four hour, 13 minute goalless spell of play between these clubs this season.

Goalkeeper Neil Sullivan produced a superb display to defy the best Middlesbrough could throw at him. Then Holdsworth plundered his 13th goal of the season to earn Wimbledon a fifth round tie at Huddersfield on Saturday.

Robson lifted the Cup three times as captain of Manchester United and looked to this competition for a topic for his faltering side. For a while it looked as though he might get his wish.

Juninho ran intelligently at the Wimbledon defenders and, although his colleagues failed to capitalism the visitors looked capable of making a breakthrough.

READ MORE

However, the diving Sullivan denied Chris Morris after Juninho had weaved his way past three defenders in the 28th minute and seven minutes later the goalkeeper acrobatically tipped around a Nick Barmby volley after Paul Wilkinson intelligently laid the ball off.

Sullivan again rescued Wimbledon when he acrobatically caught Steve Vickers' 55th-minute long-range drive.

The attendance was no real surprise given the Premiership record of these clubs. Middlesbrough had lost their last seven league games and Wimbledon had been beaten in four of their last five. Those who did turn up saw a scrappy match on a pitch scarred with divots.

Apart from the brilliant Juninho, the pick of the players' on view was Wimbledon's 37year-old Mick Harford, playing an unfamiliar midfield role. He came as close as anyone for the home side with a 35-yard drive that Gary Walsh plucked off his line a minute before the break.

Holdsworth forced Walsh into an athletic tip over as Juninho began to fade in the second half. Then he pounced for the winner. With 17 minutes left, Alan

Kimble won the ball deep in his own half and found Marcus Gayle, who transferred the ball to substitute Jason Euell.

Euell darted forward and hammered the ball low towards the far post where Holdsworth stabbed in his 13th goal of the season and fifth in cup competitions. Barmby should have forced extra time in the time added on for injuries, but blazed a close range effort against the bar.