ONLY last season Chelsea were labelled 'bad losers' by Mark Schwarzer. Eighteen months on and Emanuel Pogatetz hopes the Blues remain so meaning Middlesbrough have taken another step towards Premier League safety.

Boro head to Stamford Bridge tomorrow knowing a surprise victory over the title contenders would leave Gareth Southgate's men on the verge of preserving top-flight status for another year.

Such a result would also do serious damage to Chelsea's hopes of reclaiming the championship crown they lost their grip on to Manchester United last season.

During that frustrating campaign, Middlesbrough inflicted an early 2-1 win over Jose Mourinho's men at the Riverside Stadium.

Pogatetz cancelled out Andrei Shevchenko's first goal in English football before Mark Viduka grabbed an injury-time winner, and the Austrian is keen to frustrate Chelsea again.

After the final whistle that night Schwarzer claimed the defeated Londoners refused to shake hands with their conquerors.

Pogatetz remembers the row, which ended with Mourinho hitting back at the Australian, and the side's stand-in skipper admits he would not be overly worried if there was a repeat.

"Mark Schwarzer said afterwards that Joe Cole was the only one who shook hands with us," said Pogatetz. "We did have problems in the game and I suppose big teams are not used to losing to us.

"You would expect players to shake hands so it was really disappointing. But I won't be disappointed if they do not shake hands again with us on Sunday. It will mean we have won.

"Mark (Schwarzer) was right in what he said but it is more important the way players behave in a game than afterwards."

Much has changed at the Bridge since that night, not least the Chelsea manager. Avram Grant is at the helm and the Israeli has masterminded a 14-match undefeated league run.

He has also ensured that the unbeaten run on home soil in the league extends back to the final months of Claudio Ranieri's reign; a defeat to Arsenal in February 2004.

And despite a 3-0 humbling by the King's Road last season, Pogatetz feels good results against Arsenal this season fills them with confidence.

"We have taken four points from Arsenal this season and we can cause an upset again," said the Austrian, knowing Boro also face leaders Manchester United next weekend. "Nobody expects us to do anything there. But we can compete with the best and can get something if everything goes right for us.

"The pressure is not on us after beating Derby last Saturday, we are confident and all the pressure is on Chelsea.

"We are not under pressure to win now with eight points the gap from the bottom three. We can put a mark down individually and as a team.

"But this is not just all about Chelsea. It is important for us to be completely safe as quickly as possible. We need the breaks, we will get no presents from a referee there, you don't at big clubs, but we can get a result."

Pogatetz has undergone something of a personality change on the pitch during his three years at the Teesside - so much so that he has gone from the man nicknamed Mad Dog to cool captain.

After arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, he picked up 12 bookings in his first season, 13 in his second and he has been sent off once. This year, however, has been a different story with only has two yellow cards to his name.

His calmer approach has led to Southgate handing him the captaincy while Julio Arca spends time on the bench.

And Pogatetz, highlighting why he has been chosen to fill in, has thrown his weight behind the respect the referee campaign being encouraged by FA chairman Lord Treisman.

"The gaffer has always emphasised we must have respect for referees and not crowd them," said the 25-year-old. "Everybody should be in control - refs and players."

3:02am Saturday 29th March 2008

Print

Email this