Author: Redcar Red

Pos. 13th (9 pts)	SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2019			Pos. 17th (7 pts)
Boro		1-0	Reading
Johnson (60)	41% 10(2) 5 12	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	59% 18(7) 10 17

Marvelousimo Marvinho!

Normal service resumed this afternoon after the International break as Boro entertained Reading at the Riverside. Earlier in the week we learned that George Friend and Jonny Howson required surgery to aide their recoveries whilst Ayala and Coulson were unknowns as regarding their fitness or availability for today’s encounter. Rudy Gestede was also missing after being called up by Benin during the break and somehow managed to injure himself again without kicking a ball in anger. Howson and Ayala would be massive concerns whilst Friend and Coulson’s worries were hopefully mitigated in part by the availability of Bola to stake another claim for the LB role.

Boro fans would get a chance to see “what they could have won” with rumoured summer target Puscas appearing at the Riverside in a Reading shirt. Jose Gomes sprung a surprise with three changes from their last outing and had his big guns, Puscas, Pele and Joao on the bench. Asa boy I’d always dreamed of seeing Puskas and Pele at the Riverside and I guess this was as close as it would ever get, thankfully they weren’t starting!

Woodgate went with the same again as started down at Bristol with the surprise omission being fit again Ayala on the bench when most of us thought he would walk straight back in. The message I guess is that if you do well enough you keep your place which is a good ethos to keep players on their toes and pressure for starting places.

Boro got proceedings underway in the balmy but breezy 20 degrees September Riverside sunshine. Alost immediately Boro were on the attack with a Marvin Johnson cross just evading the advancing Fletcher, next up was McNair feeding Fletcher with his effort deflected going out for an early Boro corner in the opening five minutes. Reading then tested Boro’s resolve with Boye and Meite who were to be a handful all afternoon showing plenty of aggression, skill and determination.

Yakou Meite had Shotton taking one for the team in blocking a smash and then a minute later needed Randolph to smother a shot from the bustling Ghanaian international in an end to end pulsating start. Yiadom was bettering Bola and his cross was met by Moore whose effort went wide. The Royals were getting a grip of the game, constantly closing Boro down, defending from the front and not letting Boro set up their gameplay by passing out from the back. Indeed, Boro were now getting themselves into difficulty by passing themselves into trouble and losing possession repeatedly. Meanwhile Bola was really struggling and at times it was questionable if he was actually disinterested or just simply out of his depth at this level.

The tempo dipped after the opening twenty minutes but Reading looked by far the more likely to take the lead. They had Boye being aggressive and nasty when needed. Meite was a huge unit that tested Shotton who it has to be said was very adept at handling him and stinking to his task along with Fry but Bola still hadn’t got to grips with his opponent and we were looking extremely frail and vulnerable on that side of the pitch. Dijksteel on the opposite side was looking solid and strong and even had some fancy footwork to boot. The home fans held a round of applause on the appropriate minute for Boro fan Jamie Reed who had sadly passed away unexpectedly during the week at the tender age of thirty three.

The Red Faction sent a message to the EFL courtesy of three banners which questioned their fitness for purpose which was spontaneously applauded around four sides of the Stadium along with a chant that was less than complimentary towards those in suits who effectively have literally cheaply sold the English game outside of the Premiership down the river although the Teessider’s explanation was more Anglo Saxon in its delivery. Out on the pitch Swift had an effort for the Visitors but Randolph was equal to it and meanwhile McIntyre’s late challenge on McNair didn’t raise too many laughs as he entered the Ref’s book.

Meite came close to opening the scoring after a Yiadom cross, Bola then charged forward, tripped over himself and passed the ball as he lost control straight to a Navy-blue Reading shirt (what was wrong with Blue and White hoops?) almost gifting the Royals a gilt edged opportunity requiring a mad panic in the Boro back line somehow scrappily getting the ball away to safety. McNair as he has so often this season led the charge for Boro as he tested Brazilian Keeper Cabral after a Brazil style run saw him take on the entire Royals defence, darted and weaved past three or four defenders to draw a save out of the Keeper. The ever menacing Meite appeared to have been “earmarked” by an outstretched Clayton arm. The Visitors bench seemed to explode in overt outrage as they sought to make their dominance count, earning a card for a member of their Coaching staff as the first half was now petering out for Boro somewhat ignominiously.

Marvin Johnson was pinging Souness style balls forward and into the middle for Fletcher and Assombalonga to latch onto all half and one such ball teased Britt but his run was just too late and the game immediately swung down the opposite end as Moore fed in that man Meite agai and just as he was about to pull the trigger from the six yard box on the defenceless Randolph, Fry slid in from nowhere, hooked the ball from under him and cleared the danger. Boye then entered the Refs book after another of his South American style challenges was considered one too many and just as the half came to a close Fletcher had an effort that was blocked by McIntyre to keep the scores level.

The first half ended with pulsating action just as it had started, there was a quiet almost confused and dysfunctional twenty minute filler in the sandwich from a Boro perspective and away fans would have considered themselves unlucky not to be ahead but at least the game was far from boring even if things were less than ideal from a Boro perspective at the midway stage.

Both sides came out for the second half unchanged. Reading started the half but it was Boro who started the more lively and just two minutes in had the ball in the net after a cross from a Wing taken Free Kick was knocked across the goalmouth courtesy of Fry with Fletcher and Assombalonga closing in but as the ball hit the net the assistant running the East Stand touchline had his flag up for Offside. Biased I may be but from my seat in the North Stand they looked to me to be running in with the ball in front of them. A seemingly lucky let off and a Royal Pardon if ever there was one!

It was better from Boro, but Reading then nearly went in front requiring a Randolph save to tip away Ejaria’s effort from twenty-five yards out. The resulting corner was cleared down Boro’s right flank and as Johnson was working his magic, he was brought down by Morrison who received a yellow for his troubles. The Free Kick was debated and as Johnson ran away, he returned to put in a low cross which bounced just in front of Cabral, Fletcher’s run across him seemingly unnerved him and the ball spun past into the net to put Boro ahead. We will never know if Marvin intended it but he certainly deserved it as he had played some teasing and inviting balls all afternoon in what is undoubtedly his best spell in a Boro shirt since his arrival.

Five minutes later and Yiadom bravely blocked a ferocious Wing strike in an almost carbon copy of Shotton’s first half block from Meite. The Reading bench had seen enough and some changes were in the offing. On came Lucas Joao to replace McIntyre and Rinomhota was replaced by George Puscas. That was it, the gloves were off and no more messing as Reading were clearly going to throw everything at Boro. Two minutes later Woodgate responded by withdrawing the ineffective Bola and putting on Ayala to go with three/five at the back to counter the big guns of the expensively assembled Reading attack with Marvin dropped in at Left Back.

The game now entered into a new phase as the Visitors were throwing Kitchen Sinks and everything else they could muster at Boro’s Pulis/Karanka looking back line. It wasn’t all one way as Johnson brought out another save from Cabral and a tasty Clayton ball into the box was destined for Ayala coming in at the far post to head home but Britt popped up, got under it and his attempt hit the side netting. With just under twenty minutes remaining Boye tested Randolph again requiring a palmed save to keep the slender Boro advantage intact.

McNair then went on a run, driving through the middle and hit a shot that went just wide of Cabral’s upright as Assombalonga was upset, wanting it played in as he ran through in front of him. Next up was former Chelsea lad and their set piece specialist Swift who had an effort go just wide as the Riverside temperature was artificially rising. It was Swift again who fired in a central Free Kick from twenty yards out that cleared the Boro wall, dipping down and Randolph instinctively just tipped over.

Boye then came off for Loader with the Royals sensing they could not unreasonably get something from this game. Omar Richards chased to the by line, crossed to Puscas but the big Romanian fired over from inside the eighteen-yard box. Bums definitely do not get any squeakier than this. It was relentless, Shotton, Fry, Ayala and Randolph were frantically batting, swatting, hitting, punching and heading everything and anything that came into the box from all sorts of angles and trajectories.

Joao then sealed the draw until Randolph done the impossible, he rose from the dead to stretch across the goal mouth and palm it wide. As the resultant corner came in from Swift, Moore rose to head it into the top corner only for Randolph to incredibly and ridiculously fly across his goalmouth like a circus acrobat tipping it over in what from the North Stand looked like a slow-motion bullet dodging, freeze frame out take from the Matrix.

The fourth Official held up five agonising minutes as Johnson came off to a thoroughly deserved standing ovation from all around the Riverside for Tav to come on; no doubt with instructions to stretch the Royals where and when he could and creatively run the clock down. Another Richards cross was met by Joao again but fortunately his effort this time went harmlessly wide. The ball was cleared upfield, Britt chased, held the ball up wide on the East Stand touchline and when the “invited” foul came with mere seconds remaining there was a huge chorus of “do, do, do, Britt Assombalonga” much to his astonishment at least judging by the surprised look on his face. The home support was bouncing, willing their side on towards to the final whistle.

The resultant free kick was played by Saville (who had come on for Wing just before Tav’s arrival) to Britt to kill the game off. It ended seconds later 1-0. There were some average performances out there but there were also some stalwart ones namely from Shotton, Clayton, Fry, Ayala, Johnson and of course inevitably McNair. Despite all that without the agility and incredulous saves from Randolph we could have been looking at nil points let alone all three! Four games undefeated and whilst its too early for any indicators somewhere in all that we saw a resolute five man defensive wall holding on resolutely whilst showing attacking endeavour at the opposite end.

Pos. 5th (11pts)	SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2019			Pos. 18th (6pts)
Bristol City		2-2	Boro
Palmer (44) Rowe (81)	42% 18(5) 6 13	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	58% 22(6) 10 11	Moore (64 o.g.) Assombalonga (68)

Stalemate at the Gate

This was Boro’s biggest test of the season. The long trip down to Ashton Gate would be a real test of Woodgate’s Boro squad against a side fancied for a Play Off spot by many and unlike opponents to date sitting fourth in the business area of the Championship. Tomas Kalas would be missing for this one so at least that was some comfort for those of us fearing a Typical Boro moment. Prior to this lunchtime Kick Off the Robins were four games unbeaten and had taken maximum points from their last three.

The Boro Team news had more than a few surprises along with the bench. Bare bones sprung to mind when we saw Ayala out along with Friend and Dael Fry starting for his first game of the season alongside Shotton at CB. There was no Jonny Howson either meaning that Dijksteel came in at RB with Bola LB. Defensively that looked a combination of raw, inexperienced, rusty and very susceptible. The Midfield looked more recognisable with Adam Clayton anchoring with Paddy McNair and Lewis Wing restored in place of George Saville whose cameo last week against his former side Millwall didn’t inspire his Manager to risk a repeat performance. Johnson and Fletcher would be providing the width along with Britt up front in a 433.

With both Ayala and Howson struggling from niggles in training this week it meant Walker and Malley made up the bench along with Saville, Tavernier, Gestede, Browne and Pears. Bristol had a couple of CB injury problems themselves with veteran Ashley Williams returning on the bench after missing most of pre-season and the opening Championship games through injury as Manager Lee Johnson looked to be going with a 442.

Lee Masons’s whistle got proceedings underway at a drizzly Ashton gate as Boro had a very early chance with Britt holding up play to set up Fletcher who struck a 20-yard effort testing Bentley to concede a corner in the first minute. A quick second chance fell to Paddy McNair in the box after Marvin Johnson had cleverly knocked the ball back into the path of the Northern Irishman. A near post low corner from Johnson saw a deflected header handled/bundled out for a corner by a Robins defender but nothing was given for either the handball or corner as once again the Officials seem to miss key decisions for Boro. Admittedly a Penalty would have been harsh but how the Officials could then award a goal kick for Bristol was head scratching.

Another Boro corner on ten minutes won by Dijksteel was curled in by Johnson and had Bentley scrambling as a Red shirted defender “escorted” Britt into the Bristol net. So far, an entertaining start and with Boro looking the more likely but Bristol themselves looked dangerous on the break. On twelve minutes McNair played a great ball into Fletcher whose prodded shot hit the upright coming back off and immediately Bristol broke getting the ball up to Wieman at the other end whose effort was cleared for a corner in what was a continually entertaining opening quarter hour.

Shotton stood solid and blocked an attacking threat from which Dijksteel and McNair one two’ed with one another down the wing ending with a McNair shot crashing off a defender in the box who knew little about it. Seventeen minutes then saw a series of bagatelle clearances in the Boro box with a penalty shout against Shotton with the ball cannoning off his arm as Bristol once again came close. Wing then conceded a free kick on Massonga and as the ball came in Fry headed it clear and then body checked the follow up effort. As the ball was recycled by the Home side on the periphery of the Boro 18 yard box it came back into the danger area where a Baker glanced header came off Randolph’s upright.

There were some very worrying signs on 27 minutes as Dael Fry was clattered into by Benik Afobe and then Kasey Palmer replicated an identical clattering on Clayton five yards away whilst Fletcher seemed to be feeling a Hamstring further up the pitch. Palmer received a yellow but Benik Afobe’s challenge was just as brutal but not adjudged to be a foul. Boro got things moving quickly with a series of quick passing which saw McNair unfortunately lose his footing, slip on the edge of the Bristol D only to see them charge forward, Kasey Palmer dummying to win a duel with Clayts for Bristol to go close again.

Another clever dummy this time from Fletcher allowed Wing to try his luck but Bristol immediately reversed things with a run from Eliasson saw a Wieman headed effort saved brilliantly by an outstretched Randolph, phew it was still 0-0. A long cleared ball played down to Britt saw him sneak in and shoot forcing another equal response from Bentley in the Bristol goal to keep it 0-0. This was a great game for the neutral with end to end action. On 37 minutes Fletcher collected the ball out wide who fed Britt who barged his way through from a tight angle on the edge of the six-yard box to win a corner which Wing wasted, floating it straight into the welcoming arms of Bentley. The Bristol keeper played it up field quickly and but for a slight deflection off Dijksteel’s boot Wieman would have been clean through. Massengo felt Wing’s frustration a minute later after he was brought down with Wing receiving a yellow for his attentions which looked more clumsy than cynical, tripping rather than kicking.

With only two minutes of the half remaining a series of poorly cleared low efforts by Boro from Bristol broke left and after a few attempts Eliasson (who had witched flanks) managed to finally elude McNair to float a ball in to the unmarked Palmer to head home centrally with ease to put the Robins one up just before the break. It was harsh on Boro after their enterprising play but leaving attackers completely free in the middle of your box after failing to clear will have been very disappointing for the Boro bench.

There wasn’t much more that Woodgate could have asked from his team during the half time break. They arguably had marginally looked the more likely to score but a solitary defensive lapse in a packed box undone all the good work. Apart from that, looking at his bench there was little residing there to seriously turn the game around or indeed up the ante.

The sides came out unchanged for the second half and immediately McNair was attracting attention with a 30 yard Wing type strike to test Bentley in the opening seconds. Afobe then broke into the Boro box forcing Randolph to a low save as this game started the way the first had been. A fizzed cross after Wieman had initially switched the ball to the opposite wing saw him almost get in on the end of a tantalising ball into the Boro 18-yard box. Marvin Johnson tried his luck with a left footed shot 20 yards out but it just wouldn’t come down in time to trouble Bentley. The ball then broke to Wieman outside the Boro D who smashed his shot just over Randolph’s bar as the action continued unabated.

A chance then fell to Assombalonga centrally on the edge of the box but skewed his effort high and wide. A good piece of work by Bola on the left saw a good cross blocked for a corner which was subsequently headed well over by Fletcher on sixty-one minutes. The pace of the game had seemingly but noticeably slowed as Boro then attacked with Johnson and McNair linking up well after Wing headed down for Paddy’s low cross to be turned into his own net by Moore. One each and game on again, that momentary dip in pace had allowed Boro to catch Bristol cold with that burst of energy.

Callum O’Dowda then came on for goal scorer Palmer as Lee Johnson responded to his side being pulled back level with a double substitution and Jack Hunt then went off for Pereira. Changes made the Robins looked to get their noses back in front but only to see Marvin Johnson cut inside as he repeated his earlier curling shot but with the same result. One of these is going to sail in on another day, it was reminiscent of the sort of thing that Downing used to do in his prime but failed to replicate in his second spell. As the game restarted from a goal kick the ball was hoofed clear up the pitch which Moore tried to head clear but instead played it straight into the path of Britt who lumbered forward suspiciously offside but calmly picked his spot and despatched it into Bentley’s far corner to put Boro 2-1 up as the clock approached the 70th minute mark.

The sun was now shining brightly as McNair had an effort fly over and then Clayts left his mark on Noah Massengo for the game to enter an unplanned break for refreshments as the French youngster received treatment. It didn’t look good for the lad as he limped off uncomfortably to the touchline. He didn’t make it back into the game as Antoine Semenyo came on to take his place. Semenyo of course had “previous” with Boro having been on loan from Bristol at Newport last season.

Lee Johnson reshuffled to go with his more characteristic three at the back with two up front. Bola was seemingly fouled on the edge of the box as he linked up with Britt but immediately jumped back onto his feet and won his tackle, refreshing to see a player not give up and lie on his backside. On the opposite side Dijksteel then tried his luck with a 40 yard blast that was well wide. Josh Brownhill then emulated Anfernee with an equally ridiculous effort over Randolph’s goal on 79 minutes.

Rowe in the middle played a slick pass out to O’Dowda out wide who advanced down the line, fired his cross into the Boro box which was met by the advancing Rowe having lost Fry to head home and make it 2-2. Saville then came on for Marvin Johnson in a strange substitution with ten minutes remaining. With the wind in their sails Eliasson then skipped past Bola and forced Randolph to get down low and smother his cross come shot. Fletcher then chased a lost ball on the Bristol by line, cut it back to Wing who curled his effort just inches wide of Bentleys upright. A low Bola cross seconds later evaded everyone in a White shirt in a crowded Bristol box as Boro now piled forward with Bristol looking nervy at the back.

McNair was now out wide right after Johnson went off with Saville in McNair’s former role but his arrival didn’t add anything and if anything reduced our threat. With five minutes of added time held up by the fourth Official Gestede came on for Fletcher. O’Dowda was put through late on but fortunately McNair had tracked his run as both sides were now throwing everything at it for the winner. The hectic end continued with a mazy Clayton dribble (yes you read that right) winning a Boro corner then a half chance hooked Shotton cut back was cleared by Bristol. It all ended with a last minute Shotton long throw upon which Lee Mason blew with the points shared.

It would have been harsh on either side to lose this afternoon but of the two teams Boro were the more adventurous. All in all, and especially considering the injuries, this has to go down as a good Boro performance made all the better that it was away to a side that is fancied to be up at the sharp end. Shotton once again looked solid and dependable, Dijksteel and Bola showed promise, Johnson was effective and Fletcher and Assombalonga both had good games but MOM was action man McNair which is now becoming a bit repetitive. He was effective at both ends of the pitch as well as making things tick in the middle setting up attacks and forcing the first Boro goal.

This was a more complete and rounded Boro performance, probably the most convincing of the season. The question and challenge will be if it’s a fluky one-off or the start of something to build on. Entertaining, exciting even and thoroughly good value for the point and perhaps a tad unlucky they couldn’t hold on to the lead. It’s the draws that kill you in this league but this was a good one in fairness.

Pos. 17th (5 pts)	SATURDAY 2$ AUGUST 2019			Pos. 10th (8 pts)
Boro		1-0	Millwall
McNair (70)	60% 11(2) 6 13	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	40% 12(4) 7 10	Bradshaw (76)

Lions lack bite!

As sporadic a start as Boro may have had to their season the Lions had been well and truly mauled last time out losing 4-0 at Fulham. No doubt they were wanting to put that debacle behind them when they travelled to come face to face with Roary’s lot at the Riverside. Neil Harris had to pick his side up and hoped that they put in a far better performance against the Boro, which based on form to date may not be too difficult an ask.

Hope was high that Fry would be back and that we could push on from the Wigan win and that Friend may have recovered with only Coulson missing. Millwall’s former Boro target Jed Wallace was unavailable after his red card against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and winger Jiri Skalak was also set to miss the game after a injured ankle against Fulham.

The temperature on my dash when I parked up on Riverside Road at 1.30 pm was reading 28 degrees so a great day for the fans but a bad day for playing football with clear blue skies and strong sunlight beaming down on the Stadium. I’m not sure if full warm-ups were required in that level of heat but both sides put players through their paces. My guess was that the temperature within the confines of the Stadium was a few degrees higher on the pitch than my dashboard. The team news for Boro was that Fry was on the bench with Friend ruled out, Browne had kept his starting role and Saville had come in for Wing who was benched. Anfernee Dijksteel dropped out altogether with a knock sustained in training.

The game kicked off with Millwall lamping a long ball out to the giant that is Matt Smith on their right wing putting Bola immediately under pressure and losing a height contest. That was to be a theme of Millwall’s game all afternoon, hit the big man and have players running around looking for the knock downs. Browne was the first to threaten for Boro after a poor cross field ball from Fletcher should have been intercepted, it was well read but the Millwall player slipped and Browne was able to run through on Bart Bialkowski’s goal, went flying but it was waved on as no foul committed. That too was to be a feature of Boro’s afternoon, claims for fouls and handballs that were repeatedly waved away and ignored by the Officials for yet another game.

The game generally was poor fayre in terms of a footballing purist perspective and looked every inch a relegation scrap between two very functional but limited sides. Millwall were having the benefit of the opening stages and a low free kick on the edge of the Boro box was blocked and cleared by the wall doing its job. Millwall corners were another tactic that had been rehearsed and Smith of course was the target causing Shotton and Ayala to be on their mettle in dealing with the threat and one just after that low free kick caused consternation in the Boro ranks and we were looking like we could go behind soon if not careful.

Just after the quarter hour mark the North Stand had their hearts in their collective mouths as Randolph was forced to come out and deal with a poor back pass. Remarkably the big ROI Keeper came out of the box, dribbled past two attackers Beckenbauer style and then had the audacity to play the best ball of the game in setting Assombalonga clean through with the clearance but unfortunately Britt was adjudged to be the cause of the ensuing collision between himself and the defender with another decision going against Boro. An extra yard of pace and Britt could have been a hero.

That was the brightest point of the game so far and the first time that Boro had looked like they might get their noses in front. On twenty minutes Shotton had to be strong and alert to prevent Smith from putting Millwall into the lead as they were now growing into the game. Perhaps their gold shirts were dazzling Boro in the strong sunlight with a few of us puzzled over why the visitors were not wearing their usual navy blue attire.

Five minutes later Boro failed to clear their lines and a fierce strike from the edge of the 18 yard box had Randolph at full stretch to tip the ball just over his crossbar when he looked well beaten when the ball left Thompsons boot. Things were about to get even more nervy as the corner that was then delivered in saw a scramble and a shot that hit the Boro crossbar and come down off Claytons head to fortunately clear for Boro via Howson. Millwall at this stage looked by far the better side with Boro looking dependant surprisingly on Ryan Shotton getting blocks and headers in endeavouring to keep a clean sheet. Even Britt was back heading clear in what looked a less than believable Boro game plan at this point.

Our midfield wasn’t functioning as an effective unit. Saville was looking distinctly average; Clayton was having to scrap to try and keep things together while Browne was at least keeping his temper under control but was offering little going forward and with Bola behind they looked a weak link. McNair was linking with Howson on the opposite side but there were far too many small passes that led to nothing along with three touch football all over which allowed Millwall to get back into defensive positions. Time after time our slow cumbersome build up looked well read, predictable and anticipated by Millwall.

The oppressive heat obviously ruled out high tempo pressing football but what replaced it was a porous midfield, little threat from wide positions and Shotton and Ayala having to deal with more than they should have in a home fixture. Howson was steady and Bola had moments but couldn’t link with Browne in front and overall, we looked unconvincing and susceptible as a unit. It has been said before but against one of the divisions better sides this Boro performance would have been destroyed. The recycling of the ball by Boro was starting to get the home fans a little frustrated and although the murmurs were kept largely in check rolled eyeballs were working overtime in the stands.

Millwall were building up their attacks and corner count and with five minutes before the half time whistle the game was still on a knife edge at 0-0. A challenge won by Howson near the touchline was adjudged to have been a foul by the Ref in what looked like a really soft and contentious decision. The ball ended up in the Boro Technical area and was collected by Leo as the disputed kick was being argued out on the pitch when Neil Harris came across and walloped Leo on the back (I’m guessing that he maybe thought Leo had swallowed the ball and was trying to dislodge it from his airway). It was in plain sight of the Linesman, Referee John Brooks and the Fourth Official making a Red Card for Harris inevitable as he was sent to the stands. Chants of “Leo, Leo, Leo” reverberated around the Riverside as the Boro fans finally had something to get passionate about.

Just before the sending off, Mahoney had a shot blocked by Saville as Boro looked on the back foot as the half wore down. The half time whistle sounded four minutes later with the suspicion that were it not for Leo’s antics the atmosphere may have been a lot more sullen from the stands. Woodgate clearly had decisions to make at half time as what had unfolded in the first half was just a disjointed, scrappy mess with little coherent strategy in evidence.

When the sides came out for the second half Boro had made their way onto the pitch several minutes before Millwall with Browne missing and Johnson readied to enter the fray. Johnson offered a more direct approach and immediately we looked more comfortable as he lined up in front of Howson and along with McNair offered a passing triangle that worked their way up the pitch with

finally some delivery from wide. Just as Boro looked to be offering something Randolph almost handed Smith a golden ticket by inexplicably and uncharacteristically scuffing a clearance straight into the path of the lurking Striker who reciprocated Randolphs’ generosity by hitting the ball back straight back at him but at least forcing a dive from him to spare both their blushes.

As Johnson continued service, Assombalonga had claims for a penalty ignored as the Linesman running the East Stand touchline clearly had the sun in his eyes all afternoon and saw nothing of the handball that four thousand or so in the North Stand clearly did. A few minutes later and Randolph was at it again as a cross came sailing over from his left he ran out to cover the ball with no right sided Boro defender in sight and shielded it out for a throw in on the far side with all the classy composure of a Beckenbauer once again.

Marvin Johnson had turned fortunes for Boro and was a constant threat and worry with Millwall doubling up on him but his link up play with McNair and Howson was paying dividends as Boro had yet another handball plea ignored. Three minutes later, Bola broke down the left, passed it inside to Fletcher who instinctively flicked it into the path of the advancing McNair in what was the first and only high tempo Boro move all afternoon and the Northern Irishman drove forward and cut his shot back into the right hand side of the advancing Bialkowski’s goal to put Boro 1-0 up in the 70th minute.

It looked like it could be another ugly unconvincing win but Millwall still felt they could get something out of this. Two minutes later Millwall made their second change of the game after earlier bringing on Ferguson for O’Brien this time they brought forward Tom Bradshaw on as they were awarded a corner and the far post ball was headed back into the hot zone by Smith no less and after a bit of a melee Bradshaw looked to have either got something on it or at least barged it via someone in Red into the net to make it 1-1.

Woodgate responded by bringing on Wing for Clayton with the largely ineffective Saville dropping deeper into the defensive midfield role. Wing started to ping balls out to the flanks and inject a bit of urgency and directness into an up until them mono paced midfield. Millwall had seemingly settled for a point and packed their defence to see out the game. Chances had broken to Fletcher and Howson but both had Britt’s shooting boots on but I am assured that no seagulls were injured as a consequence of their efforts. At the other end a dubiously awarded free kick was floated in to Smith who missed his target with Randolph looking stranded. Boro were lucky not to be 2-1 down. Sensing blood Millwall clearly felt that there was still something to be had from their visit North and but for a last-ditch block on Bradshaw by Shotton they definitely would have walked away with all three points.

A series of last minute Pulis style Shotton long throws ended with another handball shout as another Johnsons cross was blocked by an arm at overhead height but incredibly it was given as a corner, which indicated that both officials knew who it had come off but deemed that a hand over the head wasn’t intentional. It ended 1-1 with the North stand finally seeing a goal for the first time in a League game since the Lions last visit in January.

It was marginally better than Wigan on Tuesday but Boro like Millwall looked every inch a relegation fodder side with little cause for optimism. The early Luton and Brentford displays are now history and survival scrapping has taken its place. Shapeless and systemless, we resorted to Pulis long throws in the end which whilst a negative for some at least indicated that there may just be time for a common sense shift to playing to this squads’ strengths rather than an idealistic and naïve version of some kind of footballing Nirvana. Randolph had a few magical moments, which ordinarily should have won him MOM but he also boosted sales of Cushelle and Andrex on Teesside. McNair opened his Boro scoring account and Johnson turned the game but my MOM will be unpopular with many but I’m giving it to Shotton who whilst untidy at times gave his all for the cause. He had a battle all afternoon with the handful that was Smith while supporting Bola, and got in a few blocks and crucial tackles, good enough for me to over look his aberration of a cross field pass that nearly cost us mid game.

This Boro side have lost their defensive solidity but added nothing elsewhere to convince me that we are moving in any direction let alone the right one. Saville was poor as was Britt and our Midfield just looked like they will struggle this season unless things get organised and sorted quickly. The sooner Woodgate learns to play the hand he was dealt rather than the hand he wanted the longer he will hang on to his job and keep the crowd onside.

Pos. 14th (4pt)	TUEDAY 20 AUGUST 2019			Pos. 21st (3pt)
Boro		1-0	Wigan
Assombalonga (23)	53% 13(3) 3 17	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	47% 11(1) 5 11

Substance Over Style

Beleaguered budget Boro needed to get something out of tonight’s home game against Wigan to stem the growing tide of pessimism after a summer which talked the talk but as yet hadn’t walked the walk. From the excitement of what was to be an exciting high pressing, high tempo goal scoring Boro to the reality that a largely defence minded depleted squad with a few League One additions wasn’t going to suddenly turn into Liverpool lite any time soon was the atmospheric backdrop to the encounter.

A mild, warmish evening was the perfect setting for a game of late summer football under the Riverside floodlights as Woodgate and Keane desperately needed to kick start a season that had initially coughed but then spluttered to a depressing halt. Boro had Coulson still out injured and a question mark over the availability of Gestede, fingers were crossed that George Friend would have come through his rusty start at Blackburn after a few hefty challenges left him battered and bruised. Likewise, Dael Fry had come through 60 minutes of Fridays reserve game and was desperately needed to shore up a decidedly unconvincing Boro defence.

After a poor, lacklustre and unconvincing performance from the side at Ewood Park it was likely that the marmite midfield enforcer that is Adam Clayton surely would return. Paul Cook had plenty of worries of his own after his ten men succumbed to two goal Paddy Bamford’s Leeds on Saturday sitting just two points ahead of Boro at the start of tonight’s proceedings. Sent off midfielder Joe Williams was suspended for this one with Cook also having fitness worries over Josh Windass the son of ex Boro striker Dean along with Joe Garner, Anthony Pilkington and Joe Gelhardt.

Wigan hadn’t scored in their last five Riverside outings and hadn’t recorded a victory against Boro since 2007, a run stretching back nine matches or more to the point, that game where Yakubu was replaced by Dong-Gook Lee. Boro team news saw Bola coming in at left-back with Friend injured and Howson in for Dijksteel at RB, Clayton came back into midfield and Browne got a start over Marvin Johnson.

The low summer sun was shining over a sparsely populated Riverside as both sides entered the pitch. Referee Keith Stroud blew his whistle to get proceedings underway with Boro building up to an early throw in. Adam Clayton then had his pocket picked by Massey trying to play the ball out from the back and allowed Lowe in with an early shot at Randolph’s goal who tipped it over for a Wigan corner. Boro responded with some good build up play when Howson fed in Fletcher but his effort went out for a goal kick. On ten minutes Nathan Byrne broke out into the Boro half, fed Gavin Massey via an Ayala deflection who scuffed his shot fortunately for Boro. Byrne picked up more Boro slack passing a minute later and if Boro weren’t careful they could find themselves going behind as Wigan looked the more likely.

With fifteen minutes approaching it was Wigan who had the attacking wing-backs, putting pressure on the Boro defence who looked edgy and continually guilty of some very poor passes. Howson was the next culprit to cheaply concede away allowing Wigan to get in a twenty-five-yard pile driver towards Randolph. The warning signs were all there that Boro needed to get their heads sorted out and quickly. A tackle on Bola left its mark and earned the lively Byrne a yellow card much to his amazement.

A curler from Lowe nearly found its way into the Boro net and immediately from the restart Wigan once again came forward pressing for another attempt as the home crowd started to raise a few grunts and groans. Next it was Marcus Browne’s name in the book as you could sense the frustration both from the crowd and the Boro touchline. Twenty minutes gone and Boro were still giving away passes and nothing was knitting together. Just as the mood was turning Wing brought the ball forward and played a ball out to Howson out wide on the right who looped in a peach of a cross which was met centrally by the advancing Britt who got above his marker and headed home to put Boro one up. You could tangibly feel that pressure relief valve immediately kick in on that twenty-three minute mark.

Wigan came back at us immediately restating their intent but then it was Assombalonga once again who had an effort saved as Wing took a slick free kick, Britt drove forward from the half way line, played a quick one two with Fletcher and as his saved shot came back out McNair closed in but hit his shot wide of David Marshall in the Wigan goal. Despite the goal minutes beforehand and that follow up near miss, Wigan still looked like they were capable of getting something out of this game and continued to pressure Boro. Meantime the rash looking Browne was getting attention but for all the wrong reasons, sailing close to a second booking and then hoofing the ball over the stand roof.

Half an hour gone and Wigan were still very much in this, Boro were still incredibly sloppy with their passing but some of it momentarily improved in fits and starts and a triangle down the right flank allowed Fletcher to get an effort in that went out for a corner but it was disappointingly hit low and harmless by Wing. Browne then caught Robinson with what looked like a forearm smash and hearts were in mouths but fortunately the Wigan player got back up and saved him from a nailed-on second yellow card. A quick flick from Fletcher went across to McNair but his shot went out for a corner from which there were weak Boro appeals for a hand ball just a second later. Fletcher was “tackled” having his shirt tugged but once again the officials seem to have myopic vision when it comes to Boro this season and no penalty given to balance out the Dijksteel one on Saturday for an identical misdemeanour.

A few seconds of frantic activity at either end ended with a curling Britt attempt at the far corner but the ball just wouldn’t come in far enough and went wide away from Marshall’s upright. Once again Fletcher had his shirt pulled as he tried to break free but again despite the visibly clear evidence Keith Stroud somehow managed to award a free kick to Wigan. Dani Ayala then found himself in Keith Stroud’s book presumably for expressing an opinion about an aerial challenge that I’m guessing was deemed a foul, which seems strange as two shirt pulls were deemed permissible. The half time whistle sounded and there was again a chorus of boos but this time directed very obviously at Referee Keith Stroud. As poor as he had been the very fact that Browne was still on the pitch at least evened up some of his eccentricity from my viewpoint.

Unsurprisingly Browne was thankfully removed at Half Time for Marvin Johnson which was just as well because the lad looked like he was going to be done for GBH the way his first half ended. Woodgate’s logic was presumably for Johnson to use his experience to keep things solid and predictable rather than rash and reckless. The game as a spectacle was a shocking as very little quality was on display but the reality was that all Boro needed was the three points to get their season started and winning ugly would do just fine. A close chance came for Keiffer Moore after a great cross but his header flashed wide, though the big Wigan Striker stayed down with what looked like a dislocated shoulder judging by his body language but after a bit of treatment he was able to resume so perhaps it was a reaction to his acute embarrassment after his miss. Ex Pompey lad Jamal Lowe was next up to have an effort after a poor Shotton pass to Bola as Boro seemed to be intent on self-destruction. Boro just couldn’t get a handle on this game, despite getting the ball forward there was no control or pressing just manic chasing and repeatedly losing possession.

A Wing break saw Kipre cut out what could have been a good pass to McNair as the evening’s frustration continued for the Red shirts. A ball in from Clayton allowed a cracking shot just wide, again from Lewis Wing but in reality, this game had all the hallmarks of a lower Championship struggle which was still wide open as it approached sixty minutes. Clayton played a good ball in to Fletcher this time but he somehow got underneath it and David Marshall remained unmoved. A Johnson/Wing combo led to a Boro throw in down the left from which Johnson tried to get around Byrne but was deemed to have fouled him as sighs and heaves of frustrations echoed around the many empty seats.

Sixty-five minutes saw Keiffer Moore desperately reaching for a cross that was just beyond him to the despair of the half dozen taxis worth of away fans whose hopes were again raised a minute later as Evans played it out to Byrne who came close but nothing to really trouble Randolph. A triple change then ensued. For Wigan on came Naismith and Enobakhare and for Boro George Saville came on for Bola as Boro reshuffled their pack with what at times looked like a back three.

Earlier sub Marvin Johnson saved Boro blushes by diving to head clear a Wigan attempt and looked to have just about knocked himself out but fortunately regained his senses and came back onto the pitch rubbing the back of the head ruefully and Keiffer Moore was once again cursing his luck because of Johnson. What followed next was a scramble of comedic defensive proportions as Boro were at times looking very desperate to keep that all important clean sheet with eighteen long minutes remaining.

A Boro free kick was put in the Wigan box from near the corner flag but was headed up and clear by a blue shirt. Claims for another Boro free kick this time from Saville ended in a bit of a melee with the home fans screaming for something but Keith Stroud just ignored the impassioned pleas infused with desperation. Wigan’s Michael Jacobs came on for supposed ex Boro target Jamal Lowe as Paul Cook bet his last penny. A Lewis Wing curler just wouldn’t bend in time and the shot was well wide. Jacobs and Moore then combined at the other end only for Ayala to block their collective path. As the play now swayed up at the other end Wing fed Fletcher but his finish was disappointing and the ball ended up going out for a corner from which Ayala headed down getting too much on it but at least this time it was chaos in the Wigan box.

Moore went down again in the middle of the centre circle seemingly with an ankle problem this time with nobody at all near him but had to struggle on as all three Wigan subs were used. The clock was seemingly ticking down in slow motion with around six minutes to go as Boro now looked happy to hold on to what they had. Keifer Moore had to withdraw and limped off leaving the Pier men down to ten men. Surely Boro could and should clinically kill this game off but Saville this time gifted the ball to Jacobs allowing a momentary Wigan attack but it then see sawed the other way as Howson now just failed to connect to kill the contest.

The clock was still ticking down and despite Wigan being down to ten men the nervous tension was still permeating the night sky on Teesside. Just two minutes now remaining of the ninety and Wigan had Kipre pass to Byrne but the ball went out for a throw which Byrne quickly took and the pressure was suspended with a Dunkley header which went wide as Gestede was readied to presumably run the clock down of which the fourth official deemed to be five minutes more.

Gestede then came on for Fletcher who had been lively and had continued his current good vein of form. Randolph was forced into hurried action as a Wigan ball came into the Boro box, having to chase across his box diving at the feet of Kipre who seconds later had another opportunity but couldn’t take advantage as Boro looked more than ever to be decidedly porous at the back in those dying seconds. An Assombalonga challenge on the half way line in what should have been the last second was hoofed up into the Boro box with Marshall nudging upfield. It went out for a corner which was hotly disputed. Wigan put the ball into the Boro box which Randolph punched clear as we now entered two minutes over the five minutes of added time. Finally, that whistle went to end as scrappy and ugly a game as you will ever see but it afforded Boro their first three points of the season.

An ugly win and desperately clinging on against ten men in injury time was a rather ignominious end to the night but hopefully it takes the pressure off along with that clean sheet. MOM was again Howson with Fletcher, Ayala and McNair being the other stand outs not to mention Randolph who did what was needed when called upon. There was however no sign of high pressing or high tempo, in fact Boro looked very disjointed overall in what was an atrocious game to endure for the eighteen and a half thousand watching on. Before kick-off we would all have been happy to get those three points regardless of the performance but it was very poor fayre and the North Stand still haven’t seen a goal since the visit of Millwall back in January.

Pos. 18th (3pts)	SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 2019			Pos. 21st= (1pt)
Blackburn		1-0	Boro
Graham (25 pen)	48% 14(3) 9 16	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	52% 9(2) 2 11

Rovers handed the points

After the ignominy of Tuesday night Boro travelled across the Pennines to renew old Teesside acquaintances with ex Captain and Manager Tony Mowbray and five former Players, Downing, Leutwiler, Graham, Chapman and Richie Smallwood. No doubt Woodgate would be putting out a more capable side than those who produced such a whimpering excuse for a performance against Crewe and therefore many changes were expected if indeed not all eleven. Subs aside there weren’t many who covered themselves in glory that night and the best the rest could hope for would be a place on the bench.

Injury wise Mogga was struggling with his defence with a few niggles and shooting themselves in the foot by allowing Charlie Mulgrew to go to near rivals Wigan during the window. Lenihan was doubtful with a knee injury along with Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo and Captain Elliott Bennett. Boro had ex Rover Rudy Gestede struggling for fitness meaning that he was likely to be unavailable for selection although judging by the general tone on several Boro Social media sites many didn’t seem to see that as a negative. Dael Fry would still be missing as he eased his way back last night in a reserve game while George Friend may be in with a chance at the back or as a minimum a place on the bench.

Budget Boro took the field with a strange colourway comprised of the Home shirt with Navy blue shorts and Red socks, clearly Red Shorts were deemed too expensive in this new era. Coulson was out with an injury along with Gestede and in came George Friend and Dijksteel at the RB position with Clayts seemingly struggling or just dropped. Howson had moved into midfield with McNair and Wing. Proceedings got underway and an early break with McNair and Marvin Johnson set Johnson off down the flank but his ball back in to McNair was poor. Shotton then had to be alert to stop Gallagher siding in to preserve the clean sheet. Fletcher then broke from the next phase of play, drove forward with Wing and Britt to pick out but he put far too much pace on it and the ball was collected by Walton in the Blackburn goal.

A minute later Lewis Wing was played in over the head of Gallagher by Friend and on the edge of the box Lewis dug a shot out that went just past the upright. Six minutes gone and the upper Darwin tier were lively providing all the noise but the rest of Ewood Park was silent. McNair and Wing seemed to be anchoring and battling as a double unit in midfield with Howson freed up to get forward.

A Downing ball in towards Randolph’s back post was cleared away by Friend to keep Gallagher at bay once again. The resultant Rovers corner delivered in by Downing was fortunately hit “Assombalonga style” way over Randolph’s crossbar. McNair was left reeling after a challenge causing a few worries as blood was pouring from his nose and required treatment off the pitch. During his absence Gallagher fizzed in a dangerous ball that saw Danny Graham stretching but fortunately for Boro it was to no avail.

Twenty minutes in and Blackburn started to exert some pressure after the early frantic start and a minute’s applause for the anniversary of Jack Walker’s passing. A corner was cleared by Friend as Boro had to now dig deep to keep Rovers at bay with Downing and Gallagher making a nuisance of themselves. The game tipped after a challenge by Dijksteel on the back post on Danny Graham was adjudged to be a Penalty with Dijksteel clearly preferring Graham’s shirt to his own. Graham stepped up to take the penalty himself as Randolph endeavoured to make himself look big but Graham despatched Randolph the wrong way as it went into the opposite corner. The away fans could only console themselves in the slim hope that maybe Britt Assombalonga was watching how professionals despatch penalties.

Before the restart Ayala involved himself in a mini fracas over the ball and picked up a yellow card as his frustrations got the better of him. Marvin Johnson broke away for Cunningham to upend him ensuring that Boro didn’t pull back level any time soon. Whatever or however the free kick was supposed to be worked, Howson screwed up the opportunity that as a consequence Blackburn broke with Dack who hoofed it up the pitch with Randolph way off his goal line, fortunately, blushes were spared.

After an opening ten minutes where Boro matched their opponents they now started to struggle with the experience of Dack pulling strings along with Downing, Cunningham and Gallagher all dissecting Boro. Half an hour gone and a handball by Elliot Bennett saw him earn a yellow card. From the restart Bennett was adjudged to then be fouled after a ball in from Johnson saw Britt deemed to have been overly excited in his attempt to pull back the deficit.

Dack turned and tried to get away from Howson but theatrically dived implying a Howson foul in as cynical a dive as possibly imaginable yet strangely no card. Fletcher then went well wide with a long-range effort but Boro desperately needed to take a more assertive approach if they were to get back into this game. With just under ten minutes left of the half Danny Graham needed some treatment from the Physio as both sides were grateful for the break considering the very unusual sunny weather for a Boro away day at Blackburn.

A diagonal ball into the box was easily collected unchallenged by Walton which summed up Boro’s first half. So far Boro hadn’t manged a single effort remotely near Walton’s goal let along one actually on target. The high tempo, pressure, chasing down, closing down, game was missing replaced by a “meh” type of non-descript performance. Defensively we looked very suspect and Dijksteel didn’t look particularly comfortable and our midfield just wasn’t firing or creating with Britt largely anonymous.

A throw in after a series of passes led to a curling Howson effort into the far corner as the fourth official held the board up indicating two minutes. A Williams ball for Graham was adjudged to be offside with Ayala protesting, claiming a foul. Boro started off OK then went flat very quickly and after the penalty just withered as an attacking threat. The half time whistle went accompanied by a few muffled boos from the Darwin end. Blackburn had been the better side but had Dijksteel not ridiculously and blatant pulled Graham’s shirt it could still have been 0-0. The worry for the travelling army is that a pattern of “if only” is starting to develop with our Championship games this season.

The Second half got underway with no changes from either side which surprised a few of us but there again there wasn’t much on the Boro bench to seriously affect any sort of positive change. A 30-yard free kick was launched by Wing which caused Walton a second of hesitation as it bounced just in front of him but he was never really troubled. Another claim against Dijksteel for a penalty for handball was waved away and as Marvin Johnson broke after being fed by McNair, he was wiped out by his namesake Bradley Johnson earning a yellow for his thuggery.

The resultant free kick was again wasted by passing it sideways, Blackburn intercepted and went down the other end winning a corner after another last ditch Shotton block. Another frustrating, utterly clueless and pointless free kick from a tactical perspective. Just over fifty minutes gone and another Blackburn corner from Downing who went across the Boro box and fed back in by Dack bent a shot that went wide of Randolph’s goal. Meantime Friend went down looking finished for the day but after the magic sponge he was determined to bravely carry on.

Shotton tripped himself up, Dack read the ball who fed Graham who fortunately for Shotton fluffed his lines. So far in the second half Boro had flattered to deceive and that’s being optimistic. Another Blackburn Penalty call went unheeded as the two and a half thousand or so travelling army tried to rally the red shirts. As a Downing free kick was cleared Lewis Wing was brought down allowing Rovers to regroup as the move ended with McNair claiming a corner for his deflected shot but the Ref decided in favour of Rovers.

Thirty minutes left and Boro had Subs warming up. Anfernee Dijksteel’s number went up as Tav came on and Howson dropped into the Right Back slot. A Lewis Wing Boro free kick was launched in towards Ayala and Fletcher but Walton plucked it out and then feigned injury influencing the Ref to blow his whistle much to the annoyance of the Red Army who questioned his ability to be a fit and proper person to be in charge of a whistle. The game was a bit of a nothing in terms of either entertainment or quality, the sparse 14,000 something crowd probably didn’t help but there wasn’t much to get excited about. Dack meanwhile put another great ball into Gallagher which was cut out by Howson this time.

Since Tav arrived Boro grew into the game more but a wayward Marvin effort sailed well wide to allow Walton to amble over retrieving the ball. Travis then took George Friend out and received a yellow card for his poor challenge as Browne was simultaneously readied to come on for Marvin Johnson. A tactical switch ensued as Browne went wide and Fletcher looked to be going up front with Tav on the opposite flank. Mogga then responded by bringing Armstrong on as Graham went off to a few Boro jeers surprisingly, I guess that penalty on the day hadn’t endeared himself to the away contingent.

With more attacking urgency on the pitch and a greater threat needed to get something out of this game the away fans started shouting for Boro to attack. Browne nearly obliged instantly as he met a Howson cross but he hit the post with his effort and eventually going out for a corner. That was Boro’s best effort all match and in response Mogga then made a double change with Downing and Dack going off for Rothwell and Buckley to come on. This time the away army afforded Downing a suitable ovation with a chorus of “one of our own”.

Rothwell had a chance for Rovers which was saved by Randolph which was followed up by Armstrong whose effort thankfully was blocked. Browne had created a spark since his introduction and Howson had slotted in at right back. Hobbling George Friend then went off with less than ten minutes remaining with Ste Walker came on for him with Boro now apparently intent to throw everything at Rovers. A Boro corner saw Ayala get his head on the ball which landed on the top of Walton’s net.

Wing then won the ball from a 50/50 challenge with Armstrong but was adjudged to have fouled and went into Ref Jared Gillet’s book. A corner was conceded by Ayala on sub Rothwell with Rovers trying to exploit Friends gap on the left. Less than five minutes remaining with Boro looking to record their third straight defeat on the trot. Buckley then very nearly terminated any remaining slim Boro optimism after being set up by Gallagher.

Browne was wiped out by Williams with Wing lining up the resultant free kick in the 90th minute. Unfortunately, he hit it “Assombalonga style” and in doing so allowed Walton time to ferret around in the seats behind his goal forlornly looking for the ball. Five minutes added time was held up as Shotton was once again needed to slide in with a block to keep the single digit difference. Boro were now throwing everything at Rovers as the ball went enticingly across Walton’s goal from Howson but there was nobody to meet it. Browne rescued that ball and fired it back in which was in turn headed wide by Ayala. A double deflection off McNair at the opposite end saw Rovers take a short corner to run the clock down with the Referee blowing for full time.

It was a strange performance which didn’t live up to the new adventurous pressing Boro mantra which wasn’t a prerequisite but it didn’t give any reassurance either that Boro are anything but a confused work in progress. We are now looking lost of any defensive solidity but worrying woefully short in creativity and the ability to seriously take teams on and put them to the sword. Neither something or nothing as my Gran would have described it. Nothing too terrible just the usual scrappy non-event between two uninspiring Championship sides. Two home games coming up now in succession which are now massive for Woodgate and Keane. No real outstanding Boro MOM but Howson fulfilled two roles and actually steadied the ship when he replaced Dijksteel but the most consistent all afternoon was Paddy McNair. The hope is that we are going to do a Norwich this season but reality is that right now we are looking much more likely to be doing an Ipswich.

This afternoon we looked more like a Pulis side than an exciting attacking unit. Britt looked laboured and that’s probably too kind but whatever system we seem to be playing he doesn’t seem to fit. Shotton was improved but still a liability. Dijksteel looks off the pace and with the scant squad he has, Woodgate needs to switch to three at the back before the season implodes entirely for Boro. The dream of an exciting new Boro is great but there needs to be sensible managed evolution not naive revolution. You can’t turn plodders, hoofers and a few donkeys into thoroughbreds overnight, trying to achieve that without planned resources and without the backing of the chairman is suicidal.

 

Championship	TUESDAY 13 AUGUST 2019			League Two
Boro		2-2 (PENS 2-4)	Crewe
Fletcher (75) Bola (90+1)	65% 15(3) 6 14	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	35% 10(3) 4 4	Porter (42) Kirk (45+1)

Crewsin in the Carabao

Third time lucky for Boro or so they hoped tonight. Crewe Manager David Artell’s kind words about Boro in the build-up to the Carabao Cup first round tie would maybe extend to providing us with our first win of the season. It was anticipated that Woodgate would rotate his squad and those who had signed recently along with those who had been mere onlookers would get a chance to get 90 minutes under their belts and in doing stake a claim for a start at Blackburn on Saturday.

When the line-ups were announced only Clayts had survived from the previous two starting elevens with Pears and Walker getting the nod for their first team starting debuts along with newbies Dijksteel, Browne and Bola. The good news was that George Friend was deemed fit but there was still no sign of Dael Fry. Other notable starts were given to Walker and Wood with Liddle on the bench. Meanwhile Artell had made just three changes from his Crewe side that had faced Oldham at the weekend.

The game started at a fairly steady pace with the first real action coming on five minutes from a Walker attempt from the left at Richards in the Crewe goal after being set up by Saville. A set piece opportunity from a Crewe free kick saw Dale rise to meet a header leaving Saville for dead but somehow missed when scoring seemed easier. That was an early let off and warning for lacklustre Boro with less than ten minutes gone.

The game had a surreal atmosphere with only the West Stand open and the small away section on the opposite side of the Riverside. This may have affected the tempo but Boro just didn’t have that same level of intensity as they had when they had started their two previous games. A ball launched by youngster Wood at the back saw Browne set off but as was our problem on Saturday the linesman’s flag went up to pull things back. Come fifteen minutes Crewe had looked comfortable and far from out of their depth at the deserted Riverside. A corner from the Railwaymen was cleared out of the Boro box and saw Tavernier set off but the final ball was intercepted and Crewe were back in possession again, pushing forward as the game now looked to break sweat albeit barely.

On twenty minutes Woodgate was barking instructions. His charges just didn’t have that energy or intensity that was supposed to be the trademark of this season. The Boro performance this far into the game was like the atmosphere, fairly flat and uninspiring. Gestede put a ball across the Crewe goal mouth on just over twenty minutes but Walker was too far behind to get close enough to it. An overlapping run from the Crewe LB played a ball into our box requiring Woods to clear it out for a corner. Thirty minutes in and the most interesting talking point from a Boro perspective was Adam Clayton’s new haircut which was less Gender neutral than of late.

Our right and left backs Dijksteel and Bola seemed to be keeping things tight rather than the Howson and Coulson cavalier style of charging up field. Walker had a chance that came back out to Saville who couldn’t get a shot away and then Browne was next to have a go but it all ended in a free kick to Crewe and typified how the evening was going for Boro. Browne and Pickering were getting involved in their own personal duel with a few niggly exchanges between the two which didn’t reflect what was going on elsewhere on the pitch. A Bola run down the left played in Tavernier whose strike hit a defender for Boro’s first corner on thirty-five minutes. The corner ended with a Gestede attempt on goal. Crewe broke up the pitch from that corner with Porter who couldn’t beat the two red shirts closing in on him but his theatrical dive was ignored by the Ref.

So far despite the ten changes Boro looked like they had picked up where they had left off in the second half against Brentford. Dale then had a good chance for the visitors which was cleared by Saville as Crewe were clearly more than equal to their Championship opposition and growing in confidence.

Forty minutes was approaching and a few cans of WD40 wouldn’t have gone amiss based on what was on display thus far into the contest. The signs were all there that lacklustre Boro would be lucky not to find themselves undone. Crewe racked up their third corner realising their opponents were far from Championship class tonight. They worked a good passage of play the through the middle of the pitch and a ball across the face of Pears’ goal saw Chris Porter head in. That one goal advantage was no less than they deserved as Boro just simply looked disinterested and second rate with nobody coming out of that first half with any credit.

The goal boosted Crewe’s self-belief and with it Boro were starting recriminations between themselves as frustration grew between Saville and Gestede. To rub salt in the wounds the League Two opponents then counter attacked in the second minute of added time and as Dale skinned Bola Charlie Kirk was the grateful recipient to put the visitors two up as the Boro bench cut a very forlorn and hopeless sight. Ref Mike Salisbury blew for the half time break to a crescendo of boos from the scant Boro attendees which in reality will like as not have been the real die hards. A team full of strangers with absolutely no game plan or if there was one it looked like the eleven on the pitch had been on their phones and iPads during the team talk instead of paying attention. Nobody looked like they had a clue of who was supposed to be where or doing what throughout that half.

The second half commenced unsurprisingly with the arrival of Assombalonga and McNair to try and rescue Boro faces that resembled their shirt colour. For the second game running at the Riverside the opposition Managers tactics had unpicked and dissected Boro. Clayton and Walker were the two to make way but in truth you could have picked any two from those outfield ten. Boro were still looking pretty flat and devoid of structure and belief as the malaise of the first half continued. As frustrations built up Saville found his way into the Referee’s book and then the West Stand found reason to cheer when Gestede’s number came up on the board morphing to jeers and boos as he trudged off after another less than impressive outing. Ashley Fletcher came on in his place with the major task of trying to polish that last third!

McNair flew an effort wide and then was the provider after a run for Fletcher who curled his effort past Richards to make it 1-2 and provide slender hope. Wood came on for Crewe to try and stem the late Boro fightback and cling onto their solitary goal advantage. Britt had a twenty-yard effort but the trajectory was consistent with his penalties. Lowry then came off for Crewe with Jones replacing him with ten minutes remaining. Fletcher who along with McNair had injected some drive since arriving then turned provider for Tavernier whose shot was blocked.

Another chance for Browne called the Crewe Keeper Dave Richards into action as Boro were knocking and Crewe were now seemingly content to hold onto what they had. Richards again had to clean up from Tavernier with just two minutes remaining. Four minutes were added for Boro to save what little self esteem they had and as soon as the fourth officials board had gone down Marc Bola calmly hit a fizzed Fletcher ball to equalise through a crowded box. There was no time for celebrating as McNair was forced to intercept and break up a Crewe offensive immediately from the restart. Those remaining minutes were manic as Boro looked to push home their ascendancy but the whistle sounded for full time and penalties.

With the Players huddled together penalty responsibilities were being allocated as both Keepers focussed their thoughts. First off up stepped Chris Porter to put Crewe one up, Britt up next for Boro, stuttered and of course missed (who’d have guessed it), Green put the next one past Pears to make it two nil, Fletcher sent his to the left and low to pull one back. The next one went past Pears for 3-1, McNair placed his confidently into the top left giving Richards no chance, 3-2. Jones then drove his down the middle as Pears dived to his right for 4-2. Then came Browne for Boro and needing to score his weak, tame effort was easily saved by Dave Richards. That was it, Crewe deservedly went through into the next round draw and another few lessons hopefully learnt albeit many of them predictable and played out true to form. MOM for Boro was a joint one between McNair and Fletcher who rescued the evening if only for a short while.

Pos. 18th= (1pt)	SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2019			Pos. 14th= (3pt)
Boro		0-1	Brentford
	53% 14(5) 7 10	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	47% 9(2) 3 17	Watkins (54)

Two Halves and Half not!

After breaking a pre-war record last season with a win Brentford returned to Teesside to take on some familiar Boro faces but one with a new look and an entirely different proposition as Jonathan Woodgate made his Riverside bow as Manager. Budget Boro had George Friend considered to be close to a return and new arrival Anfernee Dijksteel pushing for a first start as RB. The Bees had been busy during the Summer having shipped out a few themselves and the possibility of a first outing for Ecuadorian winger Jel Valencia and defender Dominic Thompson. Striker Bryan Mbeumo was awaiting International clearance and Said Benrahma’s match fitness was questionable.

Boro had managed a point at newly promoted Luton Town last Friday night in a helter skelter highly entertaining game that thrilled and frustrated in equal measure but it at least delivered 6 goals and nobody walking out before the end. Brentford had travelled to Birmingham and absolutely bombarded them but somehow managed to lose that one 1-0. The likelihood was that this afternoon would see an entertaining game with like as not plenty of goals based on Brentford’s pedigree despite the loss of their talismanic Striker Neal Maupay and Woodgate’s Boro side.

The Boro line-up was unchanged with only Dijksteel coming in on the bench in place of Wood. Thomas Frank also kept faith in his Brentford charges going with the same again with neither of Valncia or Thompson on show but Mbeumo made the bench. The pre-match Boro warm ups were certainly more intensive than previous with the players well and truly put through their paces by Robbie Keane and Leo Percovich. That intensity seemed to pay off as Boro came out of the traps flying, harrying, chasing and closing down but despite that it was Brentford who nearly capitalised as early as seventeen seconds as Shotton won GHW’s prize by becoming the player who had fans reaching for their “Typical Boro” phrase books after a gaffe in the box. He did in fairness make up for it with an outstretched block a few minutes later but still looked far from comfortable in that left CB role.

Boro produced possibly the most exciting forty-five minutes seen at the Riverside in a very long time. Pressed back in their own half Brentford struggled to get their normal passing game going because as soon as the ball was rolled out a manic red shirt was closing them down, snapping into a tackle not giving a second’s respite. As the relentless wave of red shirts just kept advancing Brentford were clearly ruffled and none more so than visiting keeper Raya who was looking like a clanger was just waiting to happen. Coulson was lively down the left despite being on the receiving end of a few battering’s from Dalsgaard. The youngster did lose the ball once or twice but was tenacious in his recovery and inevitably winning back possession on almost every occasion.

On the opposite side of defence Howson looked comfortable and composed and Johnson was again proving to be a useful outlet and caused problems down the right flank including a wonderful strike that had Raya flying across his goalmouth to palm away an effort. But for a momentary lapse in the first half when he tried to dribble his way out of trouble losing possession on the edge of his own box when a simple two-yard pass would have sufficed

Marvin once again looked the part. Indeed, it was difficult to be seriously critical of any Red shirt in those opening 45 minutes apart from those minor failings mentioned above.

Recovering from his early wobble Shotton launched a clearance up field that set Fletcher free who latched onto the ball superbly and played in Paddy McNair but his effort was a little too enthusiastic, still very promising signs and the excitement was building. Ten minutes in and it was all Boro, Brentford looked like they didn’t know what had hit them as the red tide just kept on rising and in truth it looked like something had to break Boro’s way soon. Fast, slick interpassing moves which at times were almost breath-taking had become the norm as Boro were not so much knocking on the Bee’s door but wouldn’t let them out of the living room into the hallway.

On the quarter hour mark Lewis Wing had a free kick that curled over the wall but had too much on it and it sailed over the bar not dipping in time despite the South Stand trying to suck it in. Twenty five minutes in and the pressure finally burst as Brentford were rustled and corralled into giving away a silly corner and with Raya still inexplicably out of his box near the corner flag Marvin Johnson seized the moment, floated in a quick corner which had Raya struggling to get back in position and outstretched, tipping the ball into his own unguarded box targeted by the advancing Ashley Fletcher who was blocked off by Jeanvier who managed to head it into his own gaping net.

The euphoria which broke out at the goal was soon ended by the Linesman waving his little flag convinced he had seen something which nobody else had seen in the stadium. Why it was ruled out I have no idea but robbery would have been too kind a word and those “Typical Boro” phrase books were back out again with a few Teesside truisms hurled in the direction of the Keeper, the Linesman and the Ref for the rest of the first half.

Just three minutes later and Paddy McNair was at it again with another effort in a performance which was his best to date in a Boro shirt. He was one of the main protagonists in being a thorn in Brentford’s side. How Boro were not in front was not for the lack of application or indeed effort of which there was plenty on display but purely down to a miscarriage of justice. Undeterred Boro kept up the relentless pace and when it looked dangerous Howson was alert to a Brentford attack with the ex-Leeds man crunching into Henry to win back the ball yet again.

With just under ten minutes to half time Fletcher was again the victim of the gentleman running the West Stand touchline as he flagged furiously after Ashley believed that he had put Boro into the lead. This time it was presumably for a very fine offside but again the slenderest of margins if indeed it was the correct call. Determined not to give up the chase Johnson won the ball back nipping in to sweep the ball away from Pinnock unleash a shot from the edge of the box requiring Raya to save from our reborn right-wing revelation.

With seconds remaining Britt broke into the box and pulled his shot across Raya’s goalmouth that was teasing and inviting to be prodded home but Fletcher was just two strides behind to turn it in as Raya’s goal once again led a charmed life. The half time whistle sounded shortly after to a rousing round of applause that was well deserved and a far departure from the jeers and boos which had tainted the end of the Pulis purgatory.

No changes at half time as Boro came out first, waiting for their opponents, determined to finish off the job they had started. The fairy tale however ended at that point. The sheer exhaustive impact of running and chasing like a pack of Jack Russell’s for 45 minutes looked to have emptied Boro’s collective batteries. The visitors clearly hadn’t read the script and instead pushed further up, closed Boro down not letting us settle into that aggressive domination again. The Bees were now buzzing and indeed had Randolph fully engaged for the first time this afternoon in the opening minutes of the half. Boro needed to clear their heads and get back into gear but their tank was looking ominously empty. Now it was Brentford’s turn to chase and snuff out with Boro struggling to impose themselves in anything like the fashion they had in the first half.

We were starting to look ragged and disjointed, as great and as exciting as we had been in the first half, we looked the total opposite now. Disjointed, disorganised and lacking structure. This defending malarkey certainly didn’t fit the home side and Thomas Frank and his side now knew it. Dark clouds had gathered overhead at half time giving those in the lower seats of the stands an unseasonal shower but those clouds were still overhead and added to the distinct mood change and but for an outstretched Coulson block it could have been 0-1.

Coulson and Howson were being kept busy trying to stem the attacks down the flanks but we were now looking decidedly susceptible all over and a headed Bee’s clearance over the head of Shotton sent Canos clear, one flick, cheeky toe poke and quick cross from him to the unmarked Watkins at the far side of the box and we were one down. That certainly wasn’t written in the script and you could literally sense the air hissing out of the Boro balloon as that early optimism and swashbuckling bravado was now replaced with “Typical Boro” foreboding.

What ensued was punch drunk Boro trying to somehow get back into the game but clearly the new plan hasn’t yet evolved to the point of what to do when you go behind and the opposition have shut up shop. The reality was that we never really looked like getting back into it and those exertions in the first half had clearly been at a huge cost. There was endeavour and willingness but the speed and agility required to reproduce those opening 45 minutes of attacking deluge had been sapped and that sucker punch had flattened belief. Brentford had reshuffled into a defensive diamond content to see what Boro could do if they didn’t commit themselves; confident their slender lead would be enough to see the game out.

Out of ideas and with only a quarter of an hour left Woodgate brought on some fresh legs in the form of Browne and Dijksteel. The tired looking Johnson and Clayton went off with Howson moving up the wing and Dijksteel behind him at RB with Browne in a No.10 type role trying to pull strings but Brentford were defending with ease knowing Boro had to commit whilst they could stand back keeping things tight. Dijksteel looked comfortable on the ball but much of it was recycling as Boro tried to find a gap in the Brentford rearguard. The ex-Charlton lad did manage to get a couple of balls into the packed Bee’s box one enabling Britt to get a shot off but there was no power in it and easily collected by Raya.

At this stage we looked distinctly ragged with little structure or tactics on display to speak of. Woodgate’s last throw of the dice was Rudy Gestede being brought on for Fletcher. The predictability of such a substitution was clearly obvious to those sat around me. What on earth was the strategy of all this high tempo closing down stuff when it had been abandoned in favour of hoof it to the big lad even if the big lad in question had failed to deliver on numerous occasions. Out of the striking options he had removing Fletcher was strange as he had been one of our better performers and on the day the most likely to score.

The obvious one to hook for me was Britt who looked a few yards off the pace, possibly protecting that calf strain from midweek. Britt’s reactions and movements seemed several degrees behind Fletcher all afternoon. Eccentric substitution aside after that whatever the game plan was it never materialised in any discernible shape or form. Frank and Brentford had been putting their own Subs on to eat into the clock and manage the game out with ease. The contrast between the two halves were black and white, chalk and cheese.

What is clear is that running around for forty-five minutes may be great entertainment but the fitness levels required to do that for the full ninety are probably impossible to achieve. Britt didn’t look to fit into this system any easier than he did to Pulisball. Entertainment alone will only get the Boro management team so far and without some much-needed tactical nous and underpinning this could be a long hard season ahead. No doubt there will be days when we do go in two up at half time, in the ascendency and taking pressure off in the second half but the ability to organise and defend looks like a work in progress at the moment. Considering the inherited DNA and starting point of this squad it is a mild cause for concern that so much has seemingly been sacrificed in that regard.

MOM for me was Howson closely followed by Fletcher, McNair and Coulson for their endeavours. A Penalty miss last week and one poor Official today and the table could look so very different but the League tables don’t have a column for that so its on to Blackburn next week and hopes of a more balanced, measured approach.

Pos. 12th= (1pt)	FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 2019			Pos. 12th= (1pt)
Luton		3-3	Boro
Bradley (14) Cranie (24) Collins (85)	50% 12(4) 8 14	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	50% 17(8) 11 20	Fletcher (7) Assombalonga (37) Wing (68)

Mad Tea-Time Party at the Hatters

This season’s inaugural Championship fixture rewarded Boro with a Friday night trip down to sunny Kenilworth Road to face newly promoted Luton. Both sides had new Managers in the dugout, Woodgate for Boro and former Boro Academy Coach Graeme Jones for the Hatters. Pre-match predictions seemed unable to identify a clear favourite with home and away wins along with draws evenly spread amongst punters and expert predictors alike. Luton had momentum from last season’s promotion charge whilst Boro had relieved themselves of their managerial millstone from around their necks.

Injury wise Woodgate was sweating over Randolph, Friend and Fry with the latter certain to miss out and the first two highly questionable. The line-up saw Randolph return in goal but Friend and Fry missing with young Coulson deservedly getting a start at LB. Ayala and Shotton were the only two fit senior CB’s with Ayala as Captain for the evening. Howson took up the RB slot in a 433. Wing, Clayton and McNair were the middle three with Johnson, Assombalonga and Fletcher as the front three adorned in the new White away shirt, White shorts and Red socks. Luton had what can only be described as a dog’s dinner of a kit with a red (blood orange?) shirt with white sleeves, navy trim and Navy shorts and white socks. Jones gave five new signings an airing with ex Boro men Martin Crainie at RB and Jacob Butterfield on the bench. Boro’s two new boys Browne and Bola were on the bench along with Pears, Wood, Tav, Saville and Gestede.

Boro got forward quickly with a corner in the opening minute which was hit low and scrappily cleared by Luton. The tempo was certainly more active from Boro but looked a bit frenetic with Coulson earning the early tussles with confident and silky skills. A fourth minute shot from Fletcher was deflected out but the Ref awarded a goal kick for the home side as the ball covered more yards in those opening minutes than in the full 90 of a Pulis match. Johnson did well holding the ball up against two defenders using upper body strength allowing Wing to nip in and win a corner. Johnson then delivered said corner which was cleared back out to him and Marvin lofted in a perfect cross into the middle of the box where Fletcher rose to head home to put Boro ahead.

Boro broke immediately after the restart and Johnson playing on the right was again involved in the build-up which saw Clayts break out and Wing launch a rocket shot straight at Sluga making his debut tonight in the Hatters goal. A Luton corner was cleared out as they pushed for an equaliser but Boro broke again and a slick Johnson pass had just too much on it for Britt bursting through. Luton were now starting to clear their heads and won a succession of frustrating fee kicks which had Clayton heading clear a weak 13th minute effort for a throw in. Just a minute beforehand Ayala had to head out to concede a corner to clear a fierce cross into Randolph’s box.

On the quarter hour Coulson blocked a McManaman cross to concede a corner. The Shinnie taken corner was initially headed clear but came straight back in which was headed out by Ayala but straight to Sonny Bradley who launched a volley from twenty yards out leaving Randolph no chance, 1-1 and going gung ho instead of taking the sting out of the game had cost Boro their slender lead. Johnson had another chance then McNair saw a long-range speculative effort go out for a corner. Johnson sent it in and out it went for another corner which Wing delivered but Luton then broke with McManaman wrestling Coulson out of the way as the game was literally end to end, kick and rush football.

A cross was hastily headed out by Ayala for a corner but the incoming corner was inevitably headed in by a climbing Crainie over Johnson to head the Hatters 2-1 in front. Taking an early lead was great but the naivety afterwards in Boro leaving themselves wide open was telling and the tide had turned with 25 minutes gone and the visitors now looking distinctly nervy. A 26th minute Shinnie free kick had too much on it as Crainie once again went up to try and net a second in quick succession. Boro’s swashbuckling style was now in contrast to Luton who were composing themselves, settling in, albeit with perhaps misplaced confidence. At this stage the game looked like there would be plenty of more goals in it. Boro were scrapping their way back into this but relying on long balls up to Britt to make a trademark run which were being cleaned up with ease by the new look Luton defence.

A right-wing Lewis Wing cross looked to be met by Britt but the Ref adjudged Britt to have dragged down his opposing number as the ball was cleared off the line by the Keeper Sluga. McManaman won another free kick off Coulson, Shinnie floated in another dangerous ball which fortunately was cleared but only to concede another free kick on the opposite flank. Shinnie once again took it but this time short to Tunnicliffe who complicated the move by pausing and with the impetus lost it was eventually stopped courtesy of a free kick to Boro who then hoofed it up field and straight out of play on the left touchline. On 35 minutes Coulson beat two men on a mazy run finding Johnson on the opposite edge of the box who in turn curled in a wicked left foot shot that had Sluga stretching at the far top corner. After his goalkeeping heroics he then bizarrely rolled the ball out but inside his own box to a defender being closed down by Johnson which as a consequence ended up with a poor pass to another Luton defender which was well read and intercepted by Fletcher feeding Britt who daisy cut his shot that squirmed underneath Sluga at his near post to make it 2-2 on 37 minutes.

Two minutes later and McManaman then met a cross but skewed his shot wide with Randolph breathing a sigh of relief as the hectic nature showed no signs of easing off. Just before that Fletcher was booked for taking out Crainie in the build-up. Boro were now getting back into the game with confidence levels boosted by that equaliser but the half was still ending with crazy end-to-end frantic football. McNair was hauled down by Mpanzu for a yellow. Wing took the free kick from 30 yards out and won a corner for his effort on the left which he took himself, which in turn eventually went out for a throw and then immediately a right-sided corner that Johnson took but was cleared and then hit well over for the first half to end all square.

If you managed to keep up with all that and it made some sense then congratulations because the game itself was that action packed one blink and you missed a shot or a free kick in between. That half was manic, as entertaining as it will undoubtedly have been for the neutrals and Sky viewers both sets of fans will probably be requiring several changes of underwear after those kick a goal rush 45 minutes.

The second half started with screams from the local Mark Page over the tannoy and Boro now kicking towards the travelling army with Coulson immediately sending two balls into the Luton box. As had been par for the game thus far Luton then broke and a powerful Shinnie corner was unintentionally headed clear by his own player, Collins. Three minutes into the half and Collins was once again in the mix meeting a cross with his hand to almost take the lead but instead earning himself a yellow card. Another warning shot to Boro to calm things down if one was needed. A Howson break to Johnson saw a clever lofted dink to McNair who then lobbed the ball onto Sluga’s crossbar as the mad nature of this game continued unabated. On 53 minutes Lewis Wing launched a trademark long range rocket but it sailed well over into the red away end.

Boro were chasing and harrying, closing down quickly in the opposition half and then Luton broke with McManaman again with Howson tracking and chasing Collins into the Boro box to head clear. The resulting corner ended in chaotic defending and clearances and a fierce drive coming in towards the packed box with justifiable home claims for a penalty as Wing brought down Potts.

Luton were now turning the screw on a less than convincing Boro defensive display. Yet another Shinnie corner was headed clear by Clayton and eventually the phase of play ended with a calming Boro goal kick during which Butterfield came on for Lee. Wing was then booked on 60 minutes for a block which that man Shinie once more tee’d up from 40 yards out which was headed clear by Ayala and hoofed 100 yards from danger by Howson. Boro were up next with two Coulson crosses in quick succession drawing the ooh’s and aah’s from the away end. A Wing shot was then deflected out for a corner as Boro kept up the pressure. The Luton substitution seemed to have perversely worked in Boro’s favour as with Jones switching his side around and they now looked a little lost.

An over hit Johnson corner on 66 minutes allowed a momentary opportunity for all involved to catch a breath. A series of impressive inter-passing between Howson, McNair and Johnson then set Howson off on a run into the box laying it off for Wing who ripped the back out of Sluga’s net from the edge of the 18 yard box, 3-2 to Boro. Cornick then came on for Shinnie as Jones tweaked his set up yet again.

Browne was then readied by Boro for Marvin Johnson on 70 minutes. Browne quickly became involved in two slick moves and should have won a free kick on the goal line but the ball came back out, collected by Wing who drove another shot in low but it went wide. McNair then played Wing in but the ball this time just had a few inches too much pace.

Danger man McManaman then thankfully went off as Luton were now trying to desperately get something out of this game with 15 minutes remaining. Browne then performed a backwards reverse nutmeg on Potts to win a free kick near the corner flag, which was taken by Wing but was headed clear. A quick interception saw Browne played through to win a corner delivered in by Wing, headed by Ayala and cleared off the line by Sluga. Luton immediately broke and Randolph had to be sharp to meet a cross to keep the slender lead intact then we witnessed a break from Boro, a clever ball flicked through to Britt, unmarked, clean in on goal, just six yards out with only Sluga to beat but he fluffed his lines. It was harder to miss than score! As the ball yo-yo’ed back into the Luton half from that miss a late tackle by Crainie on Coulson saw a penalty to Boro on 81 minutes.

Phew, this was taking some keeping up with! Britt steadied himself (perhaps too much) and took his Penalty which probably landed in Linthorpe Road. This was Britt back to the default Britt we all know; give him a slim chance and he scores, give him time to think and pick his spot with a simple tap in and he misses. He nearly made amends a second (OK maybe three) later when he barged through forcing Sluga to just nick the ball off his foot, this was now becoming the footballing definition of madness.

A Luton free kick was half cleared but they came straight back at Boro as we failed to clear our lines and a poor white shirted decision to loop a backwards header set up Potts (I think) who evaded and coolly rounded a spread-eagled Howson and a despairing Wing in the box to feed Collins to fire the home side level, 3-3 with just single digit minutes remaining. Saville then came on for McNair as this game still looked to have plenty of twists and turns left in the dying moments. Two minutes now remaining and Luton were turning the screw as balls fizzed across Randolph’s box. At the other end Fletcher was bundled through by Britt but his near post shot was dealt with by Sluga with only seconds now of normal time remaining.

Four additional minutes went up as a Coulson cross was over hit. Two minutes remaining of added time and Randolph pulled off a worldie reactionary save which Coulson was then called upon to bravely block the follow up shot. When the dust cleared and bodies counted Dan Potts was laid prostrate with what looked like a dislocated shoulder and no remaining subs for Jones. Potts came back on, one armed, determined to stay and fight till the death. A Luton corner was cleared out to the wincing Potts who played in Butterfield for a wasted cross out for a Boro throw. Luton had been unbeaten since March 2018 at home and tonight was to be no different as the whistle went having deservedly earned their draw.

A crazy, indeed manic game which had more shots than we probably saw all last season from Boro. Britt’s glaring misses aside Boro should have shown more experience and professionalism when they took the lead. No disrespect to Luton but there are far more capable sides in this division, playing with no regard to managing the game or seeing it out will result in some seriously heavy defeats if this continues as exciting as it undoubtedly was. Unarguably plenty of positives and 10/10 for entertainment but Britt’s misses and schoolboy defending cost us all three points tonight. Plenty for the optimists to savour but tactically we can’t go through a season being so open and soft centred. Had it not been for Randolph’s last minute save we would have lost tonight despite scoring three goals. MOM for Boro was Johnson with very worthy mentions for McNair, Howson and Coulson.

 

Rotherham United		Middlesbrough
Smith	86′ (pen)	Assombalonga Mikel	28′ (pen) 37′
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls	58% 18 4 6 12	Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls	42% 12 4 5 16

Boro ground to a halt at the Millers

The Final game of the season and somehow despite trying to self-implode Boro are still in it with something to play for albeit relying on the Baggies to hold the Rams to a draw or better still beat them. FLDC failure to win against the Swans midweek meant that the footballing ennui currently smothering Teesside had to be endured once more for another 90 minutes or at least until Derby took a convincing lead plunging the stake firmly into the Diasboro heart for another season.

TP had declared that he only had the three defenders still out with no new selection headaches. Warne seemed optimistically resigned to their fate and I suspected we would see a Rotherham playing without fear wanting to put on a show for a capacity last game in the Championship. Paul Warne made two changes from their defeat to West Brom last Saturday. Vaulks hadn’t recovered from an injury and goalkeeper Rodak was missing through illness. Due to that illness their lack of a Keeper on the bench was hopefully an omen for Boro with Lewis Price making his first start of the season between the sticks for the Millers. The only change for Boro was on the bench with Wood dropping out and Spence coming back in.

A vociferous jam-packed banner festooned away end roared on the dark blue/black shirted Boro for one last final effort. Rotherham kicked off and immediately McNair was forced into a header with the home side starting off on the front foot. As expected, we had three at the back with Howson and Saville in the Wing Back roles. Early exchanges saw Rotherham getting the ball out wide quickly and pressuring Boro with Shotton looking a little questionable in the reaction stakes. There were certainly no relegation hangovers from the Miller men. Boro were under serious pressure, Randolph had to palm away an early effort from Smith who had bettered Shotton testing the Boro Keeper with a shot fired across the face of goal. Truth be told Boro looked very uncomfortable, slow and unprepared for Rotherham’s onslaught.

A minute later and a ball into the Boro box was fortunately left by Forde and Smith, going out for a Boro goal kick. Ten minutes had gone and it was all Rotherham until a Besic taken free kick led to a corner for the visitors. The big lads went up but the corner came in low to Saville who hit it poorly and it went well wide. The anxious hope was that Boro were just keeping things cool, absorbing early pressure and looking to pick the relegated side off but hope is one thing reality wise it certainly didn’t look or feel that confident. Scrappy, disconnected and a lack of composure best described the Boro showing in the opening quarter of an hour. A header over the bar by Ajayi in the six-yard box was another warning but then Britt broke, was through on a one on one and as has been typical of Britt he sliced his shot left footed wide as he had darted between two static Rotherham defenders after a Fletcher knock on.

Bleak news then filtered through that Derby had taken the lead against the Baggies at Pride Park. Again, Shotton looking increasingly awkward on the left of the defence was skinned by Smith, allowing the attacker to get into the Boro box and fire in his shot. Fletcher then duplicated Britt’s effort by lashing a shot well wide from the same spot and going wide of the same post. A Lewis Wing free kick was delivered perfectly to Shotton who repeated his defensive frailties at the other end hopelessly putting his header over the bar for what was a nailed-on opener. That miss was unbelievable but at least Boro did now look to be showing some endeavour but as soon as we felt that warm breeze of confidence Rotherham went up the other end and it was inevitably Michael Smith who had another shot that went just wide under pressure from Shotton.

Just before the half hour mark Fletcher played Assombalonga through and in going to receive the one two Britt was hauled down in the box allowing Britt to put away his second penalty in as many weeks.

One nil and just as the travelling army were in full celebratory mood Britt was played in again by Fletcher but he completely missed the gaping goalmouth with his shot going out for a goal kick near the edge of the eighteen-yard box. Elsewhere Derby were still winning, Bristol were drawing but Ipswich were beating Leeds which hopefully would serve as an incentive to WBA to try and get something at Derby to avoid Villa. Meanwhile Smith was again causing us problems and looking very much to me like a player that was maybe worth some speculative interest in the summer. Twenty-seven years old, from the North East, Championship ready and unlikely to break the bank.

On thirty-seven minutes a Wing corner was met powerfully by McNair, headed back in towards the packed six-yard box deflected back out (or laid off depending on perspective) by Fletcher into the path of Mikel on the penalty spot who smashed it home to make it two nil. With just a few minutes to go until the half time whistle news had filtered through that Leeds had pulled back an equaliser at Ipswich. That was a sickener as the hope was that the chance of leapfrogging Leeds to avoid Villa might have been an incentive for the Baggies to push Derby a little harder in the second half. As the seconds of the first half ebbed away, Rotherham had a cross come shot palmed out by Randolph reminding us we still had work to do. The resulting corner was headed clear and the whistle went to end the half.

A nervy opening twenty minutes for Boro but the penalty broke the back of the Millers and settled our nerves. In truth with three very poor misses we could and possibly should have had another three goals despite Rotherham creating some really good opportunities themselves.

Paul Warne made one change at half time with Williams on for Forde as news simultaneously came through that Ipswich had taken the lead again versus Leeds but the Baggies had now drawn level at Pride Park sending the Travelling Teessiders into orbit. We now potentially faced the longest forty-five minutes for Boro fans as the two thousand six hundred travelling army turned the New York Stadium into Rotherham by the Tees, uncomfortably a few bursts of “Derby County, it’s happening again” rang out.

Fifty-five minutes gone and it was still 2-0 to Boro and still 1-1 at Pride Park, Bristol were drawing 0-0 at Hull so as it stood Boro were at least momentarily in the Play Offs. Rotherham had a chance and then at the other end a Corner won by Howson was delivered in by Saville but a shove by Flint was blown for by Ref Andy Madely for a foul. Despite the effervescent enthusiasm from the travelling army if Rotherham pulled one back nerves would be jangling even more and of course if Derby scored it was dream over. At Hull the final knife was plunged into Bristol City hearts as Irvine had put the Tigers one up to end vague South West Play Off hopes.

Meanwhile Boro were slipping up and looking careless, Paul Warne had clearly told his side to go out and get at us with nothing to lose. Mikel made a hash of things, Fletcher done likewise as nerves were clearly getting to everybody in the New York Stadium. Half an hour to go and a third Rotherham Corner in quick succession was plucked out of the air by Randolph. At this stage I’m not sure if another West Brom goal would have eased jitters more than a third for Boro. Either or preferably both would have done. Besic picked up a sloppy Ajayi pass, charged forward and just inside the box let fly but his effort went well over Price’s goal. Down at Hull Bristol had pulled one back but so long as we were wining their result was irrelevant to us.

Sixty-five minutes gone and the Pride Park result was still 1-1, Boro were still leading 2-0 and Bristol’s goal apparently wasn’t and it was still 1-0 to the Tigers. Paul Warne made another sub bringing the long serving Potter on as Boro were really making hard work of this and a Newell shot blocked by Saville drew huge sighs of relief and immediately Saville again defiantly blocked the follow up attempt.

Then the killer news came in that FLDC had taken the lead again against West Brom and were now 2-1 up. The mood in the away end was suddenly darker than the Boro shirts.

Ajayi had a great effort brilliantly saved by Randolph and once again he had another follow up effort just as news arrived that Derby had just had a Penalty to put the Rams 3-1 up and effectively ending Boro’s hopes that had momentarily, ever so cruelly flickered. A Penalty claim by Rotherham was brushed aside after it was adjudged that Saville’s hand had made accidental contact. With just under a quarter of an hour of the game and season to go Newell came off for the Millers with Kyle Vassel entering the field of play, Fletcher went off for Boro at the same time and Downing began the likely end of his second Boro chapter.

There was little impetus out on the pitch and in the stands, the travelling army were now somewhat restrained other than a brief “he’s one of our own” welcome to Stewy’s arrival. Clayts was warming up to replace Besic in what was probably the Bosnina’s final game for Boro and the switch was made at the next break in play. Leeds had meanwhile missed a Penalty at ten man Ipswich but it all seemed a irrelevant now as the only thing that really mattered was in the hands of West Brom. The text messages trickling through was that they looked less than likely to rescue TP and Boro’s season. Tav then came on for Wing to get five or six minutes under his belt but straight away the Rotherham Sub Vassell smashed the post and as the ball came back in to the edge of the box Mikel stuck a silly foot into the path of Vassell who went down for Andy Madely to blow for a penalty.

Michael Smith stepped up and despatched it into the bottom corner past the outstretched Randolph to pull it back to 2-1 to Boro. In fairness Rotherham had deserved it as news arrived in that fellow relegated Ipswich had apparently scored a third against Leeds. Sadly, there was nothing coming in from Pride Park as Boro were now hanging on to what they had. Boro fans now left reflecting on all those games that we meekly surrendered over a season that had started so well then defended into despair. The only things now left to report on the day were that West Brom had gone down to ten men in injury time and Mikel picked up a yellow card for frustratingly kicking the ball away.

MOM was the Boro Travelling Army. Boro had recklessly missed out on what was once a nailed-on position in the Play Off’s sealed after that calamitous run of six defeats in a row. Part of me was disappointed at today’s outcome whilst another part was relieved that this frustrating season was finally over and not spluttering incoherently and aimlessly on. Now put out of our misery but in truth we didn’t miss out today, our lack of goals, terrible home record, negative attitude and out dated tactics had sucked the heart and soul out of players and fans alike some months back.

Middlesbrough		Reading
Wing Assombalonga	31′ 39′ (pen)	Loader	11′
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls	38% 18 6 7 14	Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls	62% 12 4 4 12

Wing and a prayer

Jose Gomes had his first game his season without serious relegation pressure as only a mathematical miracle could send his team down. The Royals pulled clear of the relegation zone after a run of only three defeats in their last sixteen games largely down to no longer conceding goals in the dying minutes. One point would be enough to guarantee safety but as it stood they were already six points ahead of Rotherham in the remaining relegation slot with a plus thirteen better goal difference. That Rotherham had only scored 50 goals in 44 games this entire season and therefore needed to score something like 25% of their entire goal haul in two remaining games was never going to happen and of course besides they have to face the mighty Boro in their last game.

TP had the usual casualty list perhaps with SG’s injured pride to add to that after fellow Championship competitors blew his “you show me yours and I’ll show you mine” accounts strategy out of the water midweek to make it two humiliating defeats in 48 hours in Nottingham. Then yesterday we heard that they had managed allegedly to “knack” Stewy in training to add to Dael Fry from the previous week.

The big shock was the inclusion of Lewis Wing coming in for Clayts who we thought would be finished for the season after his hernia operation. Other than that, the only other change was Spence making way from the bench for Clayts. The sides took to the Riverside pitch under dark grey overcast skies with the Spirit of Steaua banner being optimistically passed over the heads of the South Stand. If only we had seen some “Spirt” in evidence at the Riverside at any time this season since August.

Boro kicked off and got at Reading straight away down the right side with Wingy earning a corner and having a shot and all before 47 seconds had ticked over linking up well with Howson. If this was a sign of intent then it was refreshing to see a Boro side finally looking like they wanted to actually win a game. Reading however had objectives of their own, quickly settled and started passing the ball around stretching Boro and exposing our weakness of playing a fish out of water at left back yet again. Being fair on Saville he gives 100% but at best he is a 6/10 performer with the odd 7 every now and then but as a wing back a 2/10 would be a compliment, not his fault I hasten to add as its the chalice that’s been handed to him.

McCleary was looking lively and starting to stretch a Boro backline that looked edgy and before long it was clear that Jose Gomes and his charges knew that their opponents’ collective defensive vulnerabilities was a given. Boro however were very busy themselves at the other end and Wingy managed to hit the inside of the post and a cross from Fletcher was just marginally too high for Britt to meet. The inevitable then happened as a poorly defended ball from a Gunter throw in worked in from our right side seen youngster Danny Loader drift past Mikel who had struggled to pull any strings thus far and was beaten all too easily for a deftly lofted ball to curl into the top corner of Randolph’s net in a very soft and soul-destroying manner.

0-1 and like the inflatable dinosaur that had previously provided lofty entertainment (and irony) floating above the Riverside environs had been well and truly burst. The Stadium atmosphere had been low key and quiet up until that point and the away fans now had something to sing about with a chorus or two of “we’re staying up”. The industrial heritage of Teesside was evident in thoughts and opinions which were muffled in fairness but certainly scathing and eye watering in terminology. The fear was that this would be the key that unlocked months of pent up anti dinosaur frustration

and anger but the fans kept their powder dry but the atmosphere was now just as dark as those foreboding grey skies.

Reading were now enjoying momentary relief from pressure knowing that a draw let alone a victory would see them definitely safe from the drop. Boro on the other hand looked jittery nervous and a comedy of errors then ensued. Saville couldn’t hang onto the ball, Shotton was all over and Flint looked a liability and as we desperately needed to get back into the game Besic started his circular pirouettes and landed us in trouble. He looked every inch a luxury we can’t and wouldn’t want to afford.

At this point the atmosphere was now starting to turn toxic and what had been previously muffled was now being individually vented in full fury at was truly shambolic defending. A makeshift defence is one thing but what was witnessed was below schoolboy level. Mikel was weak in midfield, Besic was in a delusional world of his own, Saville was struggling, Flint was impersonating a carthorse and Shotton was running around trying to hold it all together but in reality, in doing so losing what little organisation and structure we had.

Then came a moment that simply beggared belief. Barely surviving a calamitous period and now trying to get an equaliser to keep our slim hopes for the season alive the ball broke to Besic. Desperate to launch another attack and screaming at him (not for the first time this afternoon) to propel it back into the box he turns and knocks the ball out of play. Vitriol was now at bubbling point. A Reading player was down but not unconscious or fitting or even blood pouring from him. Besic seemed to be totally oblivious to both the importance and the meaning of this match. It was made a lot worse as the Reading player who must have looked like he needed life support got himself up, dusted himself down and got on with it. So embarrassed were Reading when they took the resultant throw in instead of hitting it back to Randolph as would be the norm they sheepishly just knocked it ten yards back to Boro in the middle of the pitch.

Having dicky danced his way through the half to date the Bosnian international was lucky that the only pelters he received were verbal ones because there were a few blokes near me that apoplectic doesn’t even remotely describe their mental state. What the game had shown thus far was that there is very clearly a mental issue with this side in terms of where their heads are at and reality of the task in hand. Something is evidently dysfunctional compounded by a lack of leadership on the pitch. I couldn’t have pictured a player knocking the ball out like that with a Grant Leadbitter or a Nigel Pearson out there.

Boro’s sole outlets were Wing and Howson who were both a class or even two classes above the rest, Randolph excepted. Besic made some amends when he found Fletcher who in turn played in Britt but when it looked like we were back in it his effort had hit the post. Wing then tried his luck next but his effort went both a yard wide and just over the Reading goal. Finally after a great piece of play involving Jonny Howson (who is looking like a serious long term solution to the right wing back role) his cross evaded Fletcher but was headed out by a defender to Wingy on the penalty spot who wrapped his boot behind it and made darn sure that that ball was only going in one place and it was 1-1. In fairness what perhaps wasn’t appreciated and won’t be reported elsewhere is that Saville was up and pressuring that Reading defender in the box who couldn’t leave it and was desperately forced into the poor header.

Just over thirty minutes gone and things were level again. Boro now regrouped, cleared their stuttering heads but it was still Howson and Wing that were the only creative forces behind everything that we mustered. Our left side was sterile, totally bereft of any threat. Saville was getting caught and with a lack of pace struggled to build anything from defence whatsoever, the thoughts in the North Stand were that Stewy’s training “injury” was just more of Pulis’s spin to defect from his decision to go yet again with what had failed each and every time it was utilised.

In stark and blatantly obvious contrast Howson and Wing continued to test the Reading defence on the right side (fanciful thoughts of a Downing and Tav combo on the left entered my thoughts). Wing then had another yet another effort pushed over for a corner. With five minutes of the first half remaining Besic played a great ball to Howson and as he played it into Saville (again getting up into the Reading box) Yiadom brought him down but the ball simultaneously broke to Britt who rifled his shot into the gaping goal to make it 2-1 except eccentric Referee John Brooks (who seemed to be on a neighbouring orbit to Besic) blew for a penalty. From cheers and jubilation to abject disbelief at the whistle along with more Anglo-Saxon nouns. Britt stepped up and as the inevitable “Typical Boro” thoughts were to the forefront of everyone’s minds he calmly sent Martinez the wrong way smashing it into the net once again finally making it 2-1.

Despite going behind early, Besic having an aberration along with Flint, Shotton and Saville ensuring there were more than just smokers queueing for the cubicles at half time somehow (thanks mainly to Howson, Wingy and Britt) we were back in front against a side that were still looking over their shoulders. Just before the half time whistle had gone Shotton had a scrambled attempt that rippled the side netting as we almost dared to dream that we could enter the break with the rarity of a two-goal cushion.

The second half started much the same way as the first with this time Besic putting in an early cross that Fletcher deftly nodded goal wards with Martinez committed to a dive to his left but by sheer fluke his trailing legs managed to comically keep Ashley’s effort out. That was a great and positive restart as surely the need for goals as well as a win was paramount in Pulis’s and the Players’ minds especially with the half time news that Derby were winning away at Bristol.

What ensued next was just a repeat of the Stoke and Hull second halves except even more negative. Sitting back, absorbing pressure, desperately clearing lines, hoofing up field where Britt was out muscled and Fletcher managing to give lightweight a new Collins Dictionary definition. Powder puff and half-hearted our two attackers were getting no backing from the Ref even when Britt had his shirt almost ripped off him, held back, dragged back on the half way line he blew for a foul in favour of Reading.

That was it I’m afraid, nothing else worthy to report or comment on in the half other than digging deep and hanging on for grim death or dear life. An entire second half of desperate, defensive dross interspersed by three substitutions from either side. TP brought Clayts on for Besic and Tav on for Fletcher who it has to be said looked equally light weight and just as disappointingly ineffective. Hugill then came on for Britt and at least dished out a bit of what Britt had been receiving in vain and took a yellow for his troubles. Like the last few home games it was the Alamo revisited again as nerves were shredded, enduring what was hopefully the last of the Pulis era at the Riverside.

It ended with a 2-1 victory that was far from convincing and anything but enjoyable but that last emotion had long since been aborted since August. MOM was a joint one between Howson and Wing, Wingy grabbed his goal but Howson was Mr Duracell all game and it’s impossible to split the decision. Incredibly the tantalising chance of a play off spot still remains up until the very final game of the season but most of us know that should have been the absolute minimum. Now we find ourselves rueing the lack of goals and goal difference that TP had been at great odds to highlight in his programme notes. Unfortunately, those stats don’t highlight taking Britt off for Friend at home to Brentford or the abject negativity against the likes of Villa, Forest and Swansea nor the shameful capitulations to Newport and Burton. No team spirit, no belief, no determination, no confidence, no positivity and negative demoralising leadership has led us to where we now find ourselves.

Our hopes now despondingly rest on FLDCFC taking the field at Swansea full of fear and trepidation Pulis style.