Monk went same again in an effort to keep the momentum from Bolton flowing and like Saturday the West of the country seeing some wild weather conditions. Boro started well and took the initiative with former Boro target Sam Johnstone saving a Ben Gibson header. Just as we looked to be settling into the game nicely Adama flew into a ridiculous sliding challenge wiping out Conor Hourihane on 3 minutes. From high hopes and expectations to despondency and despair all in 180 seconds as Ref James Linnington reached for his red card. Watching it again the decision seemed harsh but despite his stellar performance on Saturday Adama is susceptible to rash challenges and tonight that major flaw came back to haunt him and Boro.
Two corners in quick succession then followed from Villa as Boro tried to clear their heads and reorganise their ranks. If Villa needed a boost it was now handed to them on a plate. Eighty seven minutes to go against 10 man Boro. If ever Villa were to have an opportunity to record a win then this was the night for them surely.
Ten men Boro dropped deep in an enforced tight rearguard action, leaving Assombalonga playing a forlorn Negredo type role in isolation. Randolph was forced into serious action and pulled off a few great saves including a dubious penalty appeal as Lansbury went down feigning a trip as Randolph scrambled at the ball spinning on the wet grass in the six yard box.
In a break out Christie delivered a pin point cross to Assombalonga on 38 minutes then Villa went down the opposite end, Snodgrass putting the ball into the far post as he danced into the Boro box for Bjarnasan only for the Icelander to put it wide under the close attention of Randolph. As the half was panning out Villa were desperate for an opener that their man advantage should have delivered but Boro stood firm and still looked like they could nick something on the break. Grant and Clayts were in the thick of it, tackling and breaking up attacks. The Birmingham air was heavy with desperation made all the more evident as an oversized “Ball Boy” ran onto the field of play to throw the ball to Randolph as Boro ran the clock down.
In the last minute of the first half Fabio gave away a free kick 25 yards out which Snodgrass delivered over the wall and spun dangerously off the turf in front of Randolph who needed a second grasp to ensure safety. Villa continued to lay siege to the Boro goal as the White and Blue shirted defenders valiantly repelled the Villains. Finally the Referee blew his whistle to end the half to a chorus of boos from the home fans and sighs of relief from the travelling Teesside away support.
The second half commenced with Substitutions for both sides with Hogan and Adomah on for Villa as Bruce decided to go for it while Monk added a bit of pace and an outlet by putting Johnson on for Downing. Boro started the half in the ascendancy with a close effort that went out for a corner that Baker fired in across the 6 yard box to rattle the Villa defence. Another silly free lick given away by Fabio in an almost identical position to the one at the end of the first half saw the resultant fee kick go over the Boro box and out to safety. Boro were dug deep and fighting as an effective unit as Adomah was looking lively and putting Christie under pressure as the ex Boro wide man let Cyrus know he was in for a hectic second half.
Villa’s desperation and frustrations grew trying to breach the stubborn Boro defence with Snodgrass resorting to shameful theatrics on the edge of the Boro box, diving to the ground under Fabio’s attention. Thankfully the Ref was a little more circumspect than he was in the first half ignoring the claims that Fabio had fouled him. Elmohamady burst free and his ball went across the Boro box causing an increase in Boro heart rates but from defence Marvin Johnston broke free for Boro with Britt charging up field to keep up with him and Lansbury scythed the ex Oxford man down from behind to see the second red card of the evening and with 25 minutes to go it was 10 v 10. The psychology of the game was about to unfold, who would remain calm and who would blink?
Steve Bruce decided to go for it by sending on Kodjia in an effort to go for all three points. Garry Monk still had two subs to use to try and give impetus to the tired Boro legs and held his nerve. Just after Kodjias arrival Britt burst through the middle and shot on the edge of the 18 yard box to see Sam Johnstone palm away his effort and with it probably Boro’s best attempt of the evening.
Grant then went off as Howson came on to hopefully give a bit of energy into the midfield. Another great Randolph save was then followed up by Scott Hogan inexplicably blocking a Hourihane follow up attempt as nerve levels were building. Christie then collected a yellow for a challenge and the resultant free kick ended up with a header over Randolph’s crossbar thankfully. Just afterwards Britt’s number went up as he was literally running on empty, attacking and defending as Fletcher came on to replace him. Kodjia then then almost immediately threw himself to the ground only to earn himself a yellow for diving rather than the penalty he wanted. Up the other end the fresh legs of Ashley Fletcher caused consternation in the Villa defence and then once the danger averted Villa came straight back at Boro.
Five minutes to go and the home side were throwing everything they had at Boro and still they held firm with Fletcher back heading away a corner. Backs to the wall, we saw the clock tick down and the fourth Official held up four long minutes on the board. In the final minute a Snodgrass corner fell to Hourihane whose left footed volley skewed 5 yards wide to the relief of Diasboro. The final whistle went as Randolph dawdled over the following goal kick and the anticipated boos rang out from the Holte end as Boro kept another clean sheet in a Band of Brothers Boro performance.
The Sweat and rain soaked white shirts went over to the travelling fans enabling a show of mutual appreciation with Albert repeating his Bristol at the Riverside act of acknowledging his former fanbase. A Man of the Match is impossible to award to an individual and it has to be awarded to the team as a whole for their battling, scrapping, resilient defiance for almost the entirety of the match. Like Britt at Forest a few weeks back, Adama at Villa couldn’t control his anxiety and desire and the game should have been over as a contest but this Boro side showed real determination and fought their corner to hold out for a well-deserved draw. It was only a point in the end but the result was a great bonding session which long term will bring benefits over the remainder of the season.
First of all, I know most of you will have been agonising over my evening in the executive box, but that all went well. It turned out the box was only for Middlesbrough clients, and my daughter’s firm had driven a group of them down. A lot of the deals they were discussing were well above my pay grade, but they were a great bunch of guys and I enjoyed the evening with them. Meanwhile, my sons moaned they got soaked on three separate occasions during the evening’s rainfall…
Watching the first few minutes, I had a surge of confidence, thinking ‘this lot aren’t going to be able to handle Adama and Britt’. The early harsh red card put an end to that. I thought right away that RR had called this in his Bolton report when he said Adama’s poor fouls were creating problems for us. And thanks to RR for the detailed and considered report already posted on last night – doesn’t he ever sleep?
In the end the point was a very good one, we take it and move on as Tony Mowbray would say.
Because we played for so long with only ten men, we didn’t seem to have the legs to take charge after their guy was sent off (for a nasty, cynical foul committed with unnecessary aggression). Overall, the distorted game could tell us little about the progress of our teamwork and coherence, but confirmed that we are very resilient and fight for each other.
Dael Fry deserves a mention, I thought he was superb and immense, a really impressive showing. Any PL scouts sent to look at Ben would have been saying, ‘Gibson is very strong, but the young guy next to him goes straight onto our list of potential targets’. On the other hand, Fabio struggled and a hopefully rejuvenated George could return on Saturday. Randolph did well and pulled off one excellent save, so business as usual there. Turns out he’s also an accomplished time-waster, much to the frustration of the Villa fans.
Mark, it must have been tough having to slum it surrounded by all that food, warmth and cosy comfort!
Fabio tends to niggle and nibble when defending instead of standing a little bit off and shielding and showing them wide not letting them pass. Its his style probably due to his build rather than a bad habit that can be unlearned. While its unsettling and disruptive for the opponent it can lead to cheap free kicks especially against teams like Villa with a dive or two in them (some Premiership teams have evolved feigning fouls into an art form as we found out last season). Along with Adama It may help if the Coaching staff zone mark areas of the training pitches at Rockliffe making them zero foul areas.Admittedly its not that simple and breakaways can over rule low danger areas but one or two players can be prone to giving away rash challenges instead of keeping their head.
On Randolph, as critical and uncomfortable (to say the least) as I was with Valdes last Season Darren seems the real deal and oozes confidence. Early on last Season we seen a few exchanges with Victor and his defence (Clayts comes to mind) over “differences of opinion”, but when Randolph “communicates” the defence listen and seem on the same wavelength.
It was a long match listening to internet feed from MFC.
Sometimes a point is welcomed, going down to ten men after a couple of minutes makes it one of those occasions.
Listened to a bit of the phone in and I had to check the table and result after one early corner. I thought we had lost seven league games in a row and had ten points deducted such was his gloom. I grabbed another glass of wine and checked the results and tables.
On to QPR and more selection conundrums. Players will be tired after playing with ten men but getting a result will help.
I think last night was a massive galvanising result that answered a lot of questions. I would have liked to have seen Bamford come on for Britt but Fletcher put a shift in including a crucial defensive header and I think that Monk probably felt Ashley offered direct pace and a bit more at defending set pieces than Paddy (considering Bruce had just about every attacker available to him on the pitch).
The Championship is a Marathon not a sprint and we have already seen a few teams like Ipswich and Cardiff start off on fire but still in sight. We know that when defeats come Championship sides start to slide as confidence ebbs away and longer term squads are not strong enough as the months wear on.
At the moment we are building and growing. The points haul may not be as much as we would have ideally liked but we are at the business end of the table and have kept five clean sheets. Tortoise and the Hare comes to mind. Interesting to note that Sheffield Utd, Preston, Wolves and Forest are all up there, we haven’t had an easy start.
Incidentally, to our left there were seven executive boxes leading up to the corner with the Holte End, and they were all empty. Seems like Villa are not finding it easy to drum up business in their second season outside the top flight. Possibly some firms have moved to West Brom now?
I didn’t comment yesterday upon the games outcome because I looked at the weather forecast and thought ‘anything can happen’ and it did. Of course, I never imagined Adama would get an early early bath, but having stated the obvious negative here’s the positive- how many remember Gazza lunging into a tackle at Wembley for Tottenham, injuring himself and then being out for months thereafter? It seems par for the course for highly intuitive spirited players. The positive is Adama walked off and wasn’t carried off, thus he maybe out for a few games but not the season.
Overall, the game tells us the rigerous defensive regime instilled by AK still lives and breathes. Big respect to him for that. Now everyone will know we’re hard to beat and Randolph is a star for us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuoKNZjr8_U&feature=youtube_gdata_player
There’s more….. to the story.
How many of us here recognise the issue in the final scene? lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcWq4iGbKbA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Everyone knows I have been on and on about PB ever since he left the club after the play-off final. Now he’s back, but GM is choosing not to use him.
At half time, we returned inside the box and one of the guys said Assombalonga was doing nothing, and why don’t we see Patrick Bamford these days? Everyone around the table then agreed about PB, so maybe it’s not just me. I think he needs to be put in, either on the right in the absence of Adama and allow Cyrus to push forward more, or to see if he could be effective replacing Lewis Baker.
Not sure about Lewis Baker yet. He has some good moments and touches, but seems to drift through games without quite doing anything outstanding or decisive. For example, in the second half he moved well and worked a shooting position just outside the box, but then hit it high and wide. Compared with Claytonator and Grant, who are bristling with purpose and determination in everything they do, he seems unsure. Maybe time and experience would overcome this.
Since we noted his wild shooting, in these two away games Britt has been though three times on goal and has forced the keeper to make good to excellent saves each time. He did little last night, he’s no Negredo when it comes to holding up the ball when isolated, but he did have one barnstorming run that ended with a shot which could have won the game. Having said this, I think we need PB’s clinical finishing and quality on the ball in the mix somewhere if we are going to be promoted.
A very good result considering the circumstances.
Having seen a clip of Adama’s sending off it seemed a tad harsh, but then he gave the ref a decision to make.
To concur with Spartak, if Adama continues to excite and create as he did against Bolton we’ll forgive him the odd transgression.
Last nights defensive display and indeed five clean sheets to date this season show we’re still very strong defensively despite the change of emphasis to a more attacking style of play.
Listened on the radio , then watched the two min highlights, so I guess you can’t fully get the true evaluation of the game.but we should have gotten hammered ,and it was a clear penalty for them when Randolph wacked the guy in the six yard box, talking of Randolph and I’m trying to be objective ,he reminds me of David James , one minute he’s Gordon Banks the next min , Massimo Tiaibi .
I mentioned in an earlier blog, we seem to be a Mish mash of talented players , better than most at this level, but I’m concerned we haven’t found our Identity, it’s based on we are good and someone will do the business, but will we have the consistency to get us promoted, we have road our luck of late.
I can see us beating some teams very easily ,but the clever teams ,we will struggle.
Im not been negative it’s a genuine feel of were we are, talented to run away with it, but not disciplined enough over forty six games.
I remember lorry mcmenemie at Southampton talking about his team with Osgood etc, winning the cup,and always doing well against the big teams, they had a talented squad ,but thy only got up for the big games, and kind of didn’t get at it when they played lower teams.
I’m not saying we are that right now, but it is intersting since Grant came back, we have more of a backbone,
Talented ,squad yes, but they have to realise ,digging in every game is what we need.
Still early but the table will start to take shape very soon ,and it won’t change too much,if history serves.
COB
Sorry I kind of rambled on there, what I’m really getting at is,I’m wondering if some of our players have the consistency over a full season, I’ve seen certain players in games make some dubious decisions that could have been trouble.
Whatever you may have thought of Aitors way ,you new what to expect and we got promoted.
Huddersfield copied us.
Sorry gt, I think to date, Randolf has been consistently good, apart from the odd wayward kicks. Penalty, have seen them given, but it would have been very very hard if it had.
As Spartak said, the legacy of AK’s strong defence – which should not be taken for granted – is still intact, and Monk appears to have built on it. So much the better. Five clean sheets in seven, not one conceded at home, I like the sound of that.
Both AK and Mogga, despite the manner in which their tenures fizzled out, left something positive and concrete for their successor to work with. More than half the starting XI on the pitch were in the Boro squad when Mogga and Venus were around. Today, the AK spine and organisation remains.
Also, we effectively broke even on Rhodes and De Roon, and made profits on Tomlin, Adomah, Reach, Stuani (I think), Espinosa (ditt) and possibly Nsue, to name but a handful, while also getting Valdes, Guzan and Negredo off the wage bill. The balance sheet is a heck of a lot healthier post-AK than pre-AK.
Heaven, that post is riddled with errors. Clicked “send” too soon.
“Ditt”, of course, is “ditto”, and the “starting XI on the pitch” I was talking about was that which lined up against Brighton in May 2016.
Simon
I’m sure you’ll agree that defenders and keepers take a pride in clean sheets and if it becomes a habit then you get the challenge of continuing in the same vein.
If I were GM I’d write an extra bonus into defenders contracts rewarding them, one way or another, for every clean sheet and extra bonus for multiples of 5 in a row.
Just sayin like 🙂
I agree. Football is not just about the striker putting the ball in the net (good though that feels when it happens). A good save, tackle or blocked shot can be worth as much as a goal at the other end when the final whistle blows. Defenders are sometimes overlooked for the work they do.
Thought the sending off of Adama was incredibly harsh. He clearly tried to block the upfield punt from Hourihane and had his eyes firmly on the ball. I did not feel he lunged at the player but instead at the ball and his trailing leg, although it caught the Villa player was not extended in anyway. Think the referee had a shocker there and has responded more to the antics of the Villa player and the fact that the tackle resulted with him being on the outside track. There was in my opinion no way that tackle could have caused serious injury to Hourihane as he was only caught by Traore’s trailing leg.
On a similar note, I thought Lansbury’s sending off was also harsh but comparing the two I would say Lansbury’s was worse as it was a deliberate foul, with no attempt to play the ball where as Traore’s was reckless but more thoughtless than cynical.
Ruined the game for me. It then becomes very difficult to judge the rest of the performance as the momentum clearly swung after the sending off. All I would say is that as a team we fought tooth and nail to stay in the game to gain a valuable point from it.
People have questioned Fabio’s performance, but I feel he is very much an offensive full back and when we went down to ten men and started sitting back it doesn’t help a player like Fabio, whose main strengths often lie in giving the opposition something to think about.
Overall, after the sending off I’d have snapped your hand off for a point, however, it highlights to me the importance of the mantra “attack being the best form of defence” particularly in this league where the standard of defending is not always the best. As we sat back, and I understand why it happens to try and condense the play and try to not leave gaps made by the missing player, but we invited more and more pressure without much of an outlet to relieve it. Luckily, we held out, but I do think there was a lot of luck in there. I still think even with ten men we should still be thinking about how we could hurt them.
Have to say in the games I’ve seen, at this time, that Paddy B looks to offer far more than Baker and could fit seamlessly into the 4-2-3-1 formation as that number ten. However, GM obviously sees something different in training.
As Monk is supposed to be extremely organised and thorough plus a devotee of 4231 why should we sound surprised that his teams are organised and defensively sound?
If he works like Pocchetino and AK, expect his teams to be similar. The relative quality of the forwards makes the difference.
Just watched Sky’s two minute highlights and I have to say that the goal line clearance by their forward was brilliant. If one of our defenders had done that we would have been more than pleased. Having seen ‘the’ tackle by Traore, well he was daft to do it really. The ref gat their penalty appeal right too, very theatrical.
As we’ve all said, a good point won.
Will Boro appeal the red card? I doubt it, the suspension will give him time to think, if he can.
UTB,
John
Looking forward to Saturday
And in a Zen stylie OFB has moved on already!!
lol
Just larfin out loud like – sunny day here at the foot of the White Carpathian Mountains. Trees hinting at autumn, breeze picking up. The swallows of summer have flown.
In york today bright sunshine mrs OFB buying and me just reading the blogs
Taking one of the granddaughters and boyfriend out for dinner her she’s just started her first week at Uni
I’ve told her when she gets rich she can take me amd Mrs OFB out for dinner
Isn’t life grand when you sit back and just go with the ride
Found myself getting wound up last night and couldn’t believe the Villa save on the line in the Boro goal from a Villa shot !
He was our 11th player!
OFB
Talking of Zen! What’s the Japanese for ‘atishoo’? Answer ‘ahaiku!’
Think about it!!!!!
Ok, I’ll get me coat 🙂
Not sure we were lucky last night. Over 90 minutes, 60 with a man disadvantage the team worked hard and got the reward.
‘Luck, where opportunity meets hard work’.
I can’t remember who said it but I read a quote somewhere something along the lines of “the harder I worked the luckier I got!”
It was Gary Player, the golfer.
I don’t want to be too controversial in disputing FD’s attribution of the quote to Gary Player, but I thought it wax Thomas Jefferson that is famous for this quote.
RR
I think it was Gary Player, when told how spectacular his bunker play was.
Replied ” the more I practise the luckier I get
Typical
A string of big shot players kick lots of players in the face, and get congratulated by the press.
And somewhere in England, on a night of torrential rain and ground like an ice rink, a player slides along the ground, takes the ball, and fails to get his trailing leg out of the way of a equally sliding opponent.
Cue wannabe star ref. ( thinks! I’ll show them big time ref’s how to do it) and the man who the fans wanted to see(because he entertains) departs the scene.
Thanks you idiot.
Watched on AVTV and a good stream until around the 78 min when it began to freeze but managed to sort it out and watched to the end waiting for the inevitable villa goal which did not materialise thankfully!
Another typical Boro display, by that I mean why do things the easy way when you can do it the hard way!
If you had offered me a point before the match started then I would have taken it. In the end it was hard earned and thoroughly deserved by a team which displayed grit, determination and the willingness to work their socks off for one another which speaks volumes for the togetherness of the squad.
Not sure about the sending off of Adama as the camera followed the ball and did not show the tackle but I feared the worst based upon the commentary, crowd reaction and the referee consulting with his assistant. So it proved to be.
As far as the Villa lad was concerned then I do not think he had any complaints as it was a cynical foul with no intention to play the ball in fact he was in no position to do so. Even the AVTV commentator said the red was warranted.
I thought GM made good decisions and timings with his substitutions. Downing was not offering anything meaningful either offensively or defensively and Johnson looked far more lively. In fact I would look to play him wide left in front of George Friend with GF looking to provide more defensive cover than Fabio who is not left footed and therefore a square peg in a round hole.
The other two substitutions were needed to provide fresh legs as GL and BA had run themselves ragged. Another Captain fantastic display in my view.
I just hope that this match does not have an adverse impact on Saturday’s performance. GM will have to consider his selection very carefully and the lack of AT will pose a selection dilemma.
I don’t want to see a left footed player being played wide right and nor is this an ideal position for PB so not sure how to solve this problem – it looks like someone will be played out of position.
Overall a good point in the circumstances and we continue to build momentum and the number of games without a loss is rising.
Finally, as always a comprehensive and great report from RR thank you. I agree entirely with your view that the MOTM award goes to the whole team.
CoB keep it going. 😎😃
Plato
To be fair to the ref the Villa player was on his feet when Adama came sliding in. Adama’s right foot missed the ball and he cleaned the player out with his left leg.
Once you go off your feet you are asking for trouble, there was no intent but it was reckless, he gave the ref a decision to make. You cant go flying in.
The second sending off is a discussion point. At first viewing you are thinking he is taking one for the team.
Sitting and thinking about it, replaying the challenge again, he blatantly kicked the Boro player knee high. It wasn’t a tackle. No place for that in the game.
I am not going to blame the ref for either decision.
Ian
I do not want you to laugh when you hear that I commented without seeing the incident.
What fan would ever do that.
I have just seen it.
Oh dear, a clear invitation to the ref to send you off.
I saw no extenuating circumstances whatsoever
I’ve just seen the Adama red card incident (as my AV TV cut out for a few minutes at the beginning) – I must say I agree with what Paul said earlier – it was never a red card as Adama’s lead foot that attempted to block the clearance was not in the direction of the player and it was only his trailing leg that caught him as the Villa player followed through with his kick. The officials didn’t see the incident clearly enough to make the judgement as they had to consult each other – they reacted to the player on the ground and the reaction of both the other Villa players and the crowd.
So a bad decision for me as it was more accidental contact caused by Adama’s trailing leg and the momentum of both players causing a coming together – if Adama had been kicked by the Villa player if he’d nicked the ball a fraction earlier, would it have been a red card the other way? I doubt Boro will appeal if the ref has deemed it dangerous play as not sure if that can be overturned unless he looks at the replay and admits a mistake.
Anyway, it spoilt the game in terms of a contest and it was an hour of defending like we used to see back in the good old days of Karanka – it’s funny as I was watching Assombalonga all on his own and thinking exactly the same as Redcar Red said in his report of him doing a Negredo. I was starting to wonder whether we only played with ten men last season and wondered why Negredo was actually always on his own – how soon we forget!
Still it was a well earned point but Villa really missed two sitters with Snodgrass hitting the bar when it was easier to score and that great block on the line by our extra defender in Villa colours. But we take the luck we’re given and RR conclusion that it ended up a good team bonding exercise is probably quite true – it looks as if team spirit has been restored and we have just the one camp again.
Boro are not badly placed considering 3 of our next 4 league games are at home to beatable opposition – plus two wins and a draw from the next three games could give us 18 points out of 30 for the ten game measure, just shy of two points a game.
Werder
Disagree about the incident. You have assumed they hadn’t seen it because they had a discussion. To me that is good officiating, speak with your colleague to check what they saw as well as you, then come to a decision.
The Villa player had almost stopped to make the clearance when Adama came sliding in. Clearing out the Villa player with his left leg is clearly dangerous. AV came up with the right answer, if a Villa player had done the same we would have been howling for blood.
The crowd didn’t come sliding in from yards away nor did the ref or linesman. it was a reckless challenge by Adama going to ground several yards away from the Villa player that led to the red card.
Helped of course by a partisan home crowd baying for blood only a few feet away from the Ref and Lino and the theatrics of Hourihane who had his leg snapped off at the knee yet remarkably recovered and completed the game without even a sign of a limp after the Red Card appeared.
I’m not condoning Traore’s tackle, I warned after Bolton that his “defensive” sensibilities are somewhat diminished but I do think a wiser and more experienced official would have given Traore a stern talking to and a yellow. Long term it may do both Adama and Boro a favour that he has learnt a lesson the hard way therefore can’t blame or sulk about a Manager or Coach telling him something unpalatable.
Since it was his trailing leg that made the contact and his lead leg was aimed away from the player to block the ball, I’d say that should have been just a yellow all day long – at no point did Adama attempt to play through the man and even the Aston Villa commentator said he’s going to get a yellow for that.
It didn’t help that the player was rolling around banging the floor with his arm as if his leg was broken (though it probably hurt) – but the incident happened so fast I don’t think the officials saw it clearly enough and reacted to the response as much as anything.
I’ve seen far worse challenges get just a yellow and although contact was made it wasn’t deliberate or a dangerous lunge at the player – it was just the momentum on a fast surface and Adama was basically just travelling too quick. Adama had no choice but to go to ground (which is not illegal) as the pitch was running out and he probably had no desire to become overly acquainted with the supporters in the third row.
Reckless?
Nonsense!!!
Clearly the ref was at fault.
😉
For those who are perhaps looking enviously at Leeds and starting to wonder can they, will they? Its worth considering that out of their seven games they have played three away and four at home while we have played three at home and four away. A minor detail admittedly but it is a slight advantage (probably a three point one).
Of their Home games they have drawn 0-0 against Fulham and Preston (sound familiar) and won 5-0 against Burton and 2-0 against Harry’s lot. Their clean sheets at home and seven goals in the for column is a good return but they won’t be playing Burton every week to record that number of goals, even on a very good day.
Their away form however is impressive, 100% impressive in fact! Played three and won three, 3-2 at Bolton, 2-0 at Sunderland and 2-0 at Forest. The only result that stands out to me is winning 2-0 at Forest. Now we all know that Britt could and should have had a hat trick for us down there and had Ayala not switched his brain off away to Wolves things could have looked distinctly better. If only we could play Sunderland at their faded pink plastic Stadium right now I would be confident of three points but we have that to come and Leeds have to go to Wolves and surely Villa can’t be this disorganised all season?
There is nothing to date that I have seen that makes me think any of those currently occupying the top positions will be there long term. Now I’m certain the top three or four come May will like as not come from a side currently sitting between 1st and 18th (ridiculous spread I know but this is the Championship). I don’t see anything special that makes me think that those up there will take some catching or that we will be cut adrift. What I do think is much clearer is that those presently from 19th to 24th will like as not include the bottom three come May.
Our two defeats were down to ourselves rather than the opposition. Frustratingly our two draws were also down to our own stupidity rather than being outclassed (Preston with tactics and Traore’s hare brained challenge). Had Adama not been sent off I think we would have come away with an extra two points last night, had Ayala not passed at Wolves, had Britt scored at Forest when missing was harder! If only’s.
Those errors and brain freezes will lessen as the weeks progress. Why? Well because the Players now know that play under par and you move to the bench (or the stands even in the case of Ayala and Forshaw). New signings like Howson haven’t been immune to being dropped even George has been picking splinters out of his svelte Trackie bottoms.
Meanwhile the Fry’s, Gibson’s, Claytons, Christie’s and Randolph’s are tantamount to untouchable (almost). Thats a good and fair ethos to build a side especially as everyone knows that there is at least one other player who wants your place (arguably one as good or even better)! Come the end of September and October I expect to see another two or three names added to that list of “nailed on” starters, of which Grant will be one for certain. That’s now six absolutes for me with probably Britt joining them making seven. The opportunities for staking a claim are getting shorter as the weeks progress and the bench only seats seven. Four shirts up for grabs, Downing, Baker, Braithwaite, Bamford, Johnston, Friend, Fabio, Traore, Howson, Forshaw, Shotton, Ayala, Gestede and co. had better start pushing hard.
We’ve only conceded 3 goals in 8 games which points to excellent defensive organisation and bodes well as a platform for a long season. We’ve now got 3 out of the next 4 league games at home and all against teams below us, so no-one to fear. Time to push on now, I’m expecting us to be in the top six come October.
Hope GM is reading all this. No pressure Garry! 🙂
It was a rash challenge in poor conditions and had it been against a Boro player I would have hoped for a red card.
I applaud the mad thirty yard dash to put in the challenge.
Also a point at Villa Park is one I would have gladly taken before the season kicked off.
Excellent report as ever, RR.
Hamlet without the Prince as far as I was concerned since I had made a difficult trip mainly in the hope of seeing a Traore repeat. Within 4 minutes I just wanted the game to come to its end.
Agree with the consensus. A great defensive display, and a victory in the attack-versus- defence contest that the game became.
Leads was my M-o-M. He lead by example and from the front. Like he’d never been away. Closely followed by Clayton and Fry. Clayts again never in danger of getting a yellow, itself a tribute to the ‘Leadbitter effect’.
My only deviation from other analyses is that I thought Randolph was less assured than he has been so far in the Championship. No great criticism since up to now he has been pretty well faultless. Not surprisingly, given the conditions, he let the ball slip from his grasp on two or three occasions, was at fault in the move when they rattled the bar, and his kicking was generally poor. A simple short pass to Clayton went straight into touch and put us on the defensive, whilst a number of longer clearances were sliced out of play.
Curiously I noticed that Randolph’s warm-up with two of the coaching staff consisted simply of him kicking ball- after- ball up the field, something I’d never seen before. It’s evidently an aspect of his game that his coaches are still working on.
Like others, what I took from the game was a good deal of satisfaction that our defensive solidity and organisation is still intact.
And puzzlement that in a second half that was crying out for his energy, creativity and goal threat that Paddy made no appearance.
I have found a way to end the debate about Adama’s dismissal.
On the BBC report it shows a red card against his name. He spent 86+ minutes in the changing rooms which means he was sent off. He will get a three match ban.
That is the end of the debate because we can chunter all we like there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of him having it reduced to a yellow card offence.
We were debating the decision to show a red card not the fact he got a red card, which even those who thought it was the wrong decision believe he actually got a red card. I actually think if he hadn’t have shown Adama a red then he wouldn’t have felt the need to even it up by showing Lansbury a red too.
The Traore incident occurred on the other side of the pitch from me. I literally had no view on it.
What I did have was an unwelcome sense of deja vu. Twice in the space of four days an identical scenario. A rash Traore foot-up challenge. The crowd baying for red. The ref having a long consultation with his assistant. Every Boro player and fan with stretched nerves fearful of the verdict. At Bolton he got away with it. Must have been a close, toss-of-the-coin decision. At Villa, thumbs down.
A lesson not learned from the last game, with painful consequences.
Just watched the 10 min highlights on Boro website and have now seen the AT Challenge. I am in the red card brigade on this one. To me it makes no difference which leg he made contact with it was clearly a reckless challenge and given it was right under the nose of the assistant who was consulted by the ref, they in my view clearly reached the correct decision.
Similarly, the Villa player took a knee high kick at Johnson when he had no intention or ability to reach the ball and this to me is deliberate and serious foul play resulting in another correct decision of a red card.
Ian has, however, summed the matter up succinctly. It does not matter what we think as the match report shows two red cards and they both carry three match bans which if they are appealed are unlikely to be reduced and may risk an increase for wasting the panels time.
Time to move on me thinks and wonder who will be picked to play on Saturday?
Steady on KP, once we go down the road of thinking it doesn’t matter what we think then it’s the end of any discussion on anything that happens in game other than agreeing with the score, who scored, who played and the match stats. It’s our ability to question what happens and interpret events and have an opinion that drives the purpose of having a blog 🙂 Besides when have referees decisions been anything other than inconsistent?
I should have probably started with, whilst it may be true that what we think doesn’t matter… since it doesn’t change what actually happened – it’s just a discussion in the end…
Suitably rebuked Werder. I shall ensure in future that I only comment on the current topic and let more learned colleagues decide when it is time to change the subject. 😎😉
It wasn’t meant to be a rebuke, just an existential point that any argument of what has passed is just down to subjective opinions and the basis of any discussion is opposing views of the same event. Plus, far be it for me or anyone else to determine if the subject being discussed can be changed at any point – though I must admit I’m not that keen on all that food stuff or straying into other strange sports that others appear to find clearly of interest.
Just seen the eg bit on agnew , someone’s (not just Steve Bruce) obsessed. Let it lie man!
On replacing Traore it could be any number of permutations. Baker may be pushed out wide or perhaps Downing on the right and Johnston on the left. GM may try Fabio in front of Christie with the two covering and doubling up as required. We may even see Paddy brought in or Fletcher.
A 442 employed with Paddy or Fletcher partnering Britt up top?
On Agnew I’m surprised the EG haven’t reported him missing to the Police.
Also thought Christie did well, great play for Britt header
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-premier-league-referee-jeff-13615062
The views of Jeff Winter.
I read that piece earlier but Winter only really concludes it was reckless on the grounds Adama happened to be traveling rather quickly and therefore he endangered the safety of another player when he made the ‘tackle’ as he claims it was. My argument is that having looked at the video several times Adama appeared to be only attempting to make a block with his leading foot in front of the player and his momentum lead to his trailing leg making accidental contact with his standing leg.
On that basis you could argue any contact with another player could be deemed to risk the safety of another player whether it was intentional or not – the main factor seems to be it was reckless on the grounds Adama didn’t really need to make the challenge, a judgement that I find a little too subjective in a game of fast moving football.
But I don’t disagree that if you give a referee a decision to make there’s always a good chance it will go against you and then it’s possible he’ll come to the conclusion it deserves a red.
I think the ref got the two red cards quite correctly. And so does Jeff Winter in the Gazette. He is a Boro fan, too.
Let’s move on. We won a point in the bag and it will be QPR nextat the Riverside. Up the Boro!
OK this ‘moving on’ bandwagon is gathering pace – I think I’m starting to get the message 🙂 On to QPR then – who do you think will get a red card for Boro in that one? my money is on Downing for an overly slow challenge on the keeper…
“I got there as soon as I could, Ref. I’m just not as fast as I was…..”.
On the subject of “the penalty”
My thought on the matter as I watched it was.
Our player was running across the pitch at speed, roughly towards the dugout.
Their player was running up the line at speed.
Their runs coincided perfectly.
The player running up the line was carried straight out of play.
Without any deviation on the part of our player.
I can see no other result than a penalty.
Whether he fouled him was immaterial.
Just turning himself into a double Decker bus and running him over was enough.
Werder
I played in a match for Leeds University second team – everyone else had gone home!
The opposition forward ran it out for a goal kick on the right edge of the six yard box but the ref gave a penalty for a foul by the goalkeeper. We pointed out the custodian was six yards away guarding the near post.
The response? ‘the goalie was thinking about it’.
Mind you, I was opening the batting for Acklam Hall at Scarboruogh. The opening bowler sent the ball down about a foot outside off stump. I raised my bat high in to the air in my best Tom Graveney impersonation and the ball was safely caught by the wicket keeper, He tossed it to first slip who tossed to gully. The cover fielder appealed howzat and the home school teacher acting as umpire gave me out. Jaws dropped on two batsmen, 10 fielders and our teacher at square leg umpire looked up at the sky.
In the score book was recorded, how out, unknown.
The problem is officials in football operate in the public eye.
My opinion for what it’s worth is that if Traore had been still playing for Villa and had committed that foul against one of Boro’s players, we as supporters would have been incensed if the referee hadn’t sent him off whether it was the correct decision or not. Double standards me thinks.
One other point on the Traore sending off, it would never have occurred if not for an appalling corner kick from the “cultured left foot ” of Downing.
If ‘Arry’ ad bought Stewy in the summer then the corner wouldn’t av appened and there would av been no red for Adama.
Arry ‘bloody’ Rednapp, eh!
lol
Just speculatin like 🙂
If Toulouse had bought Traore in the transfer window for our price of zillion pounds then he wouldn’t have got a red card and we might have won the game !!
Football eh!
Just sayin like
OFB
Who bought Traore, eh?
I blame AK me like!
😉
Or it could be Blair for not making us British league football. Then, again it must be Corbyn or has that malicious nonsense blown over n it really is the Tories who screw up time after time?
https://www.google.sk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DVdQY7BusJNU&ved=0ahUKEwikvvL2naTWAhWsAcAKHZK-CHYQ3ywIMzAB&usg=AFQjCNHh-60S_hH-8myX6OLcEzSnYWyn0A
Naw, can’t have that Spartak. We’d have still drawn and just delayed the inevitable, because Traore would then get sent off against QPR and we’d probably drop two points. He nearly got sent off against Bolton, but hopefully by getting it out of the way now, Monk will enlist Jeff Winter to explain to him what is admissible and what is not before he does it again. Mind it’s taken him awhile to learn when to pass a ball, so I won’t hold my breath on that.
Correct, who’s idea was it to aim an outswinging left foot corner at Fabio (not our tallest player) standing outside the far side of the box to challenge for a header, and then it actually sailed over his head and put us on the back foot, we know what happened next . . totally unnecessary and dreadful set piece management. Keep it simple please.
How ironic everyone concerned about Traori getting back and playing defence, helping his mates, understanding his roll.
The minute he does he’s off.
I blame the coach driver for getting us there at the right time.
Off with his HEAD!!!
Bloody bus drivers, eh! I ask you – can’t relie on no one now like.
😉
That sparks a memory of Frank Bough getting hold of the Leeds team coach in the tunnel at Wembley, to get his thought on the game and its events just after Leeds had been victorious in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final one year…. it was actually the Leeds Team coach driver from Wallace Arnold …..
I blame Bee-Line me
Never mind Traore, you will get the chance to make amends on Saturday 30 December (Sky TV permitting).
Come on BORO.
If it had been a good old blue corporation bus it would have been late.
3 wud av come at once!!!
2 hours late.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCEkI-JV9Eo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It’s just jolted my memory there, Ian. The first time I saw Boro play was as a nine year old against Everton and I had assumed that Boro were the team in blue not Everton, and all because the Corporation busses were blue. Childhood logic I guess!
It seems we are appealing Traore’s Red card!
Again my childhood logic says it should have been a blue card.
On the buses! brilliant, although I don’t think it would get screened today………….
The debate on Traore’s red card is a serious one though, that’s what we’re on here for isn’t it to chew the cud?
My concern (which is ironic) is who is going to replace Traore in the team?
My concern is ironic because pre-Bolton I wouldn’t have paid you in pigeon droppings for Traore and I thought the chances of him turning into a ‘player’ were slim to nil.
We have now seen both Britt and Adama probably cost us points by losing their composure in matches against their former teams.
Therefore I suggest that for the upcoming Norwich game, Johnny Howson should be gagged, placed in a straightjacket and locked in a pantry at Rockliffe for the full 90 minutes.
Put him in the same cupboard under the stairs as Aggers.
🙂
Aggers apparently not doing anything just gardening
I keep hearing that football is an easy game, keep it simple, etc. I go along with that but statistics, yes damn statistics, are trying to make not only football but all sports complicated.
Cricket of course has always had statistics, though mainly batting and bowling averages. Now since the advent of limited overs matches, we get batsmen’s scoring rates and bowlers’ economy statistics.
I blame the Americans for most of that. Golf with shots in regulation, driving distances, sand saves, etc is just one example. It has infiltrated into Rugby League with metres run, tackles made, number of offloads, etc, and now AV is quoting OPTA statistics in the Gazette.
Am I the only person getting bored with all these statistics? When I watch my favourite sports all I want to see is Lee Westwood sinking a putt, Assolonga scoring a goal, or Joe Root scoring century, not how many putts Westwood has missed, how many chances Assomolonga has missed, or “did you know that is the third time this season Root has been out in the nineties” or whatever. Next we’ll be hearing the commentator telling us that Ben Gibson has now watched his 100th episode of Eastenders.
Someone once complained about lies, damned lies, and statistics. I can’t remember who it was but if I met him I’d shake his hand, no I’d give him a hug. Now where’s that blooming mute button on my TV remote control?
I didn’t know Ben Gibson watched Eastenders, what’s wrong with Corrie?
Maybe Aggers is in GHW’s shed?
I fear we will lose the appeal over Adama’s red card could lead to an extra match for a frivolous appeal. There again Lansbury has been let off after clatterin Johnson around the knees.
There is a certain irony in the above debates around Corrie and Eastenders and the sending offs. A part of me would like to instruct Boro Players that next time they are fouled, roll over three times and wait for a Coroner’s report before getting up to ensure a Red Card is issued. Some of the diving and theatrics witnessed at Villa Park were embarrassing and have no place in football. Just hope Karma comes around soon.
Just seen a headline on the BBC sports website:
“Spartak charged after flare fired at ref”.
Just sayin like! 😂😎
I read
‘Spartak fans fire flare at ref!’
I of course was thoroughly unaware that I had any fans at all – all quite humbling.
lol
🙂
Spartak leading the revolution, with pyrotechnics……
EG now confirming AT’s red card appeal has been dismissed and will serve three match ban. At least it hasn’t been increased.
Red card given to Villa player Lansbury has been rescinded! 😎
Redcar Red
I agree with that, I will absolve the Villa player clattered by Traore but some of the other antics were appalling.
It is made worse that an old pro of a centre half tolerates it..
Shocking but we shall prevail and be much stronger against the powers that be ….the team now will surely be fired up by that obviously terrible biased decision grr
That all turns the wick up for the next Villa match. I don’t know why Boro appealed, it was never ever going to be rescinded. Football and FA, that’s an appropriate acronym, don’t do precedents. At least as somebody has already said they didn’t stick an extra game on for daring to appeal.
Think of it as thinking time for him.
UTB,
John
I agree Jarsue, this could have a silver lining in the long run if Adama comes back mentally stronger and more disciplined.
I doubt if either team will play their first 11 next week, and the crowd will be much smaller, so perhaps not too much of a hostile atmosphere or needle, and no more red cards.
This is of some interest:
https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1192395/Preview/England-Championship-2017-2018-Middlesbrough-Queens-Park-Rangers
The weakness of such analysis is obvious – they say we will are likely to incur a high number of cards, but our record is distorted by Claytonator being a yellow-card magnet.
The comment I find interesting is:
“Queens Park Rangers will control the game in the opposition’s half” – it seems the stats show we struggle to control the flow of games. We don’t want another Preston-type game on Saturday.
Adama was trying to block the ball, and caught the man by accident. It wasn’t cynical. But apparently because of his speed it was deemed reckless and that’s more important than there being no intent. Perhaps we have to accept that?
Lansbury made no attempt to get the ball. He didn’t trip, he hacked – it was unnecessarily violent. It was the definition of being premeditated and cynical.
The FA have made themselves look foolish again.
The FA don’t have to try too hard to look foolish. It was ever thus with them and lets face it if they ever done anything nice for Boro what would we do with all those chips on our shoulders? Unfashionable Northern Club so lets teach them a lesson again. Perhaps the greying incontinent panel saw Claret and Blue and automatically reverted to Hammer default mode?
Traore’s card being upheld is understandable it could have gone 50/50 depending upon your take on it. I think he intended to block the ball and win a challenge but his own personal speed, momentum and pitch conditions made it look a lot worse allied to Hourihane having to finish the match in a wheelchair or so we were all lead to believe at the time,
When I saw it initially my instincts were that Adama was off, it was only replays that persuaded me otherwise. Lansbury’s however was pure intent to hack Johnston down with no intention of winning the ball. Traore tried (poorly) to play the ball, Lansbury deliberately and blatantly played the man. I wonder who was on the panel and what their qualifications are? Incredibly Lansbury’s card wasn’t even altered to a yellow which probably shows the level of competence of the panel. I couldn’t give a fig about the Carabou Cup but I have to admit I would be galled now to go out at the hands of Villa after last weeks shameful cheating, diving and now Adamagate.
RR
My thoughts go back to GS1 because SG snubbed the suits at the FA and suits hate being snubbed. IMHO that acted as the catalyst to the 3 point deduction and relegation. Furthermore, whenever MFC come anywhere near the FA they will forevermore enjoy their cold revenge.
It is as it will always be.
Gilly will be hovering around no doubt!
I’m waiting!!!!!
Come on Gilly, we know yer there!
Ok, av a watch of this while we wait Sportsfans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lur-SGl3uw8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Maybe Gilly is hiding with Aggers?
And RR bags die tonne mit kiene andere im der nahere.
99 goes to MEEEEE!
NINA -lovely girl. Reminds me of my nights foot loose an fancy free in the discos of Northern Germany.
Beer was drunk an many a song sung.
Kisses were stolen and much more done.
😉
Happy days
🙂
Love binary me like – 101.
Did I miss something, I was busy getting train tickets for tomorrow.
Before this thread expires, kudos to Werder for spotting what philosophers call a category error.
It’s of particular interest because it is a mistake built into the language of football itself. A confusion and a collapsing of meaning between factual and interpretative sentences. Between “is/was” and should/ ought statements.
Werder rightly pointed out that the discussion over whether a player should have received a red card is not resolved by arguing, as Ian did, that he did in fact receive one. The first is properly a matter for debate, the second isn’t. Indeed,as Werder pointed out, nobody thinks Traore did not get a card.
But in producing a variation on the old joke of “read it in the papers/look in the scorebook”, and you’ll see whether it was a sending off/ dismissal,Ian was himself drawing attention to a widespread category error, and knowingly doing so. It’s what makes the statement a joke rather than a serious statement.
Two teacakes are in the oven, and one says to the other, “Crikey, it’s getting hot in here”. The other replies, “Crikey! A talking teacake”
Whether you find this funny or not, it is demonstrably a joke, since the first sentence obeys the linguistic codes and conventions of a joke, and requires us to suspend our disbelief. The second sentence treats the first as factual, and the joke revolves around this category error.
Back to football, and every week-end you will see and hear pundits using language that confuses categories, saying, “That was definitely a penalty”, even though it definitely wasn’t because the ref didn’t give it. No great harm is done, but it’s useful to recognise the numerous occasions on which opinions are passed off as verifiable facts.
One final note. I greatly enjoyed Ian’s injunction for us to move on from a debate about what happened last Tuesday, prior to providing a couple of examples of his own suffering at the hands of officials over 40 years ago. It clearly still rankles, as it would with us all.
Len
My head hurts.
Apparently three I believe former footballers decide an appeal regarding red cards.
Wonder who they where and did they have any kind of of
Afiliaction with Villa.
Interesting English player ok, foreign player badboy?
Colour of skin avin nuffin to do with it of course!
I’m out here in the central parts of our european continent and having watched copious amounts of football I can confirm the darker skinned footballers get a rough deal from the match officials.
Disappointin but true.
Nina???
What about Cassandra – ‘Ich Bau Ein Stadt für Dich’ – surely written for the scattered souls of the Diasboro:
‘Und jede Straße die hinausführt
Führt auch wieder rein’
‘Every road that leads away,
Also leads back again…’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hmSH5Z-nW0
Sehr schon Mark
However, I see your Cassandra and raise you a Marlene Detrich!
(Ein fur die Soldat immer die kaserne).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrfluDC9AA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
On a different note for a moment, remember AV s fantastic untypically boro post on Billy Davies. Well a few days ago this report from the Daily Record. Tells us that Billy is still fired up http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/billy-davies-rangers-vicious-smear-11137750
Fair play, it’s class und exzellent, Spartak.
But on the Diasboro theme, if you aren’t keen on Cassandra ‘ich bau ein stadt für dich’ – building a town for you to return to – what about Maya on the emptiness of wandering the world away from home:
‘Tausend Meilen unbestimmt,
Tausend Meilen mit dem Wind
Ganz egal wohin
Es ist aus und vorbei’
A thousand miles drifting … with the wind
No matter where
It’s over …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkPBEa81ZtU&list=RDCkPBEa81ZtU&t=25
Once again, v nice Mark.
Still I get the impression yr choices are from the noughties, whilst mine are from the eighties (and before).
I was out there during the later BAOR years mit schnitzel n pommes galore. A great ‘wanten’ time was had.
My first attempt at german was down the town centre schnell imbiss. I practised all day to say ‘ein halb hahchen mit pommes und mayo, bitter.’ The woman behind the counter said in perfect english ‘Do you want to eat here or take it out?’
Curses, batman!
A slight change on the match previews from this week, with more emphasis on each team’s form and details of the Boro squad stats – plus just a general look at the selection options. I decided it’s not really worth spending half a day writing an article that is only up for 24 hours as people just quickly dip in to leave a comment before the game – though we’re probably running around 50% fewer visitors since we dropped to the Championship with most interest in the match report after the game.
https://diasboro.club/2017/09/15/boro-v-qpr-championship/