Middlesbrough – West Ham United

Hi. I'm Alex, your man-on-the-scene for this afternoon's second FA Cup semi-final, between Middlesbrough and West Ham at Villa Park in Birmingham.

Middlesbrough are boosted by the surprise return of captain Gareth Southgate from an ankle injury; Aiyegbeni Yakubu keeps his place up front for Boro alongside the in-form Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

West Ham kick off on a dry, mild Spring afternoon in Birmingham.

Middlesbrough seem to be playing a 3-5-2 formation; West Ham are lining up in their regular 4-4-2.

The playing surface here at Villa Park was watered just before kick-off, although the grass does appear to be quite long. It might suit Middlesbrough's more direct build-up.

Only three points seperate these two teams in the Premiership table, so we can expect a tight game this afternoon.

SHOT! Rochemback has the first attempt on goal of the afternoon, but he drags his left-foot shot wide of the post from just outside the area.

Ashton wins a foul when he is pushed from behind by Southgate; West Ham send forward their two centre-backs in to the area as Konchesky stands over the ball...

...The set-piece is lofted in to the area, but Schwarzer claims easily.

HEADER! Hasselbaink plants a header goalwards from Downing's cross, but Collins gets back to block the effort inside his six-yard box.

There is a terrific atmosphere inside the ground; both sets of fans have had to come a long way this afternoon, but they are really making themselves heard.

EASY! Rochemback does well to hold off his marker and fire in a shot from just inside the penalty area, but Hislop is well positioned and saves easily.

There is a lot riding on this match, as the winner will be guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Cup next season, due to the other finalists, Liverpool, already having secured a place in the Champions League.

DEFLECTION! Boro break at speed; Hasselbaink finds Parnaby out on the right, and his ball inside is collected by Downing. The young midfielder strikes his shot well, but a deflection makes it easy for Hislop to get down and save.

Middlesbrough have certainly made the better start here; they are quick to get the ball forward to their front two, who are doing an excellent job of holding it up and bringing their colleagues in to play.

Downing is down injured after a clash of knees with Reo-Coker. He declines the use of a stretcher as he hobbles off to receive some treatment from the physio.

It has been such an open start to this game; both sides look prepared to attack and really try to stamp their authority on the match early on.

AMBITIOUS! Harewood fires in the Hammers' first attempt of the game, an ambitious turn-and-volley from 20 yards that bobbles through to Schwarzer.

There is a really good tempo to the game; both West Ham and Middlesbrough are keen to get on with the play and keep the ball moving.

Ferdinand climbs high at the back post as he contests Konchesky's free-kick, but the referee spots a push by the West Ham man; free-kick.

Ferdinand is doing a good job for his team at right-back; he doesn't like the position - he prefers it at centre-back - but has made a good start this afternoon, keeping Downing in check.

Reo-Coker is the first man in to the referee's book after a late challenge on Downing. Free-kick to Boro, in a good position...

...Rochemback stands over the ball, 25 yards out, on the left-hand side...

...but the Brazilian's shot is hit straight at the wall. Poor effort.

Ashton's intelligent pass over the top of the full-back is chased down by Harewood, but Southgate gets back to put the ball out for a corner.

Middlesbrough's formation of three at the back is really working for them; they were obviously worried about the pace of Harewood against Southgate, but the extra insurance at the back has nullified the threat.

Reo-Coker is furious when he is brought down by Boateng but the referee deems not to book the Middlesbrough holding midfielder.

Downing sprints on to Hasselbaink's lay-off and wins his side a corner, but Reo-Coker thumps the set-piece clear.

After a really bright start, the game has slowed a little; the play is just becoming a bit direct and predictable.

Parnaby makes a good challenge on Konchesky to end a threat down the West Ham left. It's all got a bit scrappy.

GOOD MOVE! Reo-Coker slides Benayoun in down the left channel, but his cross towards Ashton is headed over the crossbar for a corner.

Etherington curls the corner in to the middle; Harewood and Ferdinand use their strength to hold off their markers, but the referee spots an infringement and awards Boro a free-kick.

Boro win a free-kick, 35 yards out. Downing rather optimistically lines up a shot...

...Hasselbaink takes the shot, but the Boro wall does its job and blocks the effort.

Still no clues as to which of these two teams will be lining up against Liverpool in Cardiff for the final in a few weeks time; it's a very close, edgy game.

Taylor fires over a good cross from the left wing; it's aiming for Yakubu, but Collins comes across to the near post and puts the ball out for a corner.

Southgate does well to keep his composure inside the Hammers area; he turns and puts a low cross along the six-yard box but Ferdinand clears.

Boro are beginning to get on top as the game moves towards half-time; they look stronger and are getting more players forward to support their front two.

Parnaby shows good strength to hold off Etherington and win another Boro corner.

OVER! Downing's corner is curled in to the middle; it is met by Queudrue, but the Frenchman plants his header over the crossbar from six yards out.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew might have to think about making a tactical change at half-time; Boro's 3-5-2 formation means his side are getting a bit over-run in midfield.

Konchesky curls a great cross in to the middle; it is just too strong for Reo-Coker to reach, but Taylor takes no chances and puts it out for a corner.

Ashton is penalised for jumping with his arm across Schwarzer's shoulder as they climbed for a high ball; the Boro keeper needs a bit of on-field treatment from the physio.

There seems to be some concerned about Schwarzer; he doesn't look in a good way, and Boro send out their reserve keeper Jones to warm-up.

Schwarzer is still down; replays are showing that Ashton's elbow caught the Australian in the side of the head. He looks a bit groggy.

Eventually, Schwarzer is on his feet again, to the relief of the Boro fans. McClaren still looks a little concerned on the sidelines; he will be hoping his keeper can make it through to half-time so as he can have a little more time to recover.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Jones replaces Schwarzer; the Boro medical staff are taking no chances and decide to replace him with the young Australian Jones.

News from the Boro sidelines is that Schwarzer has broken his cheekbone; that's bad news not only for today, but for Thursday's UEFA Cup second-leg and also for the World Cup in the summer.

Play is back underway; will the Hammers be able to test the new goalkeeper before half-time? He must be a little nervous, making such an unexpected entry to the game.

Benayoun fires a shot over the bar as he tries to get over the top of a bouncing ball inside the Boro area.

More trouble for Boro as Boateng goes down; it seems to be another facial injury. The Dutchman is taken from the field, but seems to be moving freely enough.

All the stoppages mean there will be FIVE additional minutes at the end of the first half.

Boateng is back on the pitch; he seems to be okay now, much to Boro's relief.

Boro are finishing the half the stronger side, but West Ham have defended well in general and look well organised.

SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER! Yakubu holds the ball up on the edge of the area; he finds Rochemback, but the Brazilian curls his shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.

HALF-TIME: Boro have had the better of the game but have been unable to really work Hislop.

Boro kick off the second half. No changes at the break, from either side.

Rochemback wastes the chance to send a good ball over to five waiting Boro players when he slices a left-foot cross out of play.

Riggot makes an important header as Etherington chips over a cross from the left.

Rochemback is booked for putting his arm across Reo-Coker's face ou on the touchline.

West Ham don't appear to have changed their formation at all during the break, but they certainly look more threatening now.

This tie has to be resolved this evening; if the score is level at 90 minutes, we will have extra-time and then penalties - not what Boro need at this stage of their season.

West Ham have come out after the break really fired-up; they have barely allowed Boro out of their half and the Hammers fans are roaring their side on.

Hasselbaink feeds Rochemback on the break; it is a great chance for the Boro midfielder to feed it back in to the middle for a shooting chance, but he delays his pass and West Ham flood back.

West Ham win a corner when Konchesky's cross from the left is deflected behind.

Benayoun curls the corner in to the near post, aiming for Collins, but Hasselbaink shows good determination to dive in and head clear.

DREADFUL! Harewood battles for a long ball up-field; he does well to win the loose ball, but his shot from 30 yards flies high in to the crowd behind the goal.

West Ham will be hoping to capitalise on the fact that Boro had a massive game in Bucharest only three days ago, and might well be feeling a little tired as the game progresses.

BAR! Ashton climbs highest from a corner, but his header flicks off the top of the crossbar and goes over. West Ham are getting closer.

West Ham win another corner when Quedurue and Harewood tussle for a long ball down the right channel.

Mullins' shot from 25 yards out deflects off Boateng and West Ham win another corner. The pressure is relentless at the moment.

Boro can't get hold of the ball at the moment; they are really being over-run. West Ham look a yard sharper after the break.

SO CLOSE! Reo-Coker goes past Boateng and fires in a low shot from the edge of the area; the goalkeeper sprawls across his goal but is relieved to see the ball spin wide of the far post.

Boateng goes down and needs some treatement; a good chance for Boro to regroup and take a breather, because they have been under the cosh since the break.

Downing sends over a lovely cross from the left as Boro break, but Hasselbaink heads wide as he and Konchesky climb at the back post.

Boro finally seem to have got themselves together and are dragging themselves back in to the game; it should be a fantastic final half-hour here at Villa Park.

Hasselbaink is fouls by Gabbidon as the Boro striker tries to hold the ball up on the edge of the area. Good shooting chance for Boro...

RUBBISH! Downing takes on the shot, but his left-foot effort drifts harmlessly wide. A really poor effort from the England winger.

Ashton is booked for a late challenge on Jones as the goalkeeper dived on a loose ball in the penalty area.

The game is starting to get a bit fiery now; there are a few little tussles going on that might ignite at any point.

Boro are taking every chance they can just to slow the play down and reorganise themselves.

The fans are still in fantastic voice, but most of the noise is coming from the Hammers fans at the moment; they really want their side to capitalise on this spell of pressure.

Boateng tries to spread the ball out to Parnaby, but his pass is hopelessly mis-directed and goes out of play.

Boro seem to be preparing a substitute; it looks like Parlour is stripping off his tracksuit in the dugout.

Taylor and Downing combine well down the left, but Downing's shot at the end of the move is dreadful and flies high and wide of Hislop's goal.

GOOD SAVE! Rochemback finally gets a shot on target as he works Hislop from 25 yards with a low, bouncing shot.

Koncheskey's cross from the left is woefully over-hit and drifts behind for a goal-kick.

BORO SUB: Rochemback is replaced by Parlour; the veteran comes on to give Boro a bit more imputus in the final minutes.

Extra-time is the last thing Boro want, with their second-leg UEFA Cup semi-final to come in mid-week.

Hasselbaink is caught off-side as he tries to get on the end of Yakubu's little through-ball on the edge of the penalty area.

We're set for a nervous final quarter-hour here in Birmingham as both sides press for the winner that will guarantee them a UEFA Cup place next season.

There has been a lot of endeavour from both sides in this game, but not a great deal of quality in the final third.

Ferdinand wins a soft free-kick decision as the referee rules he is fouled by Yakubu, trying to hold off the defender on the edge of the area.

GOAL! Harewood smashes an unstoppable shot in to the top corner as he gets on the end of Ashton's knock-down. Brilliant finish.

The referee ludicrously decides to book Harewood for over-celebrating; ridiculous decision.

West Ham have been much the better side in the second half, and probably deserve to take the lead; what have Boro got left in the tank?

BORO SUB: Maccarone replaces Taylor as Boro try to press for an equaliser in the final ten minutes.

SHOT! Boateng fires a low volley four yards wide from the edge of the penalty area. Time is running out for Boro.

Boro have got three strikers on the field now, and West Ham can expect a tough final ten minutes.

Maccarone is booked for a little kick at Etherington as the winger tried to clear the ball.

Hasselbaink is brought down right on the edge of the penalty area by Collins. The referee could easily have pointed to the penalty spot, but he got that decision correct. Free-kick.

Queudrue lines-up the free-kick...

SAVE! Queudrue fires in a left-foot shot, but Hislop makes a strong save away to his left, and Maccarone mis-kicks as he tries to turn the rebound goalwards.

WEST HAM SUB: Ashton is replaced by Zamora; Harewood will be asked to drop a bit deeper and give Benayoun some support on the West Ham right.

McClaren looks a bit lost on the touchline; he has used up all his substitutions, and is now reliant on the players out on the pitch.

Hislop comes a long way to try and deal with a long ball in to the area; he doesn't get much of the ball, but the referee rules that Hasselbaink has jumped in to him and awards a free-kick.

Hislop is making his 450th appearance in English football this evening; he has had a good game, though Boro haven't really worked him too much.

OVER! Yakubu completely mis-kicks, eight yards out; the ball finds its way to Maccarone, but he blasts his shot over the crossbar. Good chance for Boro to level.

Two long Queudrue throws are hurled in to the penalty area, causing panic in the West Ham defence, though they eventually recover to clear their lines.

Boro win a free-kick in a very dangerous spot; Downing stands over it...

OVER! Downing goes for the top corner but his effort is poor and flies high and wide.

These are edgy times for West Ham; they have a couple of minutes to hang on and guarantee European football next season.

WHAT A CHANCE! The ball drops to Riggot inside a crowded penalty area, but the defender drags his shot wide of the far post with just Hislop to beat.

FULL-TIME: West Ham make it through to play Liverpool in the FA Cup final in Cardiff. The Hammers deserve it; they were excellent in the second half.