| Middlesbrough | Birmingham City | ||
| Assombalonga | 12′ | ▮ Gardner |
83′ |
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
52% 10 2 3 9 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
48% 11 4 9 11 |
Britt gives ex-Boss the Blues
The “Return of the Monk” possibly didn’t have the same blockbuster ring as the “Return of the Jedi” in terms of posteriors on seats and Global awareness but nevertheless on Teesside there was an extra edge to this afternoons proceedings down at the Riverside. The Monkbot was back in town albeit showing at a Stadium near us for a couple of hours only. To some in Middlesbrough he was the scoundrel who wasted millions on mediocre to poor talent whilst to others he was unfortunate to not be given the full season to complete whatever it was he was conjuring and therein lay his problem.
One word sums up his Teesside tenure “confusion”. His Players on the pitch seemed confused, his team selections seemed at odds with one another at times and his penchant for changes which were simply coming too often just seemed to leave most of us confused and in the end losing confidence. There were doubts about whether or not he actually knew what he was doing or was just winging it, his subsequent relative success with saving the Blues from the drop would indicate that something lay deep within but far too deep to be revealed in any of his press conferences that was certain.
For Tony Pulis and Boro it was a frustrating end to the week when the window closed to put it mildly. Regardless of which side of the great Bamford divide fans sat there was mutual concern that the anticipated and arguably much needed four or five recruits did not materialise at all. The known targets seemed a few weeks short of negotiation time to have any chance of success with opposition Managers and Directors determined to have and to hold as the 5.00pm deadline came and went on Thursday. Perhaps fittingly those in charge of such things had gone from negotiators to masked Loan Arrangers to protect their identity/ies.
Ayala and Gestede were joined by new local lad Hugill on the treatment table as it was declared on Friday that our new Striker was in fact “Knacked” to use a Teesside colloquialism. Apart from that TP could muster a squad of 18 match day squad numbered players to select from or just about with maybe one sixteen year old spare plus an ancient goalkeeping relic. The good news was that Howson was fit and Tuesday night’s concern was only a kick on the knee rather than a sprain or strain. Of course we learned from last season that what TP says in these “pressers” can often be taken as mind games and or with a generous spoonful of salt.
The Gods it appeared pre kick off at least were all in our favour as TP had never lost against GM and in fact Boro were unbeaten in our last eight games against Birmingham. As the Coaches from St. Andrews parked up the travelling bluenoses were looking forward to perhaps seeing the Gardner brothers (Gary and Craig) make an appearance together along with the physically formidable Omar Bogle on loan from Cardiff to provide former Boro striker Lukas Jutkiewicz with competition.
TP went with the same again although with the limitations on his squad he doesn’t have many options to permit tinkering and so it was 3F’s at the back again with Shotton and Downing on the flanks and Howson, Clayton and Wing central and Braithwaite just behind Assombalonga. The Red Faction unfurled a new “Reservoir Dogs” banner with “Let’s go to work” underneath as the sides took to the pitch. There were a few low key boos directed at the Birmingham manager but most Boro fans like myself were kind of “Meh” towards him and not really bothered either way.
The early exchanges saw Cheikh N’Doye and Aden Flint strike up a relationship that was to last the entire afternoon. Boro had the better of then opening exchanges with Shotton looking lively in his more penetrative role on the right. Former Boro target Jota was looking lively in the opening minutes as the visitors passed the ball around posing problems but not really asking questions of the Boro defence. Neither keeper had much to do with most of the action being played outside of the 18 yard box areas until Howson played a beautiful forty five yard cross field lob to Britt just inside the Blues box who brought it down, jinked to his right and despatched an equally beautiful arced ball into the far side of Trueman’s goal putting Boro one goal up.
The goal settled Boro and stung Birmingham whose supporters had been quite vociferous up until that point. Britt nearly doubled his tally just a few minutes later but this time firing across Trueman’s goal. The signs were there that today could be a repeat of Tuesday night’s score line. This seemed to be a wakeup call as Friend had to be alert to deny Jota with a block. Adams was next to try his luck but Randolph was alert to the danger. It was clear that Birmingham still had belief and were not going to be rolled over as easily as Sheffield United had been just a few days previously.
Braithwaite was lively up front linking well with Downing and Britt and was starting to receive special treatment for his troubles with a few strong challenges coming his direction. On the half hour mark the Danish International was scythed down from behind by N’Doye who picked up a yellow card for his troubles. Downing lined up to take the free kick with the big lads all circling on the far side of the box but Stewy rolled back the years with a clever free kick that caught everyone unaware hitting the nearside upright. So close but the Blues (resplendent in Yellow) survived and regrouped to take the game to Boro again with another former Boro target Maghoma and Jota both causing problems and providing ammunition for Che Adams and inevitably ex Boro lad Jutkiewicz.
Downing again had another effort that was skyed this time as he was set up by Friend but his effort fell on his right foot much to Monk’s men’s relief. Just before the half time whistle another long ball was cleverly flicked on by Braithwaite to Britt who shot but it was now his turn to hit the post and the half finished 1-0.
Understandably there were no changes for Boro at half time as the same eleven re-entered the pitch which had now cooled a little as the Summer Sun had its West Stand shadow now covering the pitch. Birmingham seemed to enjoy the cooler climatic conditions more than Boro as they applied pressure searching for an equaliser and Randolph had to be reactive to palm away a Jutkiewicz header. Boro responded and soon had another effort which somehow stayed out of the Birmingham net when Shotton launched a throw in which was fumbled by Trueman as the trajectory confused him leaving Britt and Harlee dean contesting the ball which somehow hit the underside of the crossbar only to rebound back out with Trueman flapping at it and somehow the chance had gone with the North Stand uniformly lowering their hands from their heads in slow motion disbelief.
Garry Monk’s charges were enjoying possession and were probing and testing Boro resolve but not really looking like they were going to get past the 3F’s who were heading and clearing everything that was launched at them. On the hour mark Howson picked up on a loose ball and placed an accurate shot which beat Trueman but Morrison was on the line to head clear. Lewis Wing then played in Britt with a tempting ball across the six yard box but despite an outstretched foot his toe was just a few inches short to poke it home.
Birmingham were very much still in the game and Boro were now sitting too deep. As the game entered the last half hour we struggled to get the ball out of our own half as Gardner cracked in a long range effort forcing Randolph to dive to spare our blushes. Monk then threw on new arrival Bogle as Birmingham laid siege to the Boro 18 yard box. Solomon-Otobar and Mahoney were added to try and get something from the game for the visitors. This period was very similar to Tuesday evening except that we didn’t have the comfort of a three goal cushion.
We were camped just outside of our own box and any clearances were mostly hopeful hoofs that Britt and Braithwaite were struggling to chase after with three games in intense heat starting to sap their energy levels. In response TP freshened things up with Tavernier coming on for the equally exhausted Wing and then a few minutes later Fletcher came on for Britt and on 88 minutes McNair came on for the depleted Braithwaite whose race was run.
In between the Fletcher and McNair substitutions a frustrated Gardner picked up a straight Red for a ludicrous challenge on MOM Howson as Boro were starting to see the game out. Boro held on in a nervy final few minutes as the fourth official held up an additional four minutes. Consecutive victories in a week are not to be sniffed at but the manner of both victories had an element of hanging on desperately rather than comfortably. Three goals on Tuesday made it an insurmountable task for Tuesday’s visitors but the solitary goal today made for less comfortable viewing in the second half despite Boro having by far the better opportunities.
The lack of a Traore type outlet was noticeable as clearances were coming straight back at us for large parts of the second half. Looking at the bench TP didn’t have many options and played the hand that was dealt to him. Like on Tuesday night there were no bad performances and in fact Shotton and Howson in particular are playing their best Boro football, likewise a few others like Downing and Braithwaite are worthy of mentions. The back three are looking more solid as the games progress and Randolph never looked seriously troubled. Clayts was magnificent in shielding and protecting and we witnessed another good game from Lewis Wing who didn’t look out of place. All that said let’s be under no illusions that as good as it is to be top of the league it’s not viable to stay there unless our recruitment team unlearn the habit of a lifetime and get some credible loans in and quickly.