Well, it could have been worse. Ask Steve McClaren. Kicking off a new era under Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough tossed away a two-goal lead to hand Reading an opening-day Premiership win. But at least the Teessiders - thrashed 4-0 by Arsenal in McClaren's first game in charge - only shipped three. And they did score a couple. Oh, and they were desperately unlucky to see a late strike by Mark Viduka ruled out for offside when the Aussie looked in line. But enough with the straw-clutching. Once the Royals overcame their early butterflies and Boro - commendably following orders to take the game to opposition teams - stopped doing exactly that, goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu were cancelled out by Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell, before substitute Leroy Lita consigned the visitors to defeat. And while Southgate had a point insisting his side had contributed to their own downfall by failing to maintain the momentum that had earned their lead, the about-turn had as much to do with a sustained bout of leaderless defending. Come in Sylvain Distin or Robert Huth. Come back Gareth? Probably not, so keep faith - as Southgate says he will - in Chris Riggott et al. They're all learning, said the manager, they will improve. They didn't look like they'd have to early on, having quickly gone about pooping Reading's inaugural Premiership party. Leading by example inside 45 seconds, skipper George Boateng powered forward and lifted a firm drive over the bar. Granted Reading almost found their feet on four minutes when Mark Schwarzer was forced to fingertip Seol Ki-Hyeon's left-side free kick over the woodwork and five minutes later cling watchfully to Bobby Convey's low shot. But these were the mere scraps the Royals were already living off as Boro went about bossing the early throes. On 10 minutes Mark Viduka nodded Boateng's deep free-kick down to Yakubu on the edge of the area and after wriggling clear of Graeme Murty, the Nigerian slammed a shot wide. A minute later, he turned provider, and to more productive effect. First Chris Riggott out-muscled Kevin Doyle to retrieve possession 30 yards from his own goal, then Boateng took up the baton and motored upfield. The Dutchman's searching pass sent Yakubu into space down the right, and when he checked back onto his left foot, a deep curling cross found Downing at the back post . . . And his studied, side-foot finish guided the ball back across goal, under keeper Marcus Hahnemann and inside the left-hand post. Ten minutes later, and after Sidwell had skied into the stand, Boro doubled their lead. And again Yakubu was to the fore. The Nigerian was flattened on the edge of the D by James Harper, presenting Fabio Rochemback with the chance to drill a low free-kick around the wall, and when Hahnemann spilled the Brazilian's effort, Yakubu was first to react and stab in the rebound. So Boro were in the box seat, or so it seemed. Bouncing back with all guns blazing, Ki-Hyeon, Doyle and Shorey went close, Kitson and Sidwell closer. Then, in the space of a minute, the latter pair really made their mark. On 43 minutes Ki-Hyeon outstripped Arca, injured moments earlier denying Kitson, tore to the byline and saw his low cross bundled in by the Reading targetman from close range. And before Boro could as much as regroup, Ivar Ingimarsson cut a ball back from the opposite byline and Sidwell slid a low strike beyond Schwarzer. Before half-time Reading might even have lead, Doyle narrowly failing to meet Murty's cross-shot. But after the break - injury having forced Boro to replace Arca with Andrew Davies and Reading Kitson with Leroy Lita - they wouldn't wait much longer. Ten minutes after the restart Ki-Hyeon drove a low, diagonal pass into the six-yard box, Schwarzer bravely repelled Doyle's sliding effort but the ball became entangled between the Aussie keeper, Riggott and the grounded Davies. All the loitering Lita had to do was await his chance, before stabbing in. Cue a change of system by Boro, with three at the back and five across midfield. It took a while to work but when it did, Downing, Gaizka Mendieta and Riggott went close. And when on 83 minutes Viduka tapped in a low cross from Morrison having looked in line with the Reading defence at the moment his team-mate centred, up went the linesman's flag. So unlucky. A bad start. But it'll get better. TIME seemed to stand still as Schwarzer, Riggott then Davies failed to take decisive action after 56 minutes; Lita didn't. THOUGH he faded as the game wore on, here was a good start to the season by Yakubu, scoring one and creating another. HARSH as it is to condemn a defence in its infancy, Boro's backline struggled to cope once Reading got going. IT'S early days and patience is key, but with Chelsea and Arsenal imminent here was a chance to get the ball rolling, a great chance, a chance squandered. | 
