I don't know whether big Uche will get a run out tonight, but if he does he'll be smacking his lips at the prospect of playing against our two young centre backs. I liked him, as many did. He was a real crowd pleaser, gave 100% effort and was as strong and combative as they come. Not someone you would want to face: a big man with something to prove against the Boro in a potential giant-killing cup-tie with a fanatical crowd behind him.
We should win this one, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it proved to be a banana skin.
I'm on a storming one match run having predicted the Swansea score, so I'll take that form into a repeat .1-2 win for us
Uche permitting
Team News...
Just a couple of changes (five 😉) Engel returns with Clarke in for RvdB, who isn't even on the bench so hopefully not injured, Dieng replaced by Glover with Silvera replacing Jones and Rogers starting in place of Greenwood - who is also not in the squad!
I hope players like Howson and Crooks don't play much more than an hour so they can recover for the weekend - though I suppose that depends on whether Boro are leading and looking comfortable as it's a very young bench tonight!
Bangura and Jones are on the bench. Dieng is injured but was never going to be in the squad tonight anyway. Greenwood cup-tied, but no idea on Van den Berg right now.
Up the Boro!
@werdermouth He has already played for Leeds in the EFL Cup in August, before he signed on loan to Boro! Up the Boro!
Live free stream available on Hesgoals.one - so far!
😎
Here's an unofficial link to start with - not HD
and this is the HD Link
Matt Clarke booked in the fourth minute!
Get in Jonny Howson 0-1 CoB ! Via a big deflection of a vale defender. 😎
Matt Clarke booked in the fourth minute!
Followed by Rogers in the tenth! 🙁
Then Jonny H gives Boro the lead a minute later, assisted by Barlaser.
Matt Clarke booked in the fourth minute!
Followed by Rogers in the tenth! 🙁
Then Jonny H gives Boro the lead a minute later, assisted by Barlaser.
CJ:
It opens up nicely for Boro in the final third. Barlaser picks the nice advanced ball into Howson's path and with Vale defenders backing off, he decides to have a go. It deflects up off a Vale defender and over Ripley and in.
Rogers makes it 0-2 in the 23rd minute, assisted by Sammy Silvera.
Yes 0-2 Morgan Rodgers following a pass from Silvera. 😎
Rogers makes it 0-2 in the 23rd minute, assisted by Sammy Silvera.
CJ:
Brilliant pressure from Silvera. He wins the ball back on the right wing in the Vale half and then drives [into] the box. He then cleverly pulls it back to the edge of the box where Rogers arrives and finishes really well, curling it into the bottom corner.
@werdermouth VDB is injured. You have to started asking why. Is it the way we play, pressing, too many minutes for too few players.
Boro two up, but not having it all rheir own way. Still too many loose balls, with Crooks continuing in his poor vein.
Crooks continues with a very poor finish, that should of been a third.
Rogers makes it 0-2 in the 23rd minute, assisted by Sammy Silvera.
Comment from the Beeb's live commentary on all three Cup matches:
Morgan Rogers is clearly a man for a big occasion. The Midlands-born former Manchester City youngster has now scored five times for Middlesbrough this season. One was a last-minute winner to wreck Wayne Rooney's first game in charge of Birmingham City at the Riverside in October - and the other four have been away from home in the EFL Cup.
it's enough to get the Boro fans in full voice. They are the only ones singing now. Including one aimed at their former keeper - and Boro fan, Connor Ripley. A quick burst of "Ripley, Ripley, what's the score? Well, it would have been rude not to!
Well a comfortable lead at half-time but not a comfortable performance with Boro's passing too wayward with players struggling to make simple passes when in control of the ball. Port Vale don't look a great side and look like they could concede quite a few if Boro were sharp enough around the box. Latte Lathe looks great until he reaches the box and then seems to have no idea what to do with the ball.
Still, if Jonny Howson is going to score then Boro's name must be on the cup - second goal was well made and struck and if the third goes in then it's surely all over and time to rest a few and give some kids a run out as given the injury count we may need them soon!
Here's the team Michael Carrick couldn't pick ...
Dieng
Smith - Lenihan - McNair - van den Berg
Hackney - O'Brien
Forss - McGree - Greenwood
Coburn
CJ reports that it started to pour with rain during the half-time break. Lovely!
Jones on for ELL.
Crooks adds a third in the 53rd minute, assisted by Rogers.
Lets hope Latte Lath is only a precaution.
CJ in the 73rd minute:
Kavanagh on for Jones. Kavanagh's debut.
Jones only on at half-time. He didn't look injured though. Perhaps just resting him having not intended to use him tonight so early.
According to the Beeb, the change was brought about by an injury. 🙁
Bangura on for Crooks in the 77th minute.