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Pos. 18th (9 pts)	SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2019			Pos. 7th (16 pts)
Boro		1-4	Sheff Wed
McNair (19)	53% 9(2) 4 9	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	47% 11(5) 6 17	Clayton (5 o.g.) Iorfa (6) Reach (23) Fletcher (34)

Mocked Monk Mauls Muddled Boro

This afternoons game was always going to be an interesting affair after the EFL’s investigation into stadium sales at the apparent behest of SG and the somewhat confusing timeline in the case of this afternoon’s opponents – plus the return of Garry Monk, whose legacy still lives on or rankles depending upon perspective. Having just taken over at the Owls, today’s encounter at the Riverside was his fourth game in charge. It’s too early to come to any conclusions but suffice to say that he had a decent record at Leeds and then worked miracles at Birmingham whilst his time at the Riverside was certainly no worse than what ensued after his demise.

It’s the third side that Boro will face in the top ten this season having earned a very credible draw away at Bristol and a somewhat fatiguing defeat last week away to Cardiff due to an unfortunate OG. Boro were sat 15th, an equidistant position before kick off between a relegation spot and Wednesday in 10th which indicated that Monk probably had the slight advantage despite being the away side.

Boro’s injury situation was static with Gestede, Friend and Coulson still missing. The young LB would have been a risk to throw into this game after a lengthy lay off even if he was deemed fit. Hernia victim Jonny Howson however was anticipated to be possibly in line for a start after being a surprise inclusion on the bench in South Wales last week.

Would Woodgate revert back to his preferred 433 or stick with 352? Come two o’clock team news indicated that it was 433 with Bola returning at LB and Ayala dropping to the bench to make way for a player that looked extremely lightweight and vulnerable on his last outing. A brave decision by the Manager in fact a bold decision because if Bola showed the same level of disconnect then Wednesday could be in for a rewarding afternoon. Wing was reinstated in place of Saville with the two strikers seemingly untouchable and very fortunate to be starting again.

For the Owls, man mountain and Boro irritant Atdhe Nuhiu was starting in what looked like 442 for the visitors with former Boro man Adam Reach also selected in a Riverside bathed in Autumn sunshine. There was no sign of Jordan Rhodes on the bench for Wednesday which either indicated his fall from grace or the Owls strength in depth.

The several thousand Wednesday fans greeted their team bedecked in green, which was presumably because of some sort of identity crisis or that in South Yorkshire blue and white clashes with red in marketing land (or should that be exploitation world?). Iorfa got things under way for the green army, an early slip up was pounced on by Assombalonga but his decision making was in short supply once more as he tried to nutmeg his opponent rather than doing the simple thing and finding Fletcher.

The Owls earned the opening corner and as the Red Faction were suffering flashback the “Typical Boro” inevitable happened only this time Clayton beat Fletcher to the ball and another glancing header saw us go behind in the opening minutes for the second week in succession. Just as the Wednesday fans were settling down from their infuriatingly ironic celebrations Bannon delivered a free kick into the Boro box from which Iorfa stooped to beat Fry and head home from 8 yards out, giving Randolph no chance. A blunt lesson in deliveries and another in how not to defend, beleaguered Boro were now two down and only seven minutes gone.

Britt was struggling with what seemed like an ankle injury after a collision with a defender that left him requiring treatment, which may have been purely tactical to help his team mates clear their heads. Wednesday had started this game by far the livelier, whereas Boro just hadn’t started at all and looked extremely vulnerable, the ditching of Ayala and three at the back now looking very questionable. Britt was penalised for holding Odubajo as the red shirts launched their first meaningful attack. A minute later a nervy Bola header had Fry under pressure as the ball was played back to Randolph. Boro’s midfield were anonymous and the defence looking susceptible. Another Wednesday attack saw their number seven Harris beat Dijksteel for Steven Fletcher to out-jump the relatively diminutive Bola to see his effort go out for a corner that was unconvincingly defended.

In a rare Boro fray, Britt was hauled back just over the halfway line which incredibly didn’t see a yellow card in what looked like a professional foul to prevent a break. Paddy McNair then went down in the box with a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away for a corner. Johnson swung in a crisp ball from the resultant corner and the aforementioned McNair half volleyed the ball into the back of Westwood’s net from the middle of the box. That was like a boil being lanced in the pent up Riverside as the clock approached the twenty-minute mark.

A run by Dijksteel then played in Wing who hit a shot, which was not up to his usual standards, but it did at least signal intent and that Boro now sensed they were equal to their opponents because in the opening quarter of an hour they looked anything but. Just as Boro now looked like rescuing something Clayton was caught dawdling, the alert Adam Reach pounced, sent in a left footed low screamer to make it 1-3 to the Owls. Twenty-three minutes gone and it was looking farcical apart from that brief three-minute Boro cameo.

After the restart, Johnson back defending put it out for another corner from which Bannon played it across the face of Randolph’s goal for Hutchinson steaming in but he narrowly miss his connection. From the next phase Bola then played a ball into Ashley Fletcher, he and Westwood contested the ball which the experienced Keeper eventually collected at the second attempt. Woodgate, Leo and Keane were looking lost and confused on the touchline whilst Ayala was embarrassingly warming up as they remedied to repair their collective Kamikaze tactical damage before a ball was even kicked.

Whilst there was an abundance of head scratching going on in the Boro technical area Odubajo left the bewildered Bola for dead, played the ball back to Reach who in turn crossed to the back post for Steven Fletcher to make it four nil with the ball nestling in the corner of Randolph’s goal. “Can we play you every week” chorused from the away fans as the South Stand started to empty. Bola was as poor he had been in his last Riverside outing, totally out of position, letting a long Westwood clearance fly over his head for Odubajo to collect. Clearly very little had been identified by the coaching team and even less had been learnt.

If ever Garry Monk could be accused of being smug there was never a moment when it was more suitable or indeed probably brought him more pleasure with the Riverside turning toxic. His side were attacking with ease and every time they went down their right flank, we looked likely to let another one in. A Labrador puppy having his tummy tickled offered more resistance!

Sam Hutchinson needed to receive some attention which provided Boro a chance for Leo and Keane to try and reorganise the sorry raggle taggle bunch. Being four one up with consummate ease there was no need for Monk to risk Hutchinson any further as he limped off for Luongo to take his place.

Another nervy scare ensued with the first half coming to a close when Nuhiu had Shotton needing to be alert to spare any further embarrassment to Boro pride as Fletcher played him in unopposed. The atmosphere in the ground was now like a morgue as Wednesday fans becoming tired of cheering and jeering, headed for half time pints with the North, West, East and South Stands in contrasting solemn silence. A cacophony of loud boo’s beat shock jock MMP to his max volume button as the half time whistle went. Truth was that for all of that half we had been an embarrassment, tactically we were all at sea looking clueless and confused. “Deluded” was the all-enveloping word that entered my head as I watched sorry looking red shirts bow out with a whimper past an even sorrier and shell-shocked looking home bench.

What Woodgate and Co. could do during the half time break was certainly questionable but considering the coaching team had screwed up with their selection and tactics by abandoning the back three and believing that Bola can compete at this level was bewildering. When the teams returned for the second half Ayala and Browne took to the pitch with Clayton and Bola unsurprisingly and unceremoniously missing as Woodgate reverted to a back three.

The North Stand was distinctly quiet and not exactly expecting to see much action in truth if the first half was anything to go by along with the very obvious lack of “returnees” to their seats. There were a few feisty challenges and free kicks disrupting any patterns of play in the opening stages of the half. With Palmer off the pitch receiving treatment for one such challenge, a Wednesday free kick was launched into the Boro box evading Iorfa and Nuhui as Shotton thankfully cleared his lines. Bannon then upended Browne which to me looked like a bit of homework coming to fruition in an effort to unsettle the potentially hot-headed former Hammer.

A Shotton cross nodded back by Johnson in the Owls box saw a Westwood punch fall to Assombalonga who only a few yards out done what Britt does best, scuffed his attempt and missed by a mile (OK maybe just the whole three yards) when hitting the target was infinitely easier. Boro had at least started with more impetus but let’s be honest it would have been impossible to start with anything less than that shambolic first half which was by far the worst seen at the Riverside for some time and that includes the spineless Premiership surrender season.

Assombalonga was again in on goal but his effort this time saw the side netting ripple after he’d done the difficult and clever bit. Seconds later Dijksteel had to be on his mettle to prevent a fifth going in at the opposite end. Another Bannon delivery but this time it was poor and Browne cleared it out to Fletcher finding Britt who found Wing finding McNair who disappointingly launched his shot into the North Stand. Randolph then flapped at a Reach cross and Steven Fletcher was put off by the close attention of Ayala. How many goals were left in this game was anybody’s guess? Odubajo then had a side footed effort pushed out for a corner by Randolph, the first Bannon corner was cleared by Fry only for a second in quick succession which was half cleared with Wednesday coming straight back at the Boro defence eventually needing a Dijksteel header to clear.

A set piece saw Boro send up their big lads but it was taken short and the cross when it came was easily read and from it Wednesday immediately launched another assault which Dijksteel rescued and in doing so set up Boro to get forward again. Marcus Browne was then taken out by Odubajo as the Ref seemed very lenient in terms of issuing cards. Howson and Saville had been warming up but presumably not to replace Browne hopefully. The away fans were understandably vociferous whilst the dwindling home support was somewhat subdued.

Browne was again in the action as Bannon this time brought him down and finally Ref Livingston handed out a yellow. The ensuing free kick was delivered in low from Wing and cleared out by Borner for a Boro corner. The short corner was sent in by Johnson with Iorfa clearing out for another corner which in the interim saw Johnson replaced by Walker. Johnson had been one of our “best of a bad lot” performers so why it was his number held up was anyone’s guess but maybe that’s what the bench had done, guess that is! Meanwhile, when the delayed Wing taken corner arrived it was lacklustre and cleared out for a throw in.

A Wing free kick was hit in low again, cleared out by Steven Fletcher for another Boro corner as another hapless floater (pun intended) was delivered for Westwood to easily collect from a thoughtless Boro set piece. It was nowhere near as bad as the first half but still looked as clueless and fractured as a Garry Monk Boro display, oh the irony!

Ten minutes to go and those two Britt Assombalonga misses looked to have sealed any hope Boro had of getting back into this game. Sam Winnall then entered the fray for the visitors in place of Nuhiu presumably with the instruction to just run around trying to stretch Boro’s defence. Boro had obviously run out of ideas, Reach and Odubajo were comfortable as were Bannon and Iorfa and Wednesday never looked like letting this game slip. Bringing on Walker under the circumstances seemed a very strange almost eccentric act of desperation, defeated Boro now looked to be just playing the game out hoping to hear that final whistle.

A hoofed McNair clearance up to Browne summed up the lack of structure as Iorfa collected easily. Ayala beat Winnall to a ball but the defensive clearance was as it had been all afternoon. aimless and more in despair than anything. With Walker breaking clear for Boro he was clipped earning Luongo a yellow card. Lewis Wing’s free kick cleared the wall but was frustratingly way off target. Harris then left the field of play for Fox as Monk wound the clock down. Randolph had to come out and collect as the game was entering those decaying last minutes, going through the motions as four minutes of added time was announced.

Dijksteel whipped in a great ball but there was nobody in a red shirt in the Owls box to deflect it past Kieron Westwood. It was Randolph’s turn again to get down and save from Reach as there was seemingly no end to this pain. A last ditch Boro corner was delivered but hit off Ayala which was then quickly despatched back into the Owls box but to no avail. Fortunately, the final whistle sounded to bring the humiliating embarrassment to an end.

It was an afternoon that highlighted all our shortcomings in one game. Naïve management, dreadful set pieces, naïve tactics, poor team selections, inept Strikers and predictable deficiencies all blatantly exploited. Dejected Boro fans headed home utterly dismayed at what had unfolded as the away fans justifiably celebrated. The only positive was that it didn’t get any worse in the second half. Overall that performance was about as sharp and polished as a Woodgate post-match interview, incoherent and grammatically questionable.

Sadly, my apathy has seemingly cocooned me or more likely prepared me well as I walked away with feelings of resignation rather than anger or frustration. As I entered the house Mrs Red anticipating a frustrated and angry other half expressed in surprise how I didn’t seem to be bothered, my reply was telling in that I said in all honesty “I’m not. It is what it is”. I just thank the big fella in the sky that I didn’t buy into all the fake bull and spin that many were deceived by in the summer providing some immunity for me now.

Man of the Match? Yer jokin aren’t yer!

Championship 2019-20: Weeks 9-10

Sat 28 Sep – 15:00: Boro v Sheff Wed Tue  1 Oct – 19:45: Boro v Preston Fri  4 Oct – 19:45: Birmingham v Boro

In the supreme court of public opinion on Teesside, all eyes in recent days were on the ponderous methodical deliberations of the eleven representatives on the pitch rather than those of that other more ennobled eleven who have recently been in the news. Jonathan Woodgate’s surprising decision to suspend entertainment by using his prerogative powers to switch to a less progressive tactics placed the head coach under scrutiny.

As the Boro faithful prepare to reach a verdict on his first ten games in office, the case for the defence appears less watertight than had initially been expected. However, the main objection at Cardiff was that there was little evidence to show that the offence had looked charged after there were no shots on target, which has probably summed up proceedings so far this term after the shift in emphasis has often failed to be upheld in front of goal. In some ways it has been the story for much of the season as Boro have often been guilty of playing with an innocence that has often lacked conviction.

Finding the right balance between the defence and offence has proved difficult for Woodgate and it seems we’re still in the trial and error phase of his tenure. Plus the general lack of any options on the bench, silky or otherwise, may be objectionable if any kind of consistency is to be sustained. After declaring his desire to play a high-pressing game with a preference for a 4-3-3 formation, the switch after only seven games to a back three with essentially two functional defensive midfielders playing in front them will likely have limited appeal on the terraces.

It seemed a strange tactical decision given that the previous two games had seen a 2-2 draw at Bristol and a entertaining victory over a lively Reading side. There were indications that the team were beginning to show signs that they were heading in the right direction by playing on the front foot and asking questions of the opposition. It was therefore unclear what drove the radical shift in how Boro approached the game against Neil Warnock’s team, which appeared aimed at stopping the opposition rather than building on the recent positive performances.

Whether it indicates a change in direction for the Woodgate project will perhaps become apparent in the coming games but the whole Raison d’être of his appointment was to take the club in a new exciting direction with a shift in culture from the safety first methods of his predecessor. Of course, playing with a back three is not necessarily a negative approach but without progressive wing-backs and ball-playing central midfielders it would be unlikely to prove effective towards the team offering that much-vaunted increased goal threat.

Indeed, Woodgate almost left himself open to claims of cultural appropriation as he shamelessly dressed up in the old-school clothes of Tony Pulis for the trip to South Wales – with a few even worried he was only moments away from donning the trademark baseball cap and starting to shout at his players from the technical area to play it long. It’s often a dangerous game to start imitating without fully understanding the nature of the key ingredients required and the Boro head coach may well take heed from the furore that one unfortunate manager of a well-known Swedish outfit experienced last week.

OK, admittedly it was the UK manager of food at Ikea, who was forced to apologise after their stores paid homage to the traditional Caribbean dish of ‘Rice and Peas’ by serving what appeared to be rice and peas? OK, many dining novices out there may not immediately have spotted the schoolboy error Ikea made but those unfamiliar with such matters were reliably informed that in West Indian culture the ‘peas’ are actually kidney beans and not the ever so English garden peas that had adorned the Jerk Chicken plate. Who among the impulse furniture purchasers of suburbia knew they were witnesses to such a culinary crime?

Nevertheless, Ikea found themselves accused of cultural appropriation in Tweets by offended customers after some pointed out they’d even used the wrong kind of rice to accompany those offensive garden peas. While it’s clearly disappointing for customers who experienced such an unflattering imitation, I’d personally be more concerned on just how literally they’d interpreted the Jerk Chicken. Still, just imagine how those on Teesside would feel if the furniture store ever started selling Parmos with a little bit of grated parmesan cheese instead of half a kilo of melted luminous cheddar – many would barely be left with the energy to make it through the maze of the never-ending in-store corridor, let alone have the will to assemble anything they bought.

Talking of trying to assemble something with dubious instructions and without all the necessary tools, Jonathan Woodgate’s collection of remnants left over from Aitor Karanka, Garry Monk and Tony Pulis purchases appear to be missing several crucial pieces with the summer bargain arrivals so far being unable to make them into a unit fit for purpose. Whether the need to square peg unsuitable players into a dynamic 4-3-3 has meant Woodgate has decided that he must pragmatically delay his shift towards his desired philosophy is uncertain. Perhaps the head coach is doing what many new managers in charge often end up doing once they settle into the role and simply start over-thinking and instead try to disrupt the opposition’s game plan at the expense of their own.

The reality is that Woodgate has few credible options on the pitch and it’s only taken a few injuries and a dip in form from some key players to leave his squad looking inadequate for a hopeful outside chance of a promotion challenge. Maybe the Boro coaching team are starting to focus on the immediacy of getting points on the board rather than the long-term ambition of developing a new playing style. OK, it could be argued it was just one game but what if Boro had ended up grinding out a victory instead of that own-goal defeat? Would that have led to the tactic becoming the favoured way to play? It still might but it was pretty far removed from what the team under Woodgate was going to be about and Pulis-lite is never going to be Liverpool-lite no matter what the result.

Take away the entertainment and I suspect a mid-table team of uninspiring drift will quickly become the downfall of the new head coach. Many have probably accepted the inexperience and lack of quality signings as a necessary result of financial restraint, but if the vision of heading towards an exciting brand of football becomes just an aspiration that must await the arrival of better players some time in the future, then patience will be short-lived if results are not significantly improved.

Boro now have three games in a week before the next proroguing of the football season as we head towards another international break. The first on Saturday sees Garry Monk return with his new club Sheffield Wednesday after he was sacked by Birmingham over a dispute involving the use of his agent James Featherstone in the club’s transfer dealings – something that was also echoed by Steve Gibson in the summer over the purchases he made at Boro after the owner claimed it had cost the club several million pounds after the duo were allegedly complicit in hiking the asking price of transfer targets such as Ashley Fletcher.

The former manager will no doubt receive a deservedly loud vocal reception at the Riverside, though it’s unlikely he will be dropping in after the game for a glass of wine with the chairman. Incidentally, Monk is still only 40 years old but is now onto his fifth managerial appointment after also having spells at Swansea and Leeds – it could be argued that he has performed worse with each post he has taken up and perhaps it will highlight the nature of managerial merry-go-round to Woodgate as he starts his career in charge. Although, the Owls new manager has currently avoided defeat in his new post after a win and a draw against two of the teams relegated from the Premier League in Huddersfield and Fulham – third time lucky hopefully.

Before Boro head to Birmingham for the Friday televised game to face Monk’s previous club (who still have his former assistant Pep Clotet as caretaker manager), Tuesday sees Boro entertain a Preston team that are currently up in third place. After recovering from two defeats in their opening three games, Alex Neil’s side have put together an unbeaten run in their last five games that have seen them drop just two points from the maximum 15. Both of these home fixtures may well determine the shape of Boro’s season and Woodgate can’t probably afford to lose either and indeed must win at least one of them. It will take the new head coach up to his landmark tenth game in charge and the point at which he will face a judgement on how he has fared. The table below shows how Boro’s recent managers have fared in their opening ten games in charge.

          W   D   L    F    A   Pts
Karanka   5   2   3   15    9   17
Monk      4   3   3   11    7   15
Pulis     4   2   4   14   11   14
Mowbray   4   1   5   12   11   13
Woodgate* 2   4   4   10   14   10
Strachan  2   2   6   12   14    8

* updated after game 10

Needless to say, failure to win either of those games could make him one of Boro’s worst performing new manager after his first ten games since the club’s initial relegation to the Championship under Southgate. The good news is that he can’t replace Gordon Strachan at the bottom of that mini-league as he already has nine points – plus if he were to win both games then he’d be up there with Garry Monk himself on 15 points and above his predecessor and mentor Tony Pulis. Whether as another Tony once said that the hand of history is upon his shoulder is possibly overstating matters, but to quote yet another Tony, life under Woodgate looks like “It is what it is.”

Pos. 13th (12pts)	SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBE 2019			Pos. 15th (9pts)
Cardiff City		1-0	Boro
Fletcher (2 o.g.)	46% 9(1) 3 9	POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS	54% 11(0) 8 12

Blue day at the Bluebirds

This afternoon in the Principality sunshine saw a reunion of sorts with Boro for Lee Tomlin, Joe Bennet and Aden “one season” Flint and of course Rudy Gestede. Prior to Kick Off both sides had amassed nine points each which was a statement of mid table mediocrity and nothing like the auto promotion or play off places fans of both clubs had been harbouring hopes for back in August. That man Robert Glatzel who demolished us with a pre-season friendly hat trick has since struggled since joining the Bluebirds and up until kick off at least had all the hallmarks of a “Typical Boro” non scoring signing.

Jonathan Woodgate’s disclosure beforehand that he still wants to play exciting attacking football but realises that the Championship is a grind and sometimes performances and tactics have to be employed to reflect that was perhaps a warning to the travelling army not to expect gung-ho football this afternoon.

Friend and Coulson were still recovering for Boro but surprisingly Howson had made the bench after his hernia operation. When the Teams were announced Glatzel was missing for Cardiff due to illness but Lee Tomlin bravely made their bench despite a midweek car accident and Joe Bennet starting. Bola and Wing had made way for Ayala (Captain) and Saville with Boro going with the back 3/5 that finished the last game. Neither can have any complaints about being dropped as one seemed somewhat below par in his last game whilst the other just seemed to let the Reading game simply pass him by.

The Game started with a brilliant glancing header from a corner in the second minute from Ashley Fletcher, deftly across the front of goal to score. Unfortunately, it was his own goal as Randolph’s first involvement was in picking the ball out of the net. Ashley was defending in the front of the six-yard box but inexplicably attacked the ball when heading it up, backwards or even out seemed easier.

The Bluebirds sensed blood in those early minutes and then went on to test Randolph a few times as they broke with relative ease to put balls into the danger area as Boro struggled to clear their heads. In response Shotton collected the ball out left and fed Dijksteel in the centre who fancied his chances with a long-range drive that Fletcher tried to attack but the opportunity was cleared by the covering Morrison as Boro now looked to be finally trying to get back into the game.

On eleven minutes Fletcher, desperate to make amends, played in Britt who seemed to stumble into Flint when he looked through on the Cardiff eighteen-yard box. Sixteen minutes gone and the game had now settled which was probably good from a Boro head clearing perspective. A Johnson ball flew down the wing to an imaginary white shirt that as both winger and defender wasn’t there as Boro were guilty of some very poor decision making. McNair had an opportunity that was well wide but Cardiff broke from the resulting goal kick and a scuffed “mis shot” from Ralls in the middle of the Boro box saved our blushes. Saville then cleared the ball out and up the pitch which eventually found Fletcher wide right who played it into Britt in the box who in turn laid it back to the advancing Dijksteel but he just couldn’t connect cleanly and his effort was charged down.

The late afternoon heat seemed to be taking the sting out of the game (not that there was that much sting to begin with). A Penalty shout from Omar Bogle had Boro hearts in mouths as he went down in the Boro box. Almost immediately Bogle again had an opportunity from distance on twenty-nine minutes resulting from a poor Ayala clearance with thankfully Randolph collecting easily but the warning signs were growing if Boro didn’t get a grip. A hefty challenge from Clayts on Patterson out on the left wing had the Cardiff player rolling over in agony and requiring treatment. I thought Clayts was fortunate not to receive a yellow as it looked to me like he had a second nibble at Patterson as he was going down. A thirty third minute Boro corner from Saville was far too easily headed clear. Two minutes later and a free kick for a challenge on Saville was taken by McNair. The effort from the Northern Irishman sailed over the Blue wall but also Smithies crossbar from 25 yards out. A well worked Boro play down the right involving Fry and Fletcher saw a perfect slide rule pass into the Cardiff box for Britt but he was too slow off the mark and the alert Smithies collected.

A clumsy challenge on 40 minutes saw Cardiff awarded a free kick which saw Omar Bogle smash a thirty-yard drive off the Boro wall. A powerful driving run from Dijksteel saw a backheel from Fletcher to Britt but the attempt was smothered as Boro showed lightweight feint flickering promise. Two minutes added time were held up but a goal kick from Randolph was hit directly out of play summing up Boro’s first half, frustratingly lacking in belief drive and quality. We had no attempts to speak of on target and any set pieces we did have were totally lacking imagination it was reminiscent of a training ground knock about. Britt and Fletcher hadn’t offered a threat of any kind to the Cardiff defence. Had it not been for that sickening opening it perhaps could have been classed as a good solid away performance but that crazy own goal changed the perspective for Boro and we were subsequently found lacking.

The hope was for a vast improvement in the second half. Junior Hoilett came on for Murphy for the Bluebirds at half time with Boro surprisingly remaining unchanged. Almost immediately Bogle nearly embarrassed wrong sided Ayala to put Cardiff two ahead but his effort hit the side netting. Boro had started the half sleepwalking. Saville had our best chance of the game after a Johnson won corner but he side footed his attempt too centrally and in any case over Smithies bar. Britt went down on 49 minutes after a challenge from Flint but it seemed fairly soft to me and more indicative of Britt’s overall hunger or lack of it in the game. Three minutes later Cardiff had a penalty claim after a Blue shirt went sprawling from an over hit cross that Dijkstell was “shepherding” out. The introduction of Hoilett had inspired Cardiff while Boro still looked flat, devoid of ideas. The comparison on Britt’s contribution compared to Bogle and last week with Meite were light years apart, a complete lack of drive and energy

A clever cut back from Johnson to Britt led to a Boro corner on 57 minutes but the McNair delivered corner was lofted in and headed clear for a Boro throw in on the far side which eventually went out for another corner which was then floated to the far side of the Cardiff box but it was headed aimlessly out for a Goal Kick to the home side. Minutes after being brought down in the box and claiming a penalty the lively Bogle then met a cross which hit Randolph’s crossbar with 60 minutes gone. Two minutes later Shotton headed clear and in doing so set up Johnson but his run was cut out with a clattering challenge just over the half way line as Boro’s lack of a threat continued.

Boro were looking totally toothless with zero realistic threat to the Cardiff goal. Defensively we were battling and showed solidity but attack wise we were completely inept and it was long overdue for a change from the Boro bench. Meanwhile Warnock was preparing his second change of the game as Randolph pulled off a one handed save for Patterson to head over the follow up. It was then Bogle who made way for Danny Ward much to the relief of the Boo defence.

Woodgate eventually made a change with Browne coming on for Saville who had flattered to deceive all afternoon but he wasn’t the only one. Fletcher and Assombalonga can consider themselves lucky to have remained on the pitch. This second half was worse than scrappy for Boro with any semblance of shape or tactics very difficult to recognise. Browne looked like he was playing centrally behind the two strikers when he came on but it would remain to be seen if he could provide them with any service.

Marvin Johnson entered Ref Darren Bond’s book for a frustrated foul after being caught out. Meanwhile Lewis Wing came on for Clayton on 76 minutes. A ridiculous throw in by Dijksteel in the general direction of Ayala resulted in a mix up and a free kick awarded 35 yards out for Cardiff as the throw in had totally eluded the Spaniard and in doing so effectively setting up a Cardiff attack. Johnson then went off for Tavernier as Woodgate tried to inject some fresh legs as he endeavoured for his side to get a shot in on target.

Morrison went down after a sniper had seemingly removed his right arm as the clock ticked down on 86 minutes. Ralls then took one for the team as he scythed down Browne. Ayala played a ball out to the right wing for Dijksteel to run onto but even Usain Bolt would have struggled to get even half way to it and in doing so summed up Boro’s second half. Three very short minutes of added time went up as Boro tried vainly to rescue a point. A last ditch Shotton long throw went out for a corner to Boro which in turn was punched clear by Smithies and then returned with venom by Tav near the half way line to go out for a Cardiff goal kick extinguishing any remaining hopes that the travelling army may have had tucked away in the corner behind the now dawdling Smithies goal awaiting the Refs whistle.

A dour Championship game that Boro never really looked like getting anything out of. Its easy to blame the early set back but there was nothing from Boro at all offensively. There should have been changes at half time but they would have had to have been bold ones. Britt was a passenger, partly as a result of a lack of service undoubtedly but also in part to his own immobility. Johnson having the dual duties of a wing back may have taken some of the crosses away that he normally delivers but he was on the left and not the right where some of his best spells of late have been. Clayton, McNair and Saville just didn’t spark collectively in the middle. Fletcher unfortunately needs to toughen his game up as I keep repeating if he is to make it at this level. Prancing around without end effort or aggression will see him likely sinking down to league one or lower in his future career. The lad needs to up his mental toughness as much as his languid playing style. He has something deep down in his locker but infuriates with his lack of attitude. Man United, West Ham, Middlesbrough and then what comes next for him? He can stop that slide and rebuild but he has to do it quickly and nobody can do it for him.

Looking for a MOM was almost impossible, Shotton was one of the better performers and a contender but for his attitude and despite lots of disparaging grumbles I’m going to give it Dijksteel who despite a few howlers at least looked like he was putting in a determined effort. It also has to be remembered that he was (like Johnson) playing as a wing back and as a consequence by design would be caught out occasionally.

A very unflattering performance overall from both sides from which apart from a solitary Britt attempt that may have vaguely counted as “on target” I’m struggling to recall any Boro attempt on target. No denying it or dressing it up, it was a rank bad performance and there were far too many Boro Players who instead of hugs and confidence building need a massive boot up the backside. We can’t depend on Mrs Assombalonga having a baby every week for him to play with a spring in his step and we can’t have a midfield that offer nothing going forward.

Our Strikers don’t strike and whilst we don’t have anything in reserve, I’d rather see Tav and Bowne given a run up there with Wing behind to at least move and stretch opposition defenders. It was very warm out there today on the pitch but there was no excuse for not breaking sweat. Woodgate, Keane, Leo and Co. need to get to the bottom of the apparent apathy and lacklustre showing. Going behind in the manner we did was disappointing but there were 88 minutes to get something out of this match and we never ever looked like doing so. Woodgate made the right choices in dropping Bola and Wing after last weeks below par showing, he now needs to do the same with his Jaffa frontmen. “But we have no Strikers” I hear from some, my view at the moment is that we simply “have no Strikers” or at least any that fit the job description so why play them?

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.

Championship 2019-20: Weeks 7-8

Sat 14 Sep – 15:00: Boro v Reading Sat 21 Sep – 15:00: Cardiff v Boro

After the pregnant pause of the eerily silent international break, those who appreciate good timing on Teesside will be hoping that it will be followed by the significant sound of a second victory being greeted at the Riverside this weekend. Indeed, many of the expectant supporters will be hoping that the team can reproduce the promising display shown at Ashton Gate and make a push to deliver that overdue bundle of joy that is three rather than just the one point.

Boro’s rebirth under Jonathan Woodgate has not been without pain and much of what has been witnessed at home has looked more than a little laboured at times. OK, the recruitment issues arising from budgetary contractions have induced the new head coach to rely on more inexperienced players than he may have wished. While that may have been born of necessity, the rather youthful defence has been breached far too easily at times and is proving costly.

Complications arising from injuries have further exacerbated the problem, with news this week that both George Friend and Jonny Howson have needed operations with promising left-back Hayden Coulson also suffering a setback with his hamstring injury that may keep him sidelined until November. At least Howson’s “bog standard” hernia (according to chief consultant Woodgate’s diagnosis) will only strain the squad for a few weeks as he explained “Gone are the days where you push mesh in, now it’s just a quick clip of the right nerve and you’re OK” – though it’s possible that leading Harley Street practitioners may describe their work in more expansive terms when sending the invoice. Indeed, given the apparent simplicity of such techniques, we could soon see the day when the trainer runs onto the field of play and performs the procedure there and then, before finishing off with the magic sponge. The operation may even be displayed on the big screen for those who can’t wait until the evening for their Casualty fix.

While that all sounds not too serious, the extent of George’s condition is not so clear after he also underwent an operation this week – once again Woodgate got technical as he explained “I’m waiting to hear off the doc what they found when they opened George up”. If the Boro head coach is lucky perhaps they discovered a 20-goal a season striker or even some cash for January – though feel free to insert your own jokes about finding no change! Nevertheless, despite seemingly displaying what appeared little more than just a basic knowledge of general anatomical issues, Woodgate suddenly surpassed his pay grade when he went on to describe Coulson condition “There’s a slight tendon issue with the rectus femoris which isn’t ideal.” I suspect many would have to concur that any issue involving the rectus doesn’t sound ideal – although, such detailed knowledge of the condition did surprise many but that was soon cleared up when the injury-blighted gaffer added somewhat ominously “I know because I’ve had the same injury.” Still, it wasn’t all bad news on the injury front, it’s been announced Rudy Gestede should be returning after Reading – though it’s not exactly clear what it was he’d been reading to keep him sidelined.

One player who seemed to have been reborn after his showing against Bristol was Britt Assombalonga, who arguably put in one of his best displays in recent months – possibly nine. Apparently, it wasn’t down to anything Robbie Keane had been involved in (hopefully) but rather the misfiring striker had been re-energised and sharpened up following the birth of his second child shortly before the Saturday lunchtime game. Woodgate had allowed Assombalonga to remain in London until just a few hours before the game and it seemed to have worked well.

The Boro boss said after the game that “His wife should have babies more often to be honest with you because I thought he was really good.” Whether his wife would contemplate such an idea to improve her husband’s potency in front of goal is possibly a subject that is probably best avoided until she’s at least recovered from the ordeal of giving birth. Although, having said that, we shouldn’t read too much into the fact that they’ve named their baby boy ‘August’ as ‘September’ is probably not to be expected in the next few weeks – not unless the club have secretly embarked on the kind of surrogacy programme that would provide the academy team with a glut of Assombalongas in years to come.

Perhaps Britt’s form was not down to being lifted by the actually birth but it instead may have proved to be the end of his suffering from Couvade Syndrome. Many may know the condition instead as that of men who experience pregnancy symptoms out of sympathy. OK, anecdotal evidence of such sympathy on Teesside is often only fleeting but researchers (predominantly by men seeking attention one presumes) has shown that some fathers-to-be endure cramps, back pain, mood swings, food cravings, morning sickness, extreme tiredness, depression, irritability, fainting and toothache. In fact some even develop swollen stomachs that look like a ‘baby bump’ one study found – with symptoms becoming worse the longer the pregnancy went on. Although, it’s not clear whether the men in the study spent an inordinate amount of time standing around in the pub drinking beer and complaining.

One father-to-be told researchers that he actually experience contractions and they started mild and then got stronger and stronger and stronger. Another claimed “I think I was in more pain than she was. It seemed like my pain was worse.” – hopefully for his long-term health he didn’t mention this out loud to his wife at the time. Others purported to have had cravings, with a man explaining “I was constantly hungry and had an unstoppable craving for chicken kormas and poppadams – even in the early hours of the morning.” – which was presumably shortly after he’d dragged himself out of the pub. In all, eleven of the men from the study sought help from their GPs and even underwent tests but no physical causes were found.

But before the cynical among you dismiss such a condition as unlikely, the evidence in Britt’s case appears overwhelming. It would certainly explain that penalty that went sailing over the bar as he no doubt experienced the baby kicking at such a crucial moment – although it’s possibly debatable whether any child of Assombalonga would be able to kick with such precision and timing. Nevertheless, the lack of energy has been apparent for some weeks now and that look of depression may not have been down to playing as the lone striker under Tony Pulis after all.

Anyway, enough of this baby talk – football is apparently a man’s game as one former old-school Welsh manager would say (even if women are now playing it pretty well) and he’d be more than willing to provide any players who under-perform with more than sympathy pains. Woodgate is actually looking for leaders on the pitch, particularly talkers now that both Friend and Howson are sidelined. He explained “I need voices on the training ground, at times you can’t hear anyone talk. You have to talk. You can help the game so much if you talk a little, even the odd word.” Whether those odd words included “Please don’t dribble on the edge of your box Ryan” was not made clear but it seems the main man for talking is Clayton. The Boro boss informed us that “Clayts is constantly talking to players out there, looking for a reaction. He has little reminders for the players of what they need to do. If you don’t have anyone shouting you will be running round in circles.” Some supporters may have thought the Boro midfielders specialised in running around in circles last season so hopefully Clayton will resist the temptation to instruct his team-mates to keep passing it sideways.

Dael Fry has emerged as the new Boro captain after returning from injury against Bristol and it’s perhaps his vocal contribution on the pitch that has impressed Woodgate. Fry himself was quite surprised to be named captain, which he was informed of just before stepping on the coach for the journey south. Hopefully the responsibility won’t distract him from his own game as he appeared to have some culpability in both of Bristol’s goals. Ayala is fit again and may yet get the armband but it’s perhaps something that may keep Fry at the club if further offers arrive in January – on that basis perhaps it’s not too late to make Gestede club captain to encourage another bid from Turkey!

Despite a promising display last time out, Woodgate needs to start winning games if the season is not going to become a difficult baptism for life as a head coach. Averaging a point a game is not going to keep the supporters happy for much longer and even though he’s had to deal with a small squad and injuries to key players, he’ll be keen to put a few wins on the board in the next few weeks. While players like McNair, Fletcher and Johnson have upped their game, a few of the players are yet to show their form of last season – most notably Lewis Wing. The new signings have blown hot and cold at times but Woodgate will be hoping his players can soon find some consistency if he’s to avoid being the one left holding the baby when it’s time for a change.

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.

Championship 2019-20: Weeks 5-6

Sat 31 Aug – 12:30: Bristol City v Boro

The Positivity Society have once again opted against holding their annual conference on Teesside this year, which I suspect was merely an oversight rather than concerns over attendance. While it’s not clear how many members the local branch has, one presumes they will not view the decision too negatively. Nevertheless, despite its well documented health benefits, the power of positive thinking is actively shunned by the Boro faithful. This is despite a recent scientific study showing that people with a more optimistic outlook actually live longer – to which those who specialise in avoiding a disposition that could be regarded as remotely sunny would no doubt retort “that will teach them.”

One man who is not yet experiencing the full positive vibe on Teesside is Jonathan Woodgate and after picking up just one win in his first five games it has left many giving self-confirmatory furtive glances at sealed gold envelopes standing on their respective mantelpieces that simply contain the hand-written phrase ‘I told you so’. Of course one-of-our-own etiquette demands these envelopes can’t be pushed to the fore to reveal their contents until at least after game ten – that would show indecent haste for the ‘give the lad a chance’ inner-voice that most have to battle against. Though to be fair, it doesn’t seem that the collective psychic ability of Teesside has been set a high bar for ascertaining their paranormal aptitude. Even one of Middlesbrough’s most famous sons, the late Paul Daniels, would regard such an illusion as unworthy of cranking up the dry-ice machine as he anticipated “you’re going to like the man in charge at Boro – though not a lot.”

Although, it’s still very early days in his tenure, the new head coach has not seen his players produce much in the way of the crazy high-energy entertaining football that was delivered in that season-opening fixture. While Woodgate remains philosophical over his team’s sanitised manifestation of his intended philosophy, it seems some Boro supporters always thought it was madness to have expected a novice coaching team could oversee a transition from no-frills functional football to a high-thrills expansive game – especially in the context of a considerably down-sized budget that made even bargains appear profligate.

Extravagant rumours that the boardroom panelling had been replaced with padding may have been far fetched, though a few wished those less-scientific men in white coats should have perhaps intervened to prevent the season descending into madness before it had begun. As to whether we should try to discover if Woodgate could still do the job while wearing a club-shop straitjacket is perhaps an experiment too far – though some would argue that since he’s already been trying to do the task with one hand tied behind his back, having both would offer only a slightly increased handicap.

From day one, the Nunthorpe number one has tried his best to say the right things to the Boro faithful as he declared that he had a vision of a way forward that could seemingly straddle the wild horses of ambition and aesthetics as they appeared to bolt in opposite directions. As Teesside prepared themselves to enjoy the ride, it was perhaps not only loyalties that were in danger of being split – though many worried that the chairman had handed the reigns to a novice rider who was not ready to be saddled with the expectations that came from the unbridled passion of the supporters.

While Woodgate was able to say all the right things before the season began, inevitably once games are played it becomes a different task as people seek explanation for what has come to pass. OK, he may have gone too soon with “it is what it is”, which shouldn’t necessarily be held against him, but it was surely a mistake to declare that Boro fans are like Scousers. Ok, before I add “Calm down, calm down” to those enraged among you at such a comparison, the context was in terms of ‘knowing’ football and what he was trying to achieve at Boro as he proclaimed of the supporters “They’re not stupid they know what the crack is [something Robbie must have told him] and what we’re working on, Middlesbrough fans know their football, they’re like the Scousers. People can’t pull wool over their eyes, they know what is happening so they will stay with us and they will be patient.” Whether patience is a virtue that the good folk of Teesside share with those on Merseyside remains to be seen – however, there was more than a suspicion of wool tugging over the summer by the club hierarchy but not everyone’s view was obscured by the yarns that were spun as the inevitable appointment of Woodgate loomed – perhaps it’s just the woolly thinking that is obstructing the vision of the club.

Whatever the merits of the summer appointment and the subsequent attempt at ameliorating the decision with the promise of a new brand of attacking football and a shift towards youth, it’s ultimately results or at the very least performances that signal that club are heading in the right direction. The absence of a coherent shape and understanding between players in recent games has left doubts on the terraces that the much vaunted philosophy is going to be delivered in time to give the season any real momentum. Indeed, there have been few signs that the high-press is still on the agenda and the less said about a shift to scoring more goals after the binary offerings since that Luton goal-fest, the better.

Clearly work needs to be done on the training pitch if this new template is to have any chance of success but that’s not easy during a Championship campaign that quickly becomes an attritional journey of recovery and preparation for the next opposition. Finding space to work on the pattern of play and building relationships and understanding among the players is going to be a difficult ask – especially if the coaching team are still unsure of exactly how to proceed as they experiment with who can best fit into each position or want to operate a squad rotation policy to keep everyone fresh or happy. I suspect the international break can’t come too soon for Woodgate as he tries to regroup and rediscover the high-energy performances that haven’t really been seen since the first blistering game-and-a-half of football.

Though what Woodgate has discovered is that it’s going to be much harder to change the risk-averse mindset of his more experienced players while also simultaneously channelling the raw enthusiasm of youth into a dynamic ball-playing team. He’s more than once declared that he has a thin squad, which most observers would agree is ill-equipped for the transition from the passive functional defeat-avoiding game-plan to the pro-active creative force that will sweep the opposition aside. The summer arrival of three low-key projects that even Sergio Leone would struggle to create an inspired box-office title from (possibly The Good value, the not Bad and the Untidy) hasn’t exactly increased competition for places. Boro are still lacking a splash of colour on the beigeness that still exists and it seems the new recruitment collective have already moved onto identifying their January Window targets.

While few will be anticipating they will be game-changers it’s been often quoted that a manager needs three transfer windows to shape their squad. However, it sounds more like a cliché adopted from the likes of Pep Guardiola, who can actively land significant targets that have the ability to impose themselves on games and add the missing ingredients. The reality for a hard-up Championship manager is that he’ll only be adding a vaguely alternative option to the mix – that’s if they can actually be persuaded to make the trek up to the frozen wilderness of Teesside in mid-winter. Many of the Boro faithful would argue that given the performance of our recruitment department, then perhaps thirty-three transfer windows rather than just the three is a more realistic period. In truth, three transfer windows will most likely see the club losing key players and needing to find adequate cheaper replacements. The three window rule is probably just another mechanism to buy time before being judged – especially as half of the managers rarely last to the fourth.

Despite the transfer window being closed for purchases, there’s still an opportunity to both ship out unwanted players and possibly sign so-called free agents. Reports emerged last week that Rudy Gestede was being targeted by Turkish champions Besiktas – plus they may even be prepared to pay money too! However, Woodgate seems determined to hold onto his third-choice striker as he has no other senior options in attack should injury beset either Assombalonga or Fletcher, who also can’t be expected to play in every Championship game – though that hardly sounds like a ringing endorsement for a player who has failed to make an impact in three years. It would surely make sense to offload one of the high-earners and possibly replace him with a free agent if his role is primarily one of cover.

Indeed, there has been much speculation of whether there are some free agents who could be added to the Boro squad – though talk of the getting the likes of former Swansea and Man City hitman Wilfried Boni may ultimately turn out to be an expensive option. City paid Swansea £28m for the striker five years ago but the 30-year old is now without a club and currently training with League Two Newport County to maintain his fitness – if only Woodgate knew someone with local connections to make a call to enquire over his availability. There are also some other famous forwards available, including Benteke (albeit Jonathan rather than Christian), Cissé (that’s Sekou not Djibril) and even Alves (thankfully Magno instead of Afonso). Still, if it’s a famous sounding name you’re after and you can’t quite afford Ronaldo then what about Reinaldo or possibly Reynaldo? Perhaps Boro should simply sign a striker for their alliterative qualities with free-agents Víctor Villa or Fernando Fernández offering a different class of names to fill the bench.

Sadly, I suspect we may need to wait until January before anyone arrives but at least Dael Fry should soon be set to return to the starting line-up after his appearance on the bench last weekend. It seems Fry has become the most important player at the club in his absence as the only credible option to bring the ball out of defence with out losing it just outside our own box. Having said that, Darren Randolph has made a late bid to become the go-to ball-playing central defender of choice after his recent exploits as a sweeper-keeper. Though despite young Dael’s obvious talent, it is perhaps stretching matters to presume he is the missing link that has so far prevented Woodgate’s philosophy from becoming reality – he will still eventually need somebody to pass the ball to if he succeeds in travelling 20 yards with the ball. Indeed, given the ambition it was an odd decision to drop Lewis Wing in favour of the less creative George Saville for Millwall’s visit – even if it was simply a reward to allow him to play against his former club. Surely, retaining the services of your playmaker and best passer of the ball should negate any sentimentality – even if his shooting has been below standard in recent weeks.

This week also gives a chance to watch some of the youngsters in the Caraboa Cup – OK, unfortunately not Boro’s following their meek exit against Crewe but Woodgate may at least spot someone to add to his January shopping list. Incidentally, Crewe were thrashed 6-1 at home by Villa’s second-string team so it may have been a convenient opportunity missed to risk more questions being asked. Instead, Boro have been given a whole week to prepare for the Saturday lunchtime trip to Bristol City before mulling over matters during the international break. Woodgate’s team is trundling along on a point a game and still flirting with the relegation zone, therefore any points brought back from Bristol would be welcome and it’s also perhaps a concern that three of the teams Boro have so far played (Luton, Brentford and Wigan) sit below them in the table.

This was never going to be an easy season for Boro and any manager appointed would require time to adjust to the new financial landscape at the club. Woodgate has started his career as a number one with a desire to play football, score goals and entertain in the process. Whether the reality of also needing points on the board will help or hinder that process is something that will become more apparent with time. The noises before the season began were that Boro could still compete for a play-off place but the summer business didn’t appear to make that look like a priority. Steve Gibson would surely not accept a struggle at the bottom end of the table if the club is carrying a similar wage bill to the one Karanka was given to win promotion.

The problems facing Woodgate and Keane are that they most likely don’t have the tools for what they are attempting to build. In the coming weeks they need to find a way to win games and avoid seeing the season quickly become one of damage limitation. I suspect their hopes that the Teesside public will be patient may be misplaced as that has been worn very thin after essentially two seasons of poor football and wasted parachute payments. Remaining positive may become increasingly harder for most Boro followers as that research mentioned previously also concluded that people were probably genetically disposed to be either optimists or pessimists – and we all know which gene is normally expressed in the DNA on Teesside!

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.