Boro 2 – 0 Millwall

Middlesbrough Millwall
Assombalonga
Howson
11′
66′
Possession
Shots
On target
Corners
Fouls
44%
17
 3
 3
 8
Possession
Shots
On target
Corners
Fouls
56%
 8
 3
 8
11

Riverside Roar tames Lions

Redcar Red reports on Boro’s victory against The Lions at the Riverside…

With results already known from this afternoon’s fixtures Boro and Millwall both knew exactly what was required of them in the battle of the Lions. The legend that once was Tim Cahill would be an onlooker after the ageing Aussie schemer battered ex Boro loanee Ryan Fredericks in the mush in full view of the retrospective cameras last week. His elbow picked up a three game ban meaning that he will be out of action until the second leg of the play-offs should Millwall have progressed that far.

Neil Harris would likely be unable to call on the services of centre back Byron Webster with a knee injury, while midfielder Ben Thompson was perhaps a little nearer to selection after an ankle problem the only other question mark was George Saville. It’s the time of the season however that with so much to play for Managers often play lads whose match fitness would normally mean them sat in the stands in the hope that they might provide those few minutes of magic so it was difficult to rule anyone out for this one.

TP had no injury concerns other than long time absentee Rudy Gestede side-lined with Paddy now declared fit. The only selection dilemma faced by the Boro Boss would be Paddy or Britt and Clayts or Grant. Millwall had gone 18 games unbeaten prior to Fulham dismantling them at the Den last week and were unbeaten in their last nine away games so this was going to be some tussle. Neil Harris made one change from that Fulham game with Ryan Tunnicliffe in for the injured George Saville. Pulis decided to stick with the side that done so well at Derby last weekend meaning that Britt started with Paddy on the bench.

The atmosphere was building before KO and by the time the whistle went both sets of fans were in fine voice. The early exchanges saw Boro dominate and in doing so took the initiative to Millwall and put the visitors on the back foot necessitating Romeo and Hutchinson into two clearances in the opening couple of minutes. On five minutes Stewy whipped a ball in only for Howson to head over. Adama was next to steal the limelight as he flew past two Blue shirts to fire in a cross that was collected by Archer in the Millwall goal.

The early Boro tempo eased back as Millwall started to test the Boro back line and a silly free kick given away by Adama led to their first real attempt. Almost as quick as the danger was snuffed out a long ball up to Britt in the Millwall box saw him bring the ball down under the close attention of two defenders, battled to regain possession after an initial challenge then fire a low shot under the despairing Archer and off the post to make it one nil on twelve minutes.

With Boro now a goal to the good Neil Harris had to get his charges to take the game to Boro needing a victory to remain in the play-off hunt. The next quarter of an hour saw some nervy defending and poor clearances from Ben and some woeful finishing from Boro. We countered Millwall on the break with Stewy finishing off a brilliant ball from Besic so wide and handsome that it was totally off any scale in existence.

Two minutes later and making amends Stewy ran at the Millwall backline and but for a deflection could have made it two nil. The resulting corner saw Ayala uncharacteristically head wide on the far post. Besic himself then had an effort that was well wide as we created and carved out chances but just couldn’t keep the ball on target. Howson and Besic were bossing the middle with Clayts offering insurance behind in what looked like a total departure from the turgid sideways passing midfield the Riverside has endured for the last few years.

Since taking the lead we were sitting deep and Millwall were pushing Boro but it was all high ball headed tennis stuff with no one in a dark blue shirt seemingly able to get the ball down and the football skills required to unlock a rigid Boro rearguard especially Friend and Ayala who were immense. Mahlon Romeo was involved in a lot of the Millwall attacks down their right but he suddenly pulled up, sat on the pitch and needed replacing by Mclaughlin just before the interval. As the half drew near a close Stewy once again tested the Millwall resolve this time needing a desperate lunging block from Shaun Hutchinson. One nil it ended as Boro went in the happier but Millwall were by no means out of this encounter and had everything to play for in the second half.

Just as the Second half got going George was booked for a clash with Morison whose physicality knew no bounds. Not long after that this time Dani was involved in an off the ball exchange with Morison via an alleged arm. On five minutes into the half Traore was put clean through by who else but Besic but crowded and rushed he spurned the opportunity. Ten minutes in and Ben Marshall went down from a sliding interception nicking the ball off the chasing Howson just in time but then struggled to get back up and ended up being stretchered off for his troubles.

As Millwall were lumping balls up using their big lads to head the ball around to one another Boro broke again and Britt was brought down with Penalty appeals waved away. Traore was becoming more involved in the game now after quiet spells and was brought down by the Sub McLaughlin as desperation was staring to creep into the Millwall performance trying to cope with his pace and strength.

The next goal would be crucial in the scheme of things and a Stewy cross seemed easy for their Keeper Archer to collect but he flapped at it and Howson was Jonny on the spot to tap home the easiest goal he will ever have to make it two nil and finish off the game effectively as a contest. The humiliated Archer seemingly felt he had been distracted by his own defender Cooper and gesticulated blamelessly to his defence after his unforced fumble in an effort to spare his blushes.

The Dark Blue shirts launched attacks but nothing of significance troubled Randolph other than routine catches and collections in stark contrast to his opposite number. Meanwhile Besic was like a man possessed with a never say die performance. Man Mountain Elliot who had come on for Marshall as Harris had switched to three up top clattered into Randolph wipe out style and Dimi was warmed up in readiness but the brave Irish Goalie recovered, dusted himself down with the aid of the magic sponge. With just over ten minutes of normal time remaining Paddy entered the fray for Britt who went off to a hero’s welcome.

A few minutes after Paddy coming on Stewy was then replaced by Fabio with Traore switched to the left as the Brazilian ran and chased everything and anything. Besic once again broke through the Millwall ranks and as he danced his way through the box he was taken out by a triple tackle for a nailed on Penalty yet the Ref waved play on with the Bosnian chasing after him enraged with the injustice of it and picking up a yellow for his pains. The game was now running out of minutes for Millwall and Traore was running at them and teasing for fun seemingly and when he slalomed his way through yet again he was cynically brought down by Hutchinson who was rewarded with a Yellow. The resultant free kick is not one Paddy will want to remember as he slipped on his backside (not for the first time since coming on) and the ball sailed towards the North West corner. The fourth official held up six minutes which at this stage was delaying the inevitable as Millwall now looked devoid of ideas. Tunnicliffe reinforced the point when he then took his turn to scythe down Adama earning the next yellow.

The whistle went and despite warnings to the contrary unfortunate scenes ensued as around a thousand home supporters rushed onto the pitch inflaming the away fans, goading and taunting them whilst chasing around the Boro players looking for souvenirs. Police and Stewards already had a difficult enough job on their hands but those actions should be severely acted upon by the Club. There is plenty of video footage available so identification of many should be simple and banning orders should ensue. Qualifying for the Play-offs is no excuse for the behaviour of those involved indeed it’s embarrassing. A sad end to a brilliant occasion spoilt by mindless morons made all the worse after a great atmosphere created by many of said morons minutes previously that had helped Boro over the line.

MOM was Besic but Friend and Ayala are worthy of a mention in what was a very polished professional performance but I just hope the Kit-man bins Paddy’s boots when he not looking.

Boro hoping to fight off Millwall’s bid
to rumble the Riverside play-off party

Werdermouth previews the visit of Millwall to the Riverside…

As Boro welcome the visit of the Lions for Saturday’s main event to decide who will be the king of the play-off jungle, the Riverside roar will hopefully be in good voice as they wait to see if the players have the courage of their convictions. Tony Pulis’s team have clawed their way back in to contention in recent weeks with first a victory over the Robins and then that crucial win at Pride Park to leave the Boro faithful purring with anticipation at the prospect of a trip to Wembley. Nevertheless, the Teessiders will first need to see off the challenge from Millwall, who despite stumbling last week against one of the Championship’s big beast in Fulham, it was their first defeat since New Year’s day that finally ended their incredible run of 17 games unbeaten.

As the supporters nursed their hangovers back on that the first day of 2018, the table looked very different with Millwall back in 15th place just six points above the relegation places, where Birmingham were propping up the league. At the other end, Derby were sat comfortably in second spot behind Wolves as they started to believe this was going to be their year, with Boro back in eighth place, five points ahead of Fulham in 12th and just two points behind a yet to implode Leeds in sixth – Villa were a point ahead in fifth, sitting just behind Bristol City and Cardiff in joint third, who had another three-point advantage.

With two games to go, Boro’s task in their bid to make the play-offs has now become much clearer ahead of this weekend’s games but with the match at the Riverside now an early evening kick-off the players may have even greater clarity of what result is needed. As it stands, victory against Millwall will settle any doubts around the issue and secure a place in the top six, but eyes will be on the result at Barnsley to see if the Bees are still buzzing around the play-off prize. If Brentford fail to win, then a draw is almost certainly enough for Boro to finish in the top six – barring any unlikely last-day massive goal difference swings that would erode our 8-goal advantage over Millwall or possibly our 10-goal advantage over Preston should they beat the Blades (both would then have 70 points to Boro’s 73). However, defeat will leave the door wide open and hanging on its hinges to allow others to overtake Boro’s promotion bandwagon – whilst we will still be in the top six going into the last game, it will essentially mean Tony Pulis’s team will head to Ipswich the following Sunday most likely needing to win.

For Millwall, Saturday’s game is almost like the beginning of the play-offs, where the richest prize of all awaits the team who can hold their nerve and perform on the day. The financial reward for promotion is huge – with perhaps only house-builders Persimmon’s chief executive, Jeff Fairburn coming close to understanding the size of the bonus that will be picked up by the eventual winner of the play-offs. For those who missed the news this week, Jeff Fairburn was at the centre of controversy at the shareholders meeting after his personal bonus had bloated to a massive £100m after the incentive scheme used to calculate the ‘entitlement’ of executives was boosted by the government’s subsequent launch of a tax-payers-backed help-to-buy scheme – though the collective anger at the excessive payouts only resulted in his bonus being ‘slashed’ to £75m. In his defence Mr Fairburn said he had decided some time ago to give some of his bonus away but that he had wanted to take an “old-fashioned approach” and keep the decision private. The Guardian had earlier calculated that his pay deal could be used to provide a council house for every homeless family in Yorkshire.

Talking of winning the lottery, Boro will perhaps be hoping that Fulham grab that automatic prize ahead of Cardiff and Neil Warnock’s battle weary team end up with a ticket for the play-offs instead. Though Boro will need to concentrate on their own games and keep focused on getting those three points in the bag. At least Tony Pulis will have Patrick Bamford back for the game on Saturday and I suspect he will get the delicate nod over Britt Assombalonga, who despite proving he is lethal from one yard out in recent weeks, has yet to show he’s the man who you would put all your bonus on to score a vital goal. Though the man who will be getting all the attention again is Adama Traore, who after a few quiet weeks has looked back to his unplayable best. In addition, Mo Besic has returned to form and Jonny Howson has started to find his eye for a shot too. It’s likely that Clayton will retain his place ahead of Leadbitter and the usual back five will no doubt continue.

Middlesbrough Millwall
Tony Pulis Neil Harris
P44 – W21 – D9 – L14 – F63 – A43 P44 – W18 – D15 – L11 – F55 – A43
Position
Points
Points per game
Projected points
5th
72
1.6
75
Position
Points
Points per game
Projected points
7th
69
1.6
72
Last 6 Games
Derby (A)
Bristol City (H)
Sheff Utd (A)
Nottm Forest (H)
Burton (A)
Wolves (H)
F-T (H-T)
2:1 (1:0) W
2:1 (1:1) W
1:2 (0:2) L
2:0 (2:0) W
1:1 (0:1) D
1:2 (0:2) L
Last 6 Games
Fulham (H)
Sheff Utd (A)
Bolton (A)
Bristol City (H)
Ipswich (A)
Nottm Forest (H)
F-T (H-T)
0:3 (0:0) L
1:1 (0:0) D
2:0 (1:0) W
2:0 (1:0) W
2:2 (1:0) D
2:0 (2:0) w

Millwall fans are seemingly prone to thinking that they are generally not liked and believe they are victimised in the media with the result that they have become scapegoats for football violence – so much so that they even wrote a song about it. This rather catchy ditty opens with the lyrics “No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don’t care!” – clearly the writers are trying to express a rather poignant sentiment and on close examination of the words we start to see a possible message emerging, which seemingly indicates that perhaps they don’t feel liked. However, having gone to the trouble of declaring this perception of dislike, they then dismiss it and claim that this is not something they are overly troubled by.

Amateur psychologists with access to the internet may deduce from this first verse that the writers could have a potential personality disorder in the ‘Emotional and Impulsive’ spectrum – with indications of antisocial tendencies, usually defined as: Not caring about the feelings of others, getting easily frustrated, fighting, committing crimes and finding it hard to have close relationships – as well as doing things on the spur of the moment, not feeling guilty and not learning from unpleasant experiences. While all of that may just sound like your average character on Eastenders, it’s even possible that there are also symptoms of paranoia in this verse too, which are often defined as: “Being suspicious of other people and feeling that they are being nasty to you and becoming sensitive to rejection and tending to hold grudges” – which on first glance all sounds perfectly normal for a football supporter.

Whether we are reading too much into one short verse is difficult to say, though looking at the second verse: “We are Millwall, super Millwall, we are Millwall from The Den” – these words have built on the feelings of rejection and then attempt to give a message of defiance and identity. Nevertheless, some would be rightly concerned to see the adjective ‘super’ applied to themselves as it may also indicate narcissistic behaviour, which is generally defined as: “Feeling very important and dreaming of success, power and status” and that often manifests itself as “craving attention, with a tendency to exploit others and asking for favours that are not returned” – OK, the word Trump is not actually used but I think we know the kind of person they have in mind.

Although, by far the most worrying aspect about this terrace song is that it’s sung to a tune that was made famous by a man who himself had delusions of being a professional footballer and subsequently went on trial at Brentford in 1960 – though the third division club’s jury found him not guilty of not having the necessary talent and spared him the indignity of letting him know. Such were his screams of disappointment that after damaging his vocal chords he was forced instead to pursue a career as a rock singer, which also enabled him to successfully pursue his interest in womanising or as his biographers more carefully put it: “was known for his liaisons with beautiful women”. Incidentally, a fair few of these relationships with mainly models and actresses resulted in him having eight children that are now aged from 7 to 55 from five different partners – which is all perfectly acceptable for a rock star, though probably less so for a supply teacher. Anyway, it seems strange that Millwall chose the tune for their club’s anthem of the unloved from 1975 hit by an artist, who has confessed to being a former Arsenal fan and is famous for love and being loved by millions – Yes, for it is the tune of Sir Rod Stewart’s famous song Sailing to which the terraces of the Den resonate.

Still at least Millwall fans didn’t choose “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”, as the answer would have been even clearer than if they’d asked if they were liked – though I suspect some elements on the terraces may have preferred “The First Cut is the Deepest” as they nostalgically recollected purchasing their Stanley knives from B&Q on Saturday morning in the early 1980s. Incidentally, there was something rather disturbing about watching the 73-year old Rod trying to strut his stuff on TV earlier this year as he performed his back catalogue of hits that included the previously afore-mentioned hit in which he sings the immortal line “If you want my body” – which was these days possibly aimed at any medical students in the audience eyeing up potential cadavers for their finals. Perhaps he would even consider returning the favour to Millwall by instead singing “No one likes me, no one likes me, No one likes me, I don’t care!”

So is Millwall’s sense of injustice legitimate? Well to discover the first recorded instance of football violence associated with the club we have to go back not to the fist-swinging sixties but instead over one hundred years to 1906, when following the dismissal of two Millwall players in a feisty game against local rivals West Ham, the East Ham Echo reported an incident on the pitch “aroused considerable excitement among the spectators” with the crowd themselves then “having caught the fever and free fights were plentiful.” The next incident of crowd violence was in the 1920s when Newport County goalkeeper took exception to being hit by missiles and jumped into the crowd to confront some of the Millwall supporters and for his trouble was knocked unconscious – this resulted in the Den being closed for two weeks as punishment. Further closures for crowd disturbance also occurred in 1934 and 1947, then in 1950 the club were fined after after a referee and linesman were ambushed outside the ground – presumably for not liking Millwall enough during the game.

Although, it wasn’t really until the 1960s that acts of disorder at football games began to be widely reported with an average of 25 incidents per year being recorded. The term ‘football hooliganism’ didn’t appear in the press until the mid-1960s and it has been argued that this sensationalising of the problem in the media led to a kind of moral panic that far out-weighed the actual problem it posed. It has also been suggested that the police reaction to dealing with this ‘new’ phenomenon may have also contributed to the increased violence at games as supporters reacted to more heavy-handed policing and came more prepared for trouble.

In 1965, during a game between Millwall and Brentford at Griffin Park, a hand grenade was thrown onto the pitch by a Millwall supporter and thankfully you couldn’t hear a pin drop as a rather naive Brentford keeper picked it up and tossed it back into his own goal – much to gathered photographers consternation I imagine. It was later found by police to be a dummy (the grenade not the keeper) but the continued fighting between supporters both inside and outside the ground prompted The Sun to run their usual calming headline of “Soccer Marches to War”. Several other incidents occurred in the following seasons, including attempts by Millwall supporters to get a top of the table clash against QPR abandoned in March 1966 by invading the pitch when they were 6-1 down. When in 1967, Millwall supporters smashed the windows of the Plymouth coach after losing their 59-game unbeaten home record and then in a subsequent game attacking the referee, the FA ordered that a perimeter fence be installed around the pitch at The Den.

Attempts to change the image of Millwall began in 1974 when the club appointed former QPR manager Gordon Jago, who was a young progressive manager who had previously signed the likes of Stan Bowles and Frank McLintock when at the Hoops. Jago was keen to improve the perception of Millwall and after three years at the club there had been little sign of the violence previously associated with the club – indeed it was becoming regarded as one of the best behaved in London. As part of a PR exercise he decided to invite the BBC to the club to film a Panorama documentary as an opportunity to dispel the Millwall myth of being a club of hooligans.

However, this was a period where football hooliganism had become part of the Saturday afternoon experience in many parts of the country and the so-called ‘English disease’ had also now been exported to Europe too. Within the media, hooliganism had become a frequent presence on the pages of newspapers, with Millwall a favourite example to be used in such coverage. It seems the BBC were keen on trying to prove the thesis that football hooliganism was in fact something more than just random acts of violence and was instead heavily linked to the fascism of the National Front – with its roots strongly linked with Millwall Football Club.

The programme interviewed The National Front’s national activities organiser, Martin Webster, to give substance to these claims and even showed his supporters selling fascist literature outside The Den – something which Millwall fans groups claimed was never witnessed before or since the programme was broadcast and they believed it was a set-up. In fact, it was also reported that after local police were shown a preview of the film they urged the BBC not to transmit it as it represented a distortion of the truth. Also in the programme, the Irish psychologist Dr Anthony Clare had argued that Millwall’s notorious F-Troup hooligan group were highly organised and pseudo-militaristic with the aim of satisfying their need for violence. The view from the club was that they were stitched-up by the BBC and the PR fallout was a disaster for Millwall and Gordon Jago resigned shortly after the Panorama programme was transmitted.

For some reason the airing of the Panorama programme seemed to rekindle the desire for major violence within elements at Millwall and just three months later a full-scale riot broke out at The Den during an FA Cup quarter-final against Ipswich. Fighting that had initially began on the terraces spilled out on to the pitch and even on to streets around the ground, with everything from fists, boots, bottles, knives, iron bars and large chunks of concrete causing dozens of injuries to largely innocent by-standers. The myth of violence at Millwall had once more been restored to reality and the club’s name was back to where it was trying to escape from.

Further damage to the Millwall name occurred in 1985 at an FA Cup sixth-round match at Luton Town and it became one of the worst and widely reported incidents of football hooliganism of the time – with multiple pitch invasions, fighting and missile throwing. Luton had asked Millwall to make the game all-ticket but the London club ignored the request and what resulted was a mass gathering of hardcore hooligan groups consisting of not only Luton’s MIGs (Men in Gear) and Millwall’s F-Troup but also Chelsea’s notorious Headhunters (who had reported links to white supremacist groups) and West Ham’s infamous Inter City Firm. Following an FA inquiry, Millwall were fined a rather feeble £7,500 but that was later withdrawn on appeal after it emerged that most of those arrested were either affiliated to Chelsea or West Ham groups – though Luton subsequently banned all away fans from its ground, which persisted for the next four years. Perhaps the real damage was that it was Millwall once again that got all the bad press in the immediate aftermath.

Though Millwall’s notoriety was soon to be over-shadowed a few months later at Heysel when following the exchange of missiles, Liverpool fans charged though the empty buffer zone and into the Juventus enclosure – in the ensuing mayhem, a wall in the crumbling stadium collapsed, which resulted in the deaths of 39 supporters, with over 600 injured. The clampdown by UEFA on English hooligans resulted in a five-year ban on all English clubs participating in European competitions. Though it perhaps wasn’t until after Hillsborough that the culture of football violence began to decline significantly – not that Hillsborough itself was actually caused by football violence but the subsequent report produced by Lord Justice Taylor resulted in a shift to all-seater stadiums with all cages and perimeter fencing removed.

Incidentally, the first purpose-built stadium that fulfilled all the recommendations of the Taylor report was Millwall’s New Den, which opened in 1993 – with the FA stipulating that standing would no longer be permitted in the top two divisions after the 1993-94 season. It was the difficulty in converting many old stadiums on cramped surroundings to meet the Taylor requirements that led to many new stadiums being built, including The Riverside for the beginning of the 1995-96 season and the start of the revolution under Steve Gibson and Bryan Robson. Perhaps another major factor in the decline of hooliganism was the start of the Premier League in 1992 with more money coming into the game and a new emphasis on attracting the best players from overseas to produce an exciting new product that was firmly focused on providing the entertainment on the pitch. Though some also argue that hooliganism is related to the socio-economic status of young men and their perceptions of being excluded from society and that there is a risk of being influenced towards violence when they have little else to focus on.

Whilst football violence didn’t completely go away it was no longer centre stage and in some ways many hooligans either moved on and away from football or were in some cases probably priced out of the game. Millwall continue to have their name associated with hooliganism and every incident often brings the usual finger-pointing – The Observer reported that there was one occasion in a game against Huddersfield where the linesman was hit by a coin thrown by a Terriers supporter, who was then handed over to stewards by three Millwall fans – The News of the World printed the headline “Millwall Thugs Deck Linesman With Concrete”.Whilst Millwall supporters are seemingly not adverse to finding themselves caught up in the odd brawl, they perhaps feel they often get the lions share of the blame.

Though for some it is an undeserved reputation and hence the ‘No one likes us’ terrace chant – but for others it is seemingly a badge of honour that adds to their myth as Millwall supporters. The truth is perhaps somewhere in the middle and for many elements of the press, the old rule of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story or headline probably sometimes applies. Like most trends of antisocial behaviour, the hyping-up in the media has often helped to elevate them from the mindless violence they actually are to something more exciting or glamorous that many get attracted to for the disproportionate attention it gives them in a media.

Even after the terror attack in London Bridge in which three knife-wielding terrorist killed 8 people and injured nearly 50, the story ended up focusing on a Millwall supporter who tried to fight them off single-handedly after they burst into the ‘Black & Blue Bar’ he was drinking in. Roy Larner apparently responded to their chants of “Islam, Islam” and threats by shouting back at them “F*** You I’m Millwall” before standing up to confront them. Larner said “I was on my own against all three of them, that’s why I got hurt so much” and claimed “I didn’t think of my safety at the time. I’d had four or five pints – nothing major”, before adding “I can handle myself. But I was out with an old person and it was out of order.” Whether he was living up to the stereotype of the Millwall myth, or was indeed being accurately portrayed by the myth, is hard to say but his mother Phyllis proudly declared “He’s fearless, my son. He’ll give as good as he gets. He’s quite nippy and lippy and wouldn’t back down from a fight. He wouldn’t care who it was or if they had a knife or gun.”

Naturally the club were keen to honour him and bask in the good publicity for a change but shortly afterwards a video of Roy racially abusing a black photographer appeared online. Millwall CEO Steve Kavanagh carefully side-stepped this late challenge and said: “Roy knows his comments were unacceptable. He apologised and expressed a desire to attend a workshop that the club is arranging for him on racial awareness.” Roy himself said he was sorry and claimed it happened in the heat of the moment after the photographer had upset his dogs – though he stopped short of saying “I was out with an old dog and it was out of order” and thankfully his mother Phyllis was no doubt under orders not to comment this time. Anyway, Roy along with three other Millwall fans, who also acted bravely at London Bridge, were made VIP guests for their game against Bolton. It seems dispelling the ‘Millwall Myth’ may take some time for the club especially as friends of Roy left a message on a card saying “Get well soon mate, I suppose you mistook those blokes [the terrorists] for West Ham supporters”.

So will Boro claw their way past the Lions and leave the Riverside roaring with pride? Or will Millwall still show that they care and prove why no one likes them as they show their fighting spirit to beat Tony Pulis’s team? As usual your predictions for score, scorers and team selection – plus will the club threaten legal action against any former employees who help to beat Fulham next week at St Andrew’s? 

188 thoughts on “Boro 2 – 0 Millwall

  1. A brief one for now but what a great article Weder. Your research skills and attention to detail are much appreciated.

    Saturday is a big game and i hope that Paddy can poach a goal or 2 so that we slay the lions.

    It will be a nervy afternoon before the mane event of Boro being on target to shoot the lions down.
    2 1 to Boro.

  2. Another excellent piece Werder,thank you. Apparently the trick with the Stanley knives was to insert two blades because it left a really horrible scar. Nice. I just remember the Millwall supporter’s non-Banksyesque spray graffiti at Waterloo Station in the early 1970’s saying ‘Millwall Loins’ so they must have a gentler side and poor spelling skills.

    Now to frighten everyone, I’m going for Boro to turn on the style tomorrow so that they can revert to type in the play-offs and put us through the wringer.

    Boro Lion 3 – 1 Millwall Lions.

    Now I’m really worried with and by all my optimism. back to the boiler room and the builder.

    UTB,

    John

    1. From memory it was Everton fans who created the twin blade (matchstick inserted in between) for a closer shave.

      On to tomorrow evening and by the time it all kicks off (the game that is) we should know what we need as will Millwall. They have a particular technique in piling forwards and putting immediate pressure on and nicking a very early goal via their two forwards who like to make life unpleasant for Centre Backs. My concern is if we start the game in slow motion and if Ayala gets himself carded both of which would play into Neil Harris’s game plan perfectly.

      Should we win my report could be somewhat delayed and should we lose it may be even later!

      I’m going to predict that Tony Pulis will be Lion King come 7.30pm tomorrow evening.

      1. Of course, the builders have nearly finished, whatever that means and I really feel optimistic, the optimism is directed towards Boro and on form they can do it. I don’t understand cognitive but I try to teach myself and be realistic about my hopes and needs. Oh bugger I am being optimistic to an excessive degree, medication time again. A pint of Strong-arm please. In the Coronation if possible.

        UTB,

        John

  3. Another gem from Werdermouth with his usual mixture of wit and seriousness. Millwall have just had a long unbeaten run ended and I suppose some Boro fans might be thinking that’s them finished now. However sometimes a long unbeaten run can have the opposite effect, especially a team still fighting for promotion. Blackburn Rovers are a case in point, for after losing to Oldham Athletic on 14th October they went on a long unbeaten run until losing at Plymouth on 3rd February. Some may have thought that might dent their automatic promotion prospects, but no, they started another 13 match unbeaten run, and that’s what good teams do.

    I don’t expect Millwall to give in, they have nothing to lose whilst Boro have a lot to lose. I still have this down as a draw, but will the afternoon’s results dictate Boro’s factics? I hope not and don’t think they will. A 1-1 draw for me before a crowd of tantalisingly 29,999,

    1. Many thanks Ken, I’d agree that just because Millwall lost last week to a very good Fulham side we shouldn’t think that they’ve dipped in form – they need to win so Boro will need to start well and keep at it.

    1. I think Millwall will be seeing tomorrow as a must win game. A Draw is a reasonable return for Boro as it leaves only three points left to play for on the final Sunday and the best Millwall could do then do is to draw level with Boro on points (providing we lose to Ipswich) but we have an 8 goal difference in our favour. Based on that expect an onslaught from the off as I don’t think Millwall do cagey, keeping it tight at the back and patiently picking us off type football.

      Now in the grander scheme of things a draw for Boro does allow a window for Brentford, Derby and possibly Preston (but a +11 GD makes that unlikely) to maybe sneak in on the final day. What will be crucial though is knowing all the other results and permutations before we KO.

      Should Villa beat Derby, Sheffield draw or beat Preston and Barnsley beat Brentford then the calculators will be working overtime between five o’clock and five thirty. Millwall’s final game is home to Villa. Depending on the sequence of tomorrows results they could gamble thinking that Villa have already ensured a Play Off spot and so will be in cruise control mode but if Hull beat Cardiff or heaven forbid the Makems pull off a shock tonight at the Cottage then Villa could be playing for a lot more. Of course as mentioned both sides will know all those results before they kick off but I’d wager that Neil Harris would rather be in Boro’s shoes right now (and then) than his own.

      1. RR – Millwall have to win tomorrow regardless of whether Derby lose as they are two points behind the Rams and anything less takes it out of their hands for the last game as they would remain three points behind Boro too.

        Jarkko – I tried to simplify it in my match preview to Boro need to win to secure a play-off slot if Brentford also win at Barnsley – otherwise a draw will be enough as our goal difference is enough for all but the extremely unlikely scenarios of big defeats for Boro and big wins for Millwall against Villa.

  4. Nigel
    I think we have the feeling that we are nearly there( the playoffs)
    They are gone if we beat them, the difference is slight, but there is a difference.

  5. It’s on these occasions that you realise how important it is that your stars hit the ground running, a lead is a wonderful thing, in a tight match.

  6. A great article again thank you Werder.

    Same team as Derby with the exception that Bamford to replace Assombalonga.

    I expect it to be a tight and nervy affair. What we need to do is play like we did against Bristol and Derby and we will tame the lions but when do Boro ever do anything the easy way!

    Boro 1-1 Millwall

    Crowd 31,313

    CoB Carpe Diem

    😎

  7. “The usual ” Werder. Particularly loved the “pin drop” reference. Wish I had a hundredth of your talent.
    As for tomorrow, I will, as always, expect the worst whilst hoping for better.

      1. Thanks OFB, I better ask Mrs Werder if I can start work on ‘The big bumper book of match previews’ and ‘The definitive collection of Redcar Red match reports’ – though there’s probably well over 150 articles by now since we started. Then there’s Simon’s Talking Points and of course your ever growing collection of In2views to compile…

      2. Werder
        I always have hope but, as we often say, it’s the hope that kills us.
        I was thinking along the same lines as OFB, that your excellent works should be recorded for posterity so that your genius can be appreciated by a wider audience for years to come.

  8. Boro 4 Lions 1

    Followed by Party Time.

    Btw, thanks to Braveheart for the link to the Bamford interview. Paddy, funny, bright and articulate. His interviewer, considerably less so, and unwise to patronise him. A media career surely beckons, well beyond what appear to be the current limited perspectives of local radio.

    And speaking of funny, bright and articulate, thanks Werder for another lovely and well-researched historical piece. Comparing the agendas on here with the tired assumptions and stereotypes underpinning the Bamford interview is to reveal a chasm in terms of quality and originality.

    1. Many thanks Len and it was interesting when researching the Millwall story to discover how lazy the media sometimes are or even just deliberately determined to ignore the facts to suit their own agenda. I sometimes wonder how complicit the media actually are when it comes to over-hyping problems for their own purposes and whether they have ultimately whipped up hysteria that makes situations worse.

      1. Then of course there is the Donald Rumsfeld simple take on things just in case we get confused:

        “There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.”

  9. Werder

    Re your post regarding the “Big bumper book of Match previews” and the “Definitive copy of Redcar Red match reports”.

    Please could you put me down for a signed copy of each please as I am sure in the not too distant future they will become sought after tomes.

    I would suggest to maximise your return that you produce them as limited editions. 😎😉

    1. Me too please, there’s a short-run publisher in the Netherlands that specialises in this kind of thing. The books are digitally produced, bound and sent to. I’m doing another Jack Russell book with them. Not cheap but quality. Limited edition, short run plus P&P.

      What else do we do in the summer, apart from gardens, DIY, relaxing, family and worrying about the Boro?

      OFB could get a couple signed by all his interviewees and auction them. Alright, enough.

      UTB,

      John

  10. By the mid-60s our family had moved to London. I was the youngest and when I could I used to tag along with the my brothers and friends who would pick the most attractive game to go and see of a weekend. These obviously took second place behind Boro games when they were in London. Thus, through that long dark winter of the soul that represented Boro in the second division (and lower) I have quite a few memories of heading down to Cold Blow Lane. Memory plays tricks but it seems to me that Boro and Millwall were often challenging towards the top of the divisions – without ever really getting anywhere – and the games were pretty full on. Anyway, the instructions to me were always the same and I followed them later when i went on my own. No scarves or anything red, no cheering if at all possible and basically keep your mouth shut in case anybody took exception. It was a pretty scary place and the name was spot on. It was usually freezing.

    Having said that, another cracking lead-in article and it certainly sets up the problems for the game. Millwall are likely to be right in the face of players like Traore, Ayala and the midfield, trying to get them yellow carded early on. Part of me almost wondered whether it would be worth playing Traore off the bench to avoid the worst happening. Probably not the right thing to do but I hope that he just takes whatever they dish out and leaves it to the others to complain every time he gets chopped down.

    Congrats on another great article. My only quibble is to say that the Heysel stadium is not actually Dutch being in Brussels, Belgium and not Holland.

    As for the game, i sense a 2-0 win with the second goal coming very late, leaving a lot of gnawed fingernails. One for Howson and one Bamford. Don’t know what order.

    UTB

    1. Thanks Selwynoz, I do also seem to have vague recollections that Millwall were always somewhere around the top of the old second division in the early 1970s with Boro too – though I would need to check. I often read that Millwall fans like to refer to themselves as from ‘Cold Blow Lane’ rather than ‘The Den’ – though apparently Gordon Jago when he was manager wanted to actually change the name from ‘Cold Blow Lane’ to ‘Montego Bay’ of all things, as he thought it projected the wrong image but it proved a non-starter with supporters.

      BTW Not sure how Dutch slipped in for the Heysel stadium as I was reading about how it is is sometimes referred to as the forgotten disaster in Belgium before writing that paragraph – I guess it was late or it must have been a subliminal alternative fact creeping in – but good to see people are paying attention 🙂 and I’ll amend the text in case I forget when compiling the bumper book of match previews!

      1. I mentioned before Werdermouth that you put these little deliberate mistakes into your previews to test if we bloggers are awake. Unfortunately in this instance I missed it, so shame on me for being half asleep.

  11. Selwyn, you beat me to the location of Heysel by the press of a keyboard return tab, apart from that another gem Werder.

    As a reminder, the Boro are live on Beinsport tonight after the Villa-Derby game. no predictions as normal, just do one.

    1. Yep, I’d spotted that but it’s a bloody awful time being a 2.30am kick-off in Sydney and, to make it worse, I just got back in from the US this morning. Not sure if I’ll make it love but it’s down to be recorded.

      UTB

  12. I see Sunderland almost scuppered our plans to have Fulham finish second after they took a surprise lead last night but thankfully the Cottagers tied the game just before half-time and then found a winner in the second half. We just need our other fellow relegated club Hull to do the business against Cardiff now and avoid losing – though does this mean that perhaps Fulham are not as good as we imagined and are beatable?

    1. Werder, I reckon that any team in this league is eminently beatable, our problem has been that we’ve never until recently looked as though we could beat eggs. I’m not overly concerned about who we meet in the play off’s, should we get there that is, because any club looking at us this past month would not want to draw us in a play off.

      I never thought that I’d be stating that this season.

      1. PPP – Just checked the form table for the last ten games and it’s pretty tight in terms of indicating who has the upper hand for the main contenders in the play-offs…


        ... TEAM ...... W . D . L . Pts
        .1. Fulham .... 8 . 2 . 0 . 26
        .2. Wolves .... 8 . 1 . 1 . 25
        .3. Millwall .. 6 . 3 . 1 . 21
        .4. Boro ...... 6 . 2 . 2 . 20
        .5. Villa ..... 6 . 1 . 3 . 19
        .6. Cardiff ... 6 . 1 . 3 . 19
        .7. Brentford . 5 . 3 . 2 . 18

        16. Derby ..... 3 . 2 . 5 . 11

  13. As the US look to win the vote in June to host the 2026 World Cup, I just read about this Tweet that Donald Trump sent in the hope of persuading countries to back them…

    The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid with Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?

  14. Another fantastic leader again Werder.

    As for Millwall fans claiming they are hard done by in the media then why do a pretty large cross section of their “fans” constantly try to portray the image they profess to be untrue? Bunch of morons.

    As previously posted we need to start with plenty of intensity to match Milwalls in your face style. If we do then I’m going for a decent home win. If not, going into the final game at Ipswich needing a win where we have a pretty poor record doesn’t bare thinking about.

    Off to the gym to throw some weights about to get rid of some of this nervous excitement/tension.

    1. Thanks FAA, I’ve just spent the last 4 hours getting into the mood for the battle with Millwall by turning the water cannon onto the terraces – or power-hosing the patio as it’s also known. Ah, I love the smell of algae in the morning! btw hope you didn’t hit anyone when you were throwing those weights around in the gym…

  15. Doug’s Diaries

    As I posted before I’ve agreed with Doug Weatherall to do a series of posts on his views and experiences throughout his distinguished career.

    The first post will be on the legend “Brian Clough”

    I’m preparing a series of questions for Doug but would appreciate input from Diasboro bloggers on what they would like to see.

    If you could do that it would make it more interesting for all

    OFB

  16. A typically brilliant satirical pastiche by Werder of a Trump tweet on the World Cup.

    Or so I assumed.

    Turns out it’s for real. I should have realised that the man has been beyond satire for years. There is literally nothing so far- fetched, nothing so stupid, nothing so beyond the realms of the human imagination that this man cannot exceed on an almost daily basis.

    In attempting to gain support for a World Cup bid through the public bullying and coercion of other countries, he should, by any normal standards ,have scuppered his own country’s bid.

    And are fans expected to climb the wall between the US and Mexico?

    As a result of this insultingly stupid intervention every country with a shred of decency should be supporting the Moroccan bid.

    1. He certainly is beyond satire and quite unbelievable (again) – though I was thinking of a piece where Trump was put in charge of the UK’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and started Tweeting on our behalf to try and get us votes…

      My English friend Graham Norton, who’s a great guy, has told me Great Britain have a very, very, very excellent song this year, it’s actually fantastic and the others are not great at all – sorry folks but that’s what people are telling me. Anyway, it’s about time you people starting backing our English friends as they’re leaving Europe next year and who can blame them!

  17. What gets me about this World Cup malarky, is why the country that gave the world the game can’t get a second bite at the cherry when others, especially the US that has no interest in the game apart from the money it generates, get to throw their hats in to the ring?

    I was going to say that Trump is nothing but an idiot, but that would be an insult to idiots.

  18. Now I know I shouldn’t do this but I’m going to change my prediction!
    I’m going for a 2 1 win with first goal in 17 min by Ayala second by Traore to make it 2 0 at half time.

    So if we get beat at least you know who’s to blame!

    OFB

  19. I was talking to Hodgie (David Hodgson) in Yarm a couple of weeks ago. We’d arranged to meet up for a coffee and spent over two hours doing a future In2Views.

    Two things he said which I’ll share with you now as the publication for this will not be for some time are as follows.

    Hodgie said that he rated Pulis as a manager and if Boro made the playoffs then they would won them. He said Pulis was very astute and in a two match game knew how to win.

    The other point he made was that of all the current Boro team he liked Adam Clayton the best. He went on to say that he would be playing every game if it was up to him. Unhurried,knew when to put tackle in and passed the ball well.

    So two things to consider and I hope Clayton plays today as I’ve said before I think Leadbitter has lost pace and we need a 95 minute performance these days

    OFB

    Regards
    Robin Davison

  20. All bids for future World Cups are like it or not tainted with the bribery and corruption that has been prevelent for decades. As for England not getting the finals awarded I think they like to award it on a rotational basis. That and the English FA just aren’t corrupt enough.

  21. Brilliant Werder, thank you.

    Ref Rod Stewart, I am a fan of his early stuff but ‘ Sailing ‘ was one of his worst !
    So for the next few hours our favourite Rod song should be ‘ Tonights the Night ‘ .

  22. Braveheart, let’s hope “Tonight is the Night” and that we “Wear it Well” and hope that it’s not a case of where “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It”!

    I see Derby are doing their level best to spoil our evening.

  23. Been well busy for the last couple of weeks, so not posted. I’ve kept up to date with everything though.
    First , thanks Werder for both the Derby and the Millwall pieces. Both excellent and amusing and…well, just up to your usual standard. RR thanks for being the eyes of all of us who can’t be there. Your Derby report was first rate.

    On to today. I am actually nervous we will shoot ourselves in the foot. One or even two wins on the trot, no matter how well we played in them, are not enough for us to be confident we have achieved some consistency. This season the only thing consistent about us has been our inconsistency. So, I have that mildly anxious feeling deep in my gut.
    Despite that I’m going to put my foam hands on, take a deep sniff of the fumes and predict an eventually convincing victory 3-0, but not without some anxious moments till we score the second. Bamford brace and Howson.
    COB

  24. Looking at the results, Villa and Derby drawing was a life saver for Millwall but, Ipswich stuffed four goals past Reading at their place, please don’t let it go to the last game.

    Preston have sneaked in to contention, but Brentford, Bristol and Sheff Utd are now toast. It’s down to us, which is just how I like it when I watch any other team than the Boro!

  25. The bottom of the division is interesting as well. Barnsley and Burton both won and have overtaken Bolton. In fact, both could pull free because Birmingham’s last game is against Fulham. However, Barnsley have to play Derby which will be a cracker.

    We just need to take care of our own business.

    UTB

  26. Well as Brentford are now history I suppose I should worry about Preston. A point and we are in the play offs….. ah ha ha match live on TV the hope is killing me… why do I do it year after year.

    Anyhow not worth going up if we are not ready so Boro 2 Millwall nil, Adama getting both. Somehow Millwall will attack attack attack as a point is no good for them.

    Come on Boro Match of the season

  27. Bamford on the bench alongside GL with Clayton getting the nod in the middle, I’m certain someone’s rubbing polystyrene on my windows, or is it my bum?

  28. Jarkko, I’d hate to curse the game but, we look comfortable at present and could have been more than one to the good with a bit more luck. We’ve actually turned up for a game, so have the crowd.

    Hope this helps.

  29. Couple of injuries. Boro are playing well and could have had more. They all really looked up for the game and Besic is everywhere, closely supported by Clayton. A lot of play down the lleft using the space created by the close covering of Traore.

    We could do with a second goal but do look the better side at the moment.

    UTB

  30. Great stuff from Boro today, I never felt at any point that we wouldn’t win and the real difference in recent weeks seems to be that drive from midfield – especially from Besic and Howson has also started to show his form, with Clayton looking as solid as they come. Fair play to Britt too for another important goal, who I thought wouldn’t be the man to rely on but he has proved he is a goal scorer. The only player I thought looked a bit suspect was Shotton and I’d prefer Fabio and his energy instead rather than the gimmick of the long throw that never really leads to much.

    So Boro in the end comfortably into the play-offs with a five-point cushion – though I’d hope we get the point needed to secure 5th and avoid Fulham.

    1. Think we have secured 5th unless GD moves against us by 3 but will stand corrected. It’s late, and I’m tired after several hours driving to see the match.

      1. Not quite as we’re only 3 goals better off than Derby and since we need to lose and Derby need to win for them to draw level on points then that scenario will be leave a minimum of just one goal advantage – so one more goal swing would see us drop below the Rams

    1. Thanks for the comment and thanks also for the post-match interview link that I missed with my dodgy online stream – great to see Britt in such good spirits have what has been a difficult few months for him and hopefully he’ll be full of confidence for the play-offs – although it was hard to see during the game if it was a penalty for Besic but he seems certain.

  31. BTW Just read that some of the Boro fans that ran onto the pitch went towards the Millwall fans and tried to goad them and they responded by throwing a few plastic bottles – absolutely no need for gloating by some of our lot as I’m sure Millwall will be gutted after almost pulling off a play-off place. Lack of class I think there by those who I would imagine be angry if it had been the other way round.

    1. Post Match Comment

      I had a chat with Adama Traore after the game.

      OFB

      “Well played tonight is this the best football you’ve ever played?”

      AT

      “No there’s a lot more to come I can play a lot better than this!”

      OFB

      “Are you looking forward to playing at Wembley hopefully?”

      AT

      “We’ll just have to focus on our next games !”

    2. Defence poor today Shotton hopeless and Ben was kicking the ball anywhere.

      Besic mom and Howson and Clayton played key roles in midfield

      Referee was poor

      Assistant Ref (with the Long pony tail) was fantastic!

      OFB

      1. Pretty good assessment OFB – don’t think Ayala had his best game either and had it not been for their keeper, might not have been 2! To blame for both goals but won’t complain.

        Really didn’t expect to be in play offs but never give up and starting to think about logistics for Wembley should the need arise.

        UTB – the Boro might be going up!

  32. OFB – I think it’s often forgotten CB’s can be confidence players as much as tricky wingers or mercurial number 10’s.
    It’s possible Ben knew he was off his game or possibly just felt he was off his game. Or both.
    If true, then the best thing to do is play the percentage safety ball and hit it hard, high and long. After that it’s up to the forwards to make him look like Bobby Moore and get on the end of it.

  33. OFB
    I think that you’re being a bit harsh. Pulis has clearly told the defence that goals aren’t scored against us if the ball is cleared whenever the chance arrives. This results in some sloppy-looking play at times but the actual outcome was that, despite having two big forwards supported by the giant defenders at times, Millwall did not have one significant shot. Maybe it wasn’t pretty but it worked.

    I’m also less negative of Shotton because he was very rarely beaten by his man and covered well behind the centre backs. He’s also excellent in the air which was important today. I admit that he sometimes loses his way going forward but the back four functions much better with him there.

    Besic, Clayton and Howson were the heart of the win with Downing also looking much sharper. The pressure from those four left Millwall without a clear way to attack. The only time when we looked under any pressure was the first fifteen minutes of the second half and at that point the ‘clear it when you can’ tactics kept us safe.

    Friend is really playing well and Traore frightens everyone and, even when doing nothing, creates space on the field because they’re frightened to leave him alone. The last fifteen minutes showed the havoc he can cause when left free on counter attack.

    Britt put in a really strong shift and appears really motivated. The strong friendship that he has with Bamford is clear from the interviews they give and I applaud Pulis for managing the selection process and team morale. It looks great from the outside.

    Overall, I felt that we looked very accomplished and really should have scored at least two more from the clear openings created. I hope this lack of a killer instinct doesn’t come back to bite us in the playoffs.

    It was well worth staying up to the very early hours to watch this.

    Villa in the playoffs? That’s my guess but I don’t mind. Cardiff will win at home to Reading next week and so we’ll have to play Fulham and I can’t decide whether one game is better than two.

    UTB

    1. RR

      Very accurate report of the game and great detail.

      Thank you and it tally’s with my own viewpoint exactly

      Besic was outstanding and. Hopefully we can sign him on a permanent basis whichever division we are playing in next season

      Ben was not at his best for this game and of course players can’t be expected to play at the top of their game every week

      Adamah was a bit quiet at times but he was subjected to some hard tackles which could have involved a red card at time for cynical way in which he was hacked down

      Great report
      OFB

  34. As always an excellent report RR, many thanks.

    The only highlight I’ve seen so far was the second goal and their keeper looked blameless to me, the problem for him was the indecisive defender in front of him. Anyway armed with RR’s report I’m going find the highlights to watch.

    What were those pratts doing invading the pitch? We haven’t won anything yet. Apart from the match that is.

    UTB,

    John

  35. I have to agree with RR’s report and also Werdermouth’s view of our own morons at the end of the match. Banning orders would be appropriate in my opinion.

    As for the match itself I have to agree with the general consensus that Ben and Shotton were not at their best, however Ben showed his class as a captain when he seemed to have a word in Besic’s ear to calm him down after one show of pique. I actually thought the referee had a good game, the penalty decision being one of those that he seemed to have a good view of and one I endorsed at the time but maybe a doubtful decision on playback. However Besic could well have been red carded for his reaction and needs to be aware that such actions also have an inflammatory reaction on the crowd. Nevertheless he did run the show and man of the match in my view.

    Cardiff now look nailed on for automatic promotion especially with a home game to a woeful Reading side next Sunday, but there again they looked nailed on in 2011 against Mogga’s Boro and we know what happened then. However I’d be happier for Boro to avoid defeat at Ipswich and cement 5th place to avoid Fulham. You never know, but Derby might beat them over two legs.

    Whilst euphoric over Boro’s win, I was disappointed that Redcar Athletic’s long unbeaten league run came to an end at home to Sunderland West End. Perhaps this fourth game in a week took its toll and the reality is that they need to win their last five matches to win the League title, a tall order as one of those is away to leaders Cleator Moor Celtic. Redcar are almost guaranteed their third successive season as runners up, though their chances of elevation to the Northern League now seem remote.

    One other disappointment was Yorkshire’s abject batting performance at Taunton although one consolation was the batting performance of Middlesbrough’s own Aussie Matt Renshaw. For those not aware, 22 year old Matt’s parents emigrated first to New Zealand when he was 7 years old and then to Australia three years later. His mother had been a schoolteacher in Middlesbrough once teaching Liam Plunkett as one of her pupils. As a youngster Matt was a pal of Joe Root’s but since moving to Australia has been a star opening batsman for his adopted country’s Test team. Apparently he replaced the disgraced Cameron Bancroft (he of the recent ball tampering scandal) as Somerset’s overseas player for this season. Yesterday after the loss of an early wicket, he scored a century before lunch against Yorkshire on a seam friendly wicket scoring his first 52 runs all in boundaries (10 fours and 2 sixes) before being caught behind for 112 (16 fours and 4 sixes). Somerset collapsed from 145 for 1 wicket to 216 all out, then bowled out Yorkshire for 96, thus 19 wickets falling for 167 runs. Despite the threat of more rain at Taunton this match now looks like a lost cause for Yorkshire. However, despite the Tykes perilous position, perhaps we should rejoice in the remarkable innings on a difficult wicket of a batsman for after alll he should be heralded as one of our own sons.

  36. Well, couldn’t see the match yesterday as we visited one of my daughters and while there my wife run 5 km in a local run. Because of my back problems, I was not able to run (and Boro played at the same time!).

    Most of the results went our way and we delivered. The Gazette was giving Besic a nine, a couple of eights tonext players and the rest got sevens. So they must have played well against one of the form teams.

    Now we need to take a draw and a point from Ipswich to keep our spot of the fifth place. This is much more fun than fighting against the drop.

    I have not yet looked for the dates of the play-offs but I am sure TP has now. So if needed he can rest some players if needed

    Life is good. Let’s still enjoy the season. Up the Boro!

  37. Thanks for the match report RR up to your usual high standards.

    Gutted that of the 3 Bein sports channels on the compound tv one had grown men playing bat and ball, another had a bunch of burly men chasing an egg around a field and the third had the Swans v Chelsea.

    Listening on Tees it sounded a thouroughly professional performance with the defence standing tall under their hoof and hope 1980s era Wimbledon style of football. And people call Pulis a dinosaur. Not having watched the game were Gibson, Shotton and Downing really that poor? Two of the back four who kept the opposition from any meaningful goal scoring opportunities? I’ll watch the rerun on the website.

    Well done to Brit for notching again yesterday. Seems he’s found his shooting boots at the right time.

    So a play off spot is guaranteed but I don’t expect TP to let the players take their collective feet off the gas for the Ipswich game. It’s all about momentum which Boro now seem to have got going for them.

    I’m home on leave in a couple of weeks, too late to see the play off semi finals but by a happy coincidence(😉) in time for the final. Fingers crossed!

    Posted previously that certain Millwall fans being morons as they seem to revel in their clubs notoriety. Unfortunately we have our fair share of these morons as proven by the ridiculous scenes at the final whistle. Identify these idiots and give them a lifetime ban. The club don’t need them or their money.

    1. The thing that annoyed me about th scenes at the end was the stewards complete failure to do anything to stop it or remove the kids off the pitch.

      It was clear that some thing was going to happen so why did they just stand there looking at the crowd in the stands who were going nowhere?

      1. I’m not usually in defence of the Stewards but vastly outnumbered unless they are armed they will never be able to hold back a mob of mindless morons. It didn’t help however the constant announcements and noticeboard messages before the final whistle it achieved nothing other than baiting the Chavs and Chavettes.

        The Club and the Police must prosecute otherwise it sets a precedent and control in future will become almost impossible. Final day of the season and achieving promotion is one thing but for finishing in a Play Off spot was ridiculous and then blatantly trying to goad the Millwall fans was nothing short of a deliberate criminal act resulting in damage to club property and Stewards and Police being injured by flying objects not to mention the abuse and vitriol they were faced with for trying to keep people safe.

  38. Well, that was a great result. Besic is a class act, sign him on.
    There were bound to be a few nerves in what was a tense situation, so I think one or two below par performances is allowed. An excellent overall team performance though, Millwall didn’t really get a sniff. Britt was clinical when the opportunity came and Howson was in the right place at the right time.
    After the Sheff. Utd game I didn’t think we had a prayer of making the top six, a few games later our form is such that I think we can beat anyone in the play offs.

    Funny old game.

    As for the pitch invasion and taunting of the Millwall fans, bang out of order and definitely lacking in class. I agree that bans for the idiots involved is what is needed.

  39. Don’t shoot me, but I think that we are in a golden run.
    The number of players who must get a mention is rising by the match.
    The number who are influencing the result, ditto. We are definitely thinking about how we use Traore, and where he should be on the pitch( in regard to the state of the match)
    Confidence is high, very high, which means the fans are in a good place.
    Now to yesterdays match, it seems to me that all the team had an attack of miss hit clearances, they all looped in the air and went nowhere.
    However, we certainly made up for it with our domination of the entire match, it could and should have been four (minimum)
    Now for the bad news, sorry but i think that we will get past Villa over two legs, even worse i think that we will beat Fulham at Wembly.
    When we played them Traore stopped their main man from influencing the game. Then we moved him to the other wing, and their young superstar ran wild, we got beat. I’m sure that will not happen at Wembly.

    1. I agree with you that I couldn’t believe how many clearances were mishit or ballooned into the air yesterday!

      Hope your other observations are right!

      OFB

  40. Great report, as usual RR.
    Pretty much agree with most comments. Never seen so many miscued clearances but we got away with it.
    As for the morons, I agree with RR that there should be enough footage available to identify the majority of the idiots and they should be dealt with accordingly.
    Can’t believe we’ve actually made the play offs but, in the event we go on and win at Wembley, I would gladly accept promotion now rather than pinning our hopes on doing it next season.

  41. I have to agree that our mid three were excellent, but where was the captain/team mates when Besic (and rightly so to a certain degree in my simple opinion) went off on one to drag him away from the ref after the blatant penalty claim. He was totally out of order in his actions but to a point understandable after what had gone before in the game, but assistance in tempering his feelings by others in red would have helped, support wasn’t there for the lad.

    Shotten was as usual, “Shocken”, does he have negatives of pictures taken in a Hoel somewhere of white collar executives to get a game? Werder, if I’ve bowled a no ball there please feel free to cut me, but for me in the play off’s he’s a liability.

  42. Admired the conduct of the Millwall manager, it’s not easy when your team has suffered a big disappointment to be so gracious.
    Noted that he is the fifth? Opposition manager to admit calmly that his team could not handle Traore, even with two men on him at all times.
    I think he should be rested against Ipswich, not because he is tired but, well, just because.

    1. Fully agree, Harris done himself and his Club proud with fair, sensible, sporting comments and opinions, makes a refreshing change. Bizarrely I now have a bit of a soft spot for Millwall if I’m not careful.

  43. Wenger’s impending departure and Boro’s success so far under Pulis – we’ve won nothing but we are upwardly mobile and happy again, and that counts for more than something – has set my next Talking Point in motion. Woke up feeling rather sick, alas, but will get to it when “in the zone”. Maybe this evening.

    Yesterday? I was content. Britt’s vision for his goal was reminiscent of the best strikers’. That of knowing exactly where to place the ball so, if you don’t score, someone else will have the chance from the rebound. Similarly, Downing’s cross and the men we had in the box ensured someone was there to capitalise, in this case, Howson.

    It’s been something I’ve been wanting for some time, more men in the box to help our forwards.

    Agree with the general consensus that the pitch invasion was just silly. The Brentford one followed one of the most complete and commanding performances I’ve seen from a Boro team in recent years. Something to be proud of. Brighton, well, that speaks for itself. This, though? We’re not even at Wembley yet.

    Put it down as a failed and misguided attempt to recapture the feeling of those previous invasions.

  44. The game wasn’t a classic , and as mentioned at times the back four seemed nervous ,
    I did think TP got the tactics right , you would have thought we would dominate at home,but that’s what Millwall wanted, if you play high they defend and knock the long ball to their two forwards. We allowed them for long periods to have the ball, and because they don’t have the quality to hurt you, you wait and pounce,which is what we did.
    I think we have to be better in the play offs , but I see two tight games that will go either way, and I hope practicing penalties are on the agenda?

  45. Stats time.

    Darren Randolph’s sixteenth clean sheet (applause from me) ties him with Alan Miller, who managed the exact same amount in 1994-95.

    That takes him ahead of Schwarzer’s 14 (I looked this up to confirm it) in 1997-98. Three of our 18 clean sheets that season were kept by Marlon Beresford, one by Ben Roberts.

    Goals? Britt’s 15th makes him our second highest league scorer in the 2010s, just behind Paddy (17, 2014-15). Emnes (14, 2011-12), Albert (12, 2013-14), McDonald (12 in 2010-11 and 2012-13) and Lita (12, 2010-11) aren’t too far behind.

  46. I finally watched the highlights of the match and although the cameras moved on quickly was it Ayala who laid ‘physical Morison’ on the grass to do some flower arranging? Good to see we can dish it out when necessary and put down a marker for the opposition.

    UTB,

    John

  47. Everyone has had their thoughts about the game and i’m happy to disagree with the anti-Shotten brigade. Maybe I need to take another look at the match – seeing it live is always different – but I honestly don’t remember any issues with Shotten in defence and I do remember at least one issue when he came smartly round the back to clear a misplaced clearance from Gibson. He’s also very strong in the air and he and Friend have now become an outlet for Randolph on goal kicks and other clearances. I also got the impression that he keeps an eye on Traore’s defensive work. Regarding his attacking forays, maybe he’s not up to Christie or Fabio but I can live with that as we keep on racking up clean sheets.

    Anyway, the next topic that I’d like to throw in front of the assembled horde is the Ipswich game. Listening to TP’s post-game interview he seemed to me to leave things very open. He specifically referred to
    a) people who need a rest
    b) people who need to maintain their momentum &
    c) people that ‘we need to take a look at in case we need them in the games to come’
    I would humbly suggest the following fit into these categories
    a) Ayala, Besic, Traore.
    b) Assombalonga, Clayton (?), Howson (?) Gibson.
    c) Baker, Harrison, Fabio, Fry, Cranie.

    Category a) basically involves wrapping the three key players in cotton wool so that nothing goes wrong. Category b) lists the players who are either on a roll that needs to continue or need to settle in with a good game. Category c) are the perpetual subs who need a run.

    When it comes to these ‘dead’ games there can be a powerful moral element to the game if the result can really make a difference to the league. That should affect both the team picked and the performance. Thus, we are very fortunate in that playing Ipswich will affect absolutely nothing and so, given the natural inclination to take it easy before the play-offs, mixing things up seems to make perfect sense. Even better, we’re the only ones in this happy situation.

    I wonder how Aston Villa will line up and play against a desperate Millwall who want to keep themselves in with a distant chance of the play-offs and make a point for their home crowd that they are better than one of the teams above them. Similarly, Fulham need to beat Birmingham to put pressure on Cardiff whilst Birmingham will be equally desperate as they could still be relegated if the teams below them win. In fact, the same could even happen to Reading who, frankly speaking, shouldn’t have a prayer away at Cardiff. The other two play-off candidates Preston and Derby have to face the two relegation escapologists Burton and Barnsley in games that will not be for the faint-hearted.

    Not an easy week to predict the results or the Boro line up. How about

    Randolph
    Cranie, Fry, Gibson, Fabio
    Harrison, Leadbitter, Clayton, Johnson
    Baker
    Assombalonga

    UTB

  48. Before I lie down for the night…

    Been looking back Boro XIs vs. Ipswich. Decided to look at recent home XIs.

    The 2014-15 and 2015-16 starting XIs vs. Ipswich at home barely differ. Dimi, Kalas/Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Vossen/Gaston, Reach/Downing, Bamford/Rhodes.

    The MonksBoro XI vs. Ipswich in December were a little shaken up: Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio, Leadbitter, Howson, Bamford, Braithwaite, Downing, Assombalonga.

    Were next week a must win, there’d almost certainly be Shotton in place of Christie, Clayton for Leads, George for Fabio, Besic for Braithwaite and Adama for Bamford.

    It’s interesting to note how much, and yet how little, we’ve changed since the team Mogga and AK built began to blossom in August/September 2014. Would some of us be happy if the popular Greek, although he’s pushing forty, were still in goal? I’m almost sure of it, even though Randolph has been a fine asset to the team.

    Stubbornness and inflexibility are not deemed to be positives in managerial personalities, we know that all too well. Yet we’re all too keen to mostly rely on an aging spine and, in Pulis’s case, starting line-ups that never change. Me included, I suppose, so long as it, you know, “works”.

    Funny old game. Managers are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

  49. We need to get a result from Ipswich – just to keep the momentum. They will be celebrating their not so recent FA Cup win that day and they have nothing to play for.

    But it won’t be an easy match. Ipswich won 0-4 away at Reading on Saturday. So something must be right in their system.

    We need a result to keep the momentum going. And especially so if we want to avoid Fulham before Wembley. A draw or win for us would be morale boosting but let’s see what TP wants to do as many have debated above. But it won’t be an easy game.

    Up the Boro!

  50. I was out all day yesterday until late so haven’t had time to reflect on Saturday’s great win – I think it was a much easier game than many had expected and despite the agricultural nature of our defending sometimes it was indeed the new purposeful midfield that has probably seen Boro’s fortunes improve against the teams towards the top end of the table.

    If we add to that the drive that Adama brings and also we’ve seen Downing try to also inject pace and forward momentum too – this is the difference between Monk’s Boro and Pulis’s team. Pulis always said from day one that he wanted to see the ball moving forward far quicker than it was – many had initially thought that meant long balls but it’s not been the case and in Besic, he found the right player to give the team impetus – which has also probably better suited Howson’s game and indeed Clayton, who can then concentrate on doing what he does best.

    Whilst, Shotton may be good at defending in the air, he has a tendency to lose the ball when bringing it out of defence and doesn’t offer much going forward – I thought he had one of his best games for Boro, when we switched to a back-three in the second half at Sheff Utd. I can’t see moving forward how Shotton can continue as a regulation right-back purely on the basis of him having a long throw.

    It was interesting to see Britt get the nod over Bamford and his goal was well taken but you wonder what Bamford has to do to convince his manager as it may well be Pulis will try to tap into Assombalonga’s re-found confidence and start with him. It also looks like the end of the road for Leadbitter at Boro and maybe he’ll be off to Forest in the summer to rejoin Karanka.

    Quick thanks to RR for the match report, which must have been hard to concentrate on writing after the adrenalin was still flowing after the game – but as usual he delivered within a few hours of the game finishing!

    1. Maybe Leadbitter will end up back at Sunderland?

      I suppose it will depend on who they appoint, or who wants to take on the job of manager in that chaos. It’ll be an interesting summer for Sunderland fans, for their sake I hope it isn’t yet another ‘car crash’.

      UTB,

      John

      1. Player Manager for the Makems could be an interesting one. A great “Buy one Get one Free offer” a decent Midfielder and Manager all for one salary.

    2. Good post Werder.

      Also thank you to RR for his alternative view. It is great to read all the personal thoughts of how a match has been played out and sometimes they make you look at your own opinion also.

      Sometimes we post our thoughts when the adrenaline is still flowing or as many times this season when we have been angry at the performance. Often one does not get it right.

  51. Predictive text, an aid or a curse? We’ve all suffered from it especially in our haste to give opinions or comments. The latest to be caught out is Anthony Vickers on his appraisal of Mo Besic where he quotes ‘but that is where Boro have FELL short’. I’m fairly certain that AV had he re-read his article he would have substituted FELL for FALLEN as a journalist of his high calibre would know that in this context FELL is an intransitive verb, whilst FALLEN is the past participle of the verb ‘to fall’.

    1. Caught between two minds perhaps, thinking I’m going to write “… Boro have fallen short” but changing my mind half way through to use more brevity as “… Boro fell short”.
      Just supposin’ like.

  52. Selwynoz

    I also think Shotton isn’t as bad as some think. Unfortunately he’s had a few sticky moments, as do all players, and these errors have become a stick to poke him with.

    Boro supporters aren’t unique in identifying a player as a waste of money, a week link, not worth his place or whatever and sticking with that opinion no matter how that player performs.

    A month or so ago I thought Brit was a busted flush and said as much. I am more than happy to hold my hands up and say I was premature in writing him off, as his performances and goals of late have shown. Howson was another who I thought was massively underperforming and was contributing nothing but again he’s been like a new player.

    Of course people’s opinions differ, which is one of the reasons this blog is a must read for me, but sometimes fixing on a players bad performances and not recognising the good is I feel bit short sighted.

    Of course that’s just my opinion😉

    1. FAA
      Too true
      No one has criticised Downing more than me, not for playing badly, more for cruising through games, and, of course shooting over the bar, repeatedly.
      Now I’m happy to commend him for trying to do penetrating runs, move the ball forward swiftly, and trying to get shots on goal.
      With a player of his ability, it makes a difference.
      So looking forward to the playoffs, not nervous, not worried either, we are the equal of all the teams in the playoffs, and we are on a roll, I think the manager is clear in his mind which is our best line up, and I think most of the fans agree with him.
      So, let the games begin.

    2. For anyone who thinks Shotton is a weak link take a look at Derby’s goal against Villa on Saturday when Wisdon turned Taylor at LB inside out. The lad was so bad that they hauled him off on 23 minutes for the geriatric Alan Hutton. Now just salivate at the thought of Adama getting at either of those two!

  53. Ken
    Predictive text and cut and paste can be useful tools. Editing is, however, the key to their successful use and this is where we all get caught out because, as you say, we are in a hurry (under pressure in AV’s case?) to commit thoughts to “paper”.
    The upside is that it can provide useful content for producers of “blooper” type articles.
    Not sure what’s happening up the road but I feel sorry for Chris Coleman.

  54. Just as Napoli cut Juventus’s lead in Serie A last week down to one point they have a player sent off in Florence and lose 0-3 to the Violas whilst Juve have an impressive away win in Milan against Inter. With only three games to play and a four point lead they now look odds on to win their 34th Scudetto title, 16 more than both the Milanese clubs. In Portugal Benfica’s surprising 2-3 home defeat to Tondela means that with only two matches left they are now łevel with their Lisboan rivals Sporting in second place but five points behind Champions elect FC Porto. That effectively settles all the major European national league titles with just a few relegation issues to be decided mainly in England’s Premier League of course. As for the second tiers in Europe I doubt promotion issues have the same monetary significance as in England.

  55. It is absolutely crucial to have somebody like Shotton playing behind Traore. He doesn’t offer much going forward and, as Werder mentioned, he is susceptible to losing the ball when he does push down the flank, however, he offers stability at the back and allows Adama to attack without having to concentrate on defensive duties.

    Pulis said on BBC Tees after the match that he plays two different systems on either side of the pitch. On the left he has Friend/Stewy and Besic playing the ball out and keeping it tight, whereas on the right he wants to play expansive football and create space for Adama. That space is created by having a solid RB who does not overlap. How many goals did we leak when Monk was in charge and we had an attacking FB marauding down the wing alongside Traore? It led many, including myself, to writing off the young Spaniard. One of the reasons he has improved is because of Shotton doing his job superbly.

  56. I think that we are experiencing too many dramatic upturns in the form of players who were going through poor spells, to put it down to coincidence.
    Downing who has been on the end of some criticism recently, is now playing in a more determined manner, trying to get the ball forward, into the box, or setting Traore away.
    Besic has been a revelation, and a major reason for our new found confidence.
    As for Ayala, how on earth was he kept in the deep freeze for a complete season?
    We are in a good place, and I think that we will get to Wembly, and win.

  57. After Ipswich, it will be more like cup games (or European cup first) for Boro. And the final at Wembley, too.

    In the FA Cup this winter we defeated Sunderland at Riverside by 2-0. On the next round Brighton was visiting Boro and we lost 0-1 to them. So quite a normal Cup run – the big boys knocked us out at the first (2nd) hurdle.

    In the League Cup we won 0-2 at Villa Park. They were still below us at that moment. In October we went out by 3-0 away to Bournemouth. So quite similar to FA Cup – kicked out by a PL team in the second game.

    Let’s see how well we play in the play-offs – it is more like a Cup run with two rounds and three games. The league form is thrown away from the window and it is more a mind game now. TP should be a master on this and a strong squad is good to have as injuries can play a role, too.

    Interesting. But first Ipswich on Saturday. Up the Boro!

  58. A belated thanks to RR for his usual excellent report. I concur with his views on the game which were very much what I saw live on Sky.

    That is three solid/good performances in a row and bodes well for the future.

    If we do not make it this season then I am now feeling more optimistic for next season as I believe that TP and the squad are building understanding and momentum.

    It is without doubt in my view that Besic has had a major influence on midfield and the team and it will be key to try and retain his services for next season which ever division we are in but that might be easier said than done.

    I also think that Clayton is worthy of a mention. He seems in recent weeks to have reverted to his best and not only is he providing cover for the defence but is more positive in getting the ball forward when in possession and less sidewards and backward than he seemed to turn into under AK.

    I am not sure that resting too many players next week is a good idea. Unless they are carrying injuries which will benefit from a rest then I would play as many of the usual suspects as possible. Players in winning teams do not get tired and the more they play together the better understanding they have of one another.

    It would be good (as well as unusual) to get a result at Ipswich which cements our fifth place and guarantees our play off games against Villa and also to keep the non losing run going.

  59. Great previews piece and report again gents. Top work.

    I agree with those saying Shotton – or at least Shotton’s role – has had a major influence on how Traore has been performing. I recall Ranieri doing the same in Leicester’s title winning season – having his fullbacks stay back at all times and letting guys like Mahrez concentrate on finding space and exploiting it. I also agree with Werder that Shotton’s best position is probably on the right on a back three rather than at fullback but I think the blueprint of having a safe and solid fullback behind the rampaging Traore is the right one.

    I mentioned a few weeks ago that whilst Traore and Bamford would get the main plaudits, it was a well-functioning midfield that created the platform and that went missing during our brief lull. Great to see that Besic has come back to the fore, Howson is really starting to look comfortable and Clayton has been somewhere back to his best. I’m particularly pleased for Clayton as we know what he can do and how good he can be at it. Leadbitter has been an outstanding servant and a great signing overall but Clayton is his natural heir and I think can operate at a higher level if his head is right.

    A very interesting month of May to come. I won’t believe we’re going to do it until we’re 2-0 in the play-off final but we definitely can. It hasn’t been a smooth and seamless transition but Tony Pulis has clearly got us moving in the right direction, with some momentum, and deserves credit.

  60. Good post Andy.
    Clayts definitely back to his best. As you say, he is Grant’s natural successor.
    TP seems to have got us functioning for 90 minutes now. Can we keep it up?

  61. Adding my thanks to RR for the report. One of the occasions when I have my own frame if reference to compare to his and as so many people keep saying, you do capture the essence of the game and it’s key events. Well done.
    For me it was a nailed on penalty, but no excuses for chasing down the referee. No doubt TP has had a word.
    Well, what a great day. I discover the PM I’ve been working with on assignment this last 7 weeks or so is originates from Thirsk and is a big Boro fan too. No wonder I thought he was a good lad 😉.

    1. Besic seems to be getting better as his match fitness improves after a slight dip a few short weeks back. From where I was sat it looked like a nailed on penalty and fully understood his disbelief but he does need to reign it in a bit in terms of his negotiation technique. It is however good to see a creative midfielder that gives a stuff, makes a pleasant change from the last one!

  62. So it looks like Sunderland have been sold, with Ellis clearing enormous millions of pounds of debt. Now, not wishing any more unnecessary I’ll fortune on them, how does that all stack up with financial fair play?

    1. Powmill
      That is naughty, I see your point, but it is kicking a team when it’s down.
      It’s bad enough being in the hole for a couple of hundred million when you are in the Prem. But when you are in the first division( don’t even go there)

  63. Congratulations are due to TP for achieving a top 6 place. Before his arrival we had no pattern to our play and didn’t know what kind of performance we were going to get from week to week.

    Under TP there has been a clear way of playing albeit not consistently for 90 minutes although there has been an improvement in the last 2 games.

    I think he has been very astute not asking for more money for new players because if he failed he could have said the players were inherited and not his choices.
    However we should not get carried away with performances as we are miles behind Wolves and Fulham.

    I expect most of us prefer Aston Villa in the play offs and so a point at Ipswich will be necessary as I expect Derby to win their home game.
    But what happens if say Derby win. 2-0 and we lose. 1-0 as we would both have the same goals difference of plus 19.
    Who would take fifth position ? Does anyone know? Ken ?

    Here in Huddersfield the locals are sweating as their last 3 games are Man. City and Chelsea away followed but Arsenal at home and so are not hopeful of any points. There hope was Arsenal getting to the Europa final which is 3 days after the Huddersfield game and hoping Arsenal would put out a weakened team.

    It is stressful being a supporter whether trying to get promoted or avoiding relegation but we all love it !!

      1. Andy and Philip
        As you say, goals scored would determine 5th place. In fact if Derby did win 2-0 their goals for/against record would be 68-47. It would be improbable for Boro to match that in defeat (3-4 or 4-5 if Derby won 3-1). The introduction of ‘goals scored ‘ was deemed a fairer method than the previous system of ‘goal average’ where positions of equal points was determined by dividing ‘goals scored’ by ‘goals conceded’. Presuming Derby do win 2-0 and Boro lose 0-1, the respective goal averages would have been Derby 1.4468 and Boro 65/44 = 1.4773 in effect favouring the team conceding fewer goals.

        The most significant season when ‘goal average’ determined promotion was the 1926/27 Second Division season, that aksio being the season when George Camsell scored 59 league goals. Boro were promoted with 62 points along with Portsmouth on 54 points who scored 87 goals and conceded 49 (+38) Manchester City also accrued 54 points and scored 108 and conceded 61 (+47). Under todays rules City would have been promoted having a greater ‘goal difference’ Bizarrely though under the then regulation when ‘goal average’ determined positions Pompey’s ‘goal average’ was calculated as 87 divided by 49 (1.776) whilst City’s was calculated as 108 divided by 61 (1.770) and is therefore recorded that City were denied promotion by .006 of a goal. As far as I’m aware this is the only occasion that a club was either promoted or relegated by ‘goal average’ where ‘goal difference’ would have given a different outcome.

        As you state, where goals scored and conceded are identical, league results between the two clubs would be the determining factor, although in the past a playoff would have taken place.

  64. Chambers in my opinion had a very good season considering the circumstances. De Roon did okay. In spite of everything, Negredo sneaked double figures. Just a few less than Brighton’s top scorer Glenn Murray, and they’re five points clear of the bottom three. Bernardo was a flop, yes, but he’s got his confidence back at Girona (like a certain born-again Cristhian), and we made a profit on him.

    The unease, furore even, wasn’t so much to do with the players themselves as whether or not they were really necessary to begin with. I’ve always done my best to be open-minded towards transition – it is part and parcel of football, it is what it is – but I know not everyone can be.

    “Upgrades” are always a risk. It may be as simple as saying that they didn’t work out or synergise like Besic and Shotton have.

    As for the sideways and backwards passing, it was simply the “in” thing for every team that tried to copy Barcelona and the World and European Champions. More than a bit tricky when you haven’t the right players, though.

    It all comes back to what James Nalton said in 2015: “Teams are being hindered, not helped, by their quest to play football ‘the right way’. They also concentrate too much on the possession part of Barcelona’s model.”

    1. Whether we go up or not, I’d rather we only signed 3 or 4 first teamers at most.

      If we go up, I’m sure that would leave us short on quality in more than one area but I think, when you’re scrapping for survival as we’d surely be regardless of the transfer activity, spirit is every bit as important as skill.

      It must be very difficult for players who has helped get their club promoted to find thenselves discarded. Of course, it’s not personal, but it can do no good for togetherness, can harm your chances of survival and, worse, scupper hopes of coming straight back up.

      No, no overhaul for me please. Steady progression is the order of the day, even if that means yo-yoing between divisions for a couple of seasons.

      That’s for the summer though. For now, I’ll take form of DWDW to see the season out.

      1. Exactly, the problem we have had in the past two summers was that we bought far too many players at a time. This season it has taken well over a half a season to get the team going.

        Yes, next summer maximum three or four players, please. I hope we have learnt a lesson in there. Up the Boro!

    2. Simon,

      You are right and then they do not know what to do with it. The ball that is. The patterns are pretty but for what. Right for one team with the talent but not for the rest of the dozens of copyists without the talent.

      Imitation the most sincere form of flattery, generally carried out by people who don’t understand the concept or requirements.

      Make your own style, system or whatever you wish to call it with what you have and work to their strong points as a team not a copied template or matrix.

      I think Mr Pulis may well be doing this in his own way.

      UTB,

      John

  65. I get the feeling that the playoff semifinal (if against Villa) might mirror the final playoff against Chelsea under Rioch. A home leg first followed by an away leg in front of a 40,000 plus crowd. Sounds familiar; dare we hope for a similar result – a 2-0 home win and an aggregate 2-1 success? I reckon most of us would take that.

  66. Further to my blog in the early hours of this morning regarding Portsmouth’s promotion to the First Division in 1926/27 via ‘goal average’ despite having an inferior ‘goal difference’ to Manchester City, the present system was introduced in August 1976. However the Football League, but not the Premier League, made another change in August 1996 whereby ‘goals scored’ became the criteria.

    The 3rd Division title in the 1996/97 season was won by Wigan Athletic over Fulham. Both clubs had 87 points with Wigan’s goal difference being +33 (84 for, 51 against) and Fulham’s being +34 (72 for, 38 against). Without that change to ‘goals scored’ Fulham would have been Champions in a previous season. Both teams were promoted, however the experiment only lasted for three seasons before reverting back to ‘goal difference’.

    After scouting the league tables back to 1888 l can now confirm that the Second Division in 1926/27 is the only occasion in all the Divisions when ‘goal average’ would have given a different outcome to ‘goal difference’ in determining promotion, although it’s not clear whether that would extend to determining relegation.

  67. I see match day programmes are being discussed as to whether they should continue to be a mandatory publication. My heart says yes but have to admit not having bought one in decades.

    Its one of those things I suppose that we will never miss until its gone. Times move on as does technology. The Team news gets messaged straight to my phone an hour before KO, player interviews are all readily available on line as are our opposition Manager quotes etc. Everything is instantly available from the press conference the previous day. They served a great purpose and were a fantastic part of the match day experience but sadly they are now part of the past and no longer relevant.

  68. Like lots of things in life RR, time moves on and the past gets left behind in more ways than one.

    Us oldies generally hanker after the old ways when “it was better”. However you cannot stop progress, for better and for worse. I sometimes believe that for all the good things that have come along, the side-effects sometimes, just sometimes out way the benefits.

    But then when you get to my age, you do reminisce how good it was back then and how the sun always shined from Easter through the Summer months.
    Memories eh!!!!!!

  69. It seems odd that in an age where top-flight football is awash with money (or could be, if it didn’t give it all to the players in wages far beyond what anyone really requires), there is discussion about efficiency savings such as culling the matchday programme. Sadly, this will lead to people’s jobs on the line.

    Perhaps rather than ending the programme, football clubs could move with the times and create digital version which are sent to subscribers tablets/hones/electronic devices (or does this already happen??).

    I suppose the good news is that for those who’ve avidly collected programmes over the years, they may be about to become items of value.

  70. I see the FA are investigating the pitch invasion. Stand by for a hefty fine, although, without re-introducing fencing, I don’t see how you can stop the brain dead from running onto the pitch. Not sure that fining the clubs makes sense. All they can do is try to identify the culprits and ban them from attending.

    1. Identifying, fining and banning is the only way to make the point. £500 fine and a ten year banning order might encourage others to think of their responsibilities and actions in the future.

  71. I think digital alternatives have already taken the place of the Programme hence it’s decline. Multiple News sites now abound with up to the minute information. Most of us remember the teams being printed in the programme (which itself was printed two days before matches) and like as not scribbling in the changes which in fairness didn’t use to be too many as most teams had a first eleven, no squads in those days and metatarsals hadn’t even been invented.

    Indeed this site is equally culpable in the demise of the programme as is the official MFC site bringing you “all the latest news as it happens” at the expense of that other footballing tradition the local Paper (remember the Saturday night sports editions).

    Parmo’s in a bun instead of Bovril now, question is what’s next to bite the dust?

  72. Touching story on the Gazette about Adama giving his shirt to the Bandeira children. One rarely got near one’s favourite players when I was a child. Nowadays players do a lot of charity work in the community and are much more approachable. The fact that their high salaries shouldn’t detract from that. Well done, I say.

    1. Ken

      I see Adama at most home games and he stands at the front entrance signing autographs and having his photo taken. He’s a really nice lad.

      OFB

  73. I never held with those new-fangled programmes. A waste of a penny, as far as I was concerned. I do miss,however, the old bloke who used to walk round the pitch wheeling a mobile chalk-board with the team-changes scrawled illegibly on it. Put out of business by those muffled, unintelligible public address systems, which, ironically, I now also rather miss.

    And what about those brass bands that you could never hear, playing miserably in the rain. And those tiny bills, still being posted around town, well into the early 70s advertising a “Grand Football Match”. And having to stand in a long queue (with adjacent turnstiles closed) for the privilege of abusing the assembled wage-slaves and getting soaked.

    Don’t suppose they’ll ever come back. Those were the days.

  74. I loved the local silver bands from Linngdale and New Marske playing the pop tunes of the day at Boro’s matches. Lucky once at an evening match we even had the Coldstream Guards marching and playing. Happy days.

  75. And I remember the FA Cup final with a silver band playing at half time. I hope when Boro are playing at Wembley, the band is back.

    Talking about a band, did we ever had the white band on the shirts when we had Hummel? I don’t think so. I am expecting an all red shirt for 2018/19 season.

    Hummel used to make good boots in the past and they still do better quality footballs than adidas does. The Hummels last longer.

    Up the Boro!

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