@stircrazy Looked as though he was telling MC about a knock he had picked up, As he came off. Rogers now off injured.
You just could not make it up.
Well the second half turned into something of a training game as Boro eased into the semi-final against quite a poor Port Vale side. Getting a few youngster on to the pitch was a bonus as it looks like Boro may well need them as first Latte Lath went off at half-time with an injury and then his replacement Jones was also taken off with a slight knock and finally Rogers departed injured with what looked like a dead leg. So three goals and three injuries but job done and through to the semi-final for what looks like being an exciting January!
Let's give Boro credit. A potential banana skin avoided and getting through despite a whole host of injuries. No typical Orient or Cardiff style defeat so well done to all. OFB will be loving the Boro3 scoreline! January looks a fun month with nothing to lose against 2 PL opponents. UTB
Report by Ged Scott on the Beeb's live Carabao Cup commentary page:
Middlesbrough booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the first time since they won the trophy in 2004 as they comfortably saw off Port Vale in freezing cold Burslem. Michael Carrick's men made light of being drawn away for a fifth straight round as they eased to victory.
Jonny Howson's deflected shot and Morgan Rogers' strike put Boro 2-0 up inside 23 minutes. Matt Crooks then wrapped up an easy quarter-final triumph on 53 minutes. Vale's only moment of hope came in only the fourth minute when Ethan Chislett was just off target with an early free-kick. But Championship promotion contenders Boro did not take long to show their greater cutting edge against their League One hosts.
Captain Howson fired a right-foot shot from the edge of the box that deflected off Jason Lowe to loop over Vale keeper Connor Ripley. Boro old boy Ripley was then beaten for a second time when Sam Silvera pulled back for Rogers, who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Eight minutes into the second half, Crooks got the third after being fed on the edge of the box, holding off Vale defender Lowe and side-footing into the bottom right corner.
Boro now face a two-leg semi-final in January, guaranteed to be against Premier League opposition, as they go into Wednesday's draw, which follows the fourth quarter-final between Liverpool and West Ham United.
I am looking forward to the reports from the medics after this game. The "players-missing-injured team" listed earlier on this thread looks a stronger outfit than the teams we have put out in recent weeks. I suppose the glass half full way of looking at this is that it will be like signing a new team in the New Year (accepting that a few players will be out for longer....).
So,Boro3 win again !
let’s go all the way !
OFB
Carrick said in his post match interview that Jones and Lath were taken off as a precaution, so hopefully just knocks. I don’t know what CJ was on about, saying at halftime it started pouring with rain, I went to the loo at halftime (which I had to go outside to get to the toilets ) and never noticed any rain, even during the match the most we saw was short light showers and I was seated on the second row just outside the 12 yard box to the left of the goal (as you look at it).
Come on BORO.
@exmil Here is a summary of the latest injuries. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24001473.middlesbrough-injury-latest-fresh-blows-port-vale/
As you said some were precaution and van den Berg looks like a minor back injury after having an elbow hit to his back at Swansea.
A bit like Werder wrote, the injured team looks like quite "impressive". I just hope we will get McGree and Hackney back soon. And let's hope O'Brien will be back in January as originally planned.
Up the Boro!
Just in case if someone asks when are the next rounds:
Carabao Cup Semi-Final (first leg) - w/c 8 January 2024
Carabao Cup Semi-Final (second leg) - w/c 21 January 2024
Carabao Cup Final - Sunday 25 February 2024
And the draw for semis will be after today's match between West Ham and Liverpool. Up the Boro!
Sounded like an easy run out last night. I thought it might have been a typical Boro banana skin game. The injuries are worrying. It looks like it might be a virtual Youth team on Saturday. I think that Rogers will miss the first leg of the semi final as last night's yellow was his second in the competition and yesterday was the cut off. He is the leading scorer in the comp this season and Barlaser is the Assists leader. The semi dates are during both the AFCON and the Asia Cup so anyone selected will miss those games. The squads have to named this month and the first games are on Jan 13
Asian cup squad named on Friday morning Australia time. Massimo Luongo has retired from international football so he doesn’t get picked and stays with Ipswich.
Not a classic , job done, don't want to be negative, now maybe some players are out on their legs, but thought a few struggled at times, Clarke looks like he isn't 100%, the left back frightens me defensively, and what was Barlaser doing ,kept going backwards, Morgan will be a really good player,but he has to stop these little flics here and there, Crooks looked knackered,
I think we'll struggle Saturday, and the Semi final, is Scary,but we can dream,
From C J
Middlesbrough will duly be celebrating their excellent run in the Carabao Cup continuing to the semi-finals, but it comes at a cost. Michael Carrick admitted his squad was 'decimated' as they lost yet more players to injury.
In a crisis that just doesn't seem to ease for the Boro boss, those that are fit are not starting to show the wear and tear of needing to play so much football. There were five new injury concerns added to Carrick's problems, with nine already confirmed as out of the game.
That went up to ten before kick-off with Rav van den Berg unable to travel due to a sore back. Then Emmanuel Latte Lath was withdrawn at half-time at Vale Park having felt his hamstring. He was replaced by Isaiah Jones who didn't start the game due to his own hamstring issue and lasted only 20 minutes before himself being withdrawn.
And then to put a slight dampener on what was an otherwise special evening for the club as they progressed to the Carabao Cup semi-final for the first time since winning it 20 years ago, Matt Crooks felt his hamstring and was quickly withdrawn, before Morgan Rogers was clattered and was forced off also.
Carrick said after: "The squad is decimated and we have more niggles tonight, but it's all part of the journey. Rav had a bit of a stiff back after getting an elbow to it at the weekend. So we'll have to see if we can get him back for Saturday.
"We had to manage Manu, he felt his hamstring a bit; Izzy felt his hamstring. That's part of why he didn't start because he's been carrying a bit of a niggle and put in a hell of a shift on Saturday, so it was a case of managing that. We managed him second half when we could get him off the pitch.
"And Crooksy and Rogers. So they're adding up. We've been talking about that for a number of weeks now, we've found a way, managed and we'll have to keep finding a way."
While it was an excellent victory for Boro and a thoroughly professional display to see off Port Vale and advance in the cup, Boro are left counting the numbers with 14 players now injured or at the very least a doubt for the weekend clash with West Brom at the weekend.
Well that was a much better result and an easier passage into the semifinals than I envisaged.
It was pleasing that “Typical Boro” did not turn up and in the end it was a comfortable win.
It remains to be seen if victory has resulted in even more casualties on the injury front and what impact it has on Saturday’s game; fingers crossed not too much and for some returning casualties. 😎
I had a different view of the game from some of you. I thought this was a really professional performance, with everybody playing well. I felt Barlaser and Crooks both had very good games, rather against the general run of opinion on here, and I felt Rogers had his best game in a Boro shirt. Apart from his silly first minute booking, I thought Clarke was immense, defending expertly (ably supported by Fry) and playing some lovely balls out from the back. Howson and Engel were both brilliant, too.
Previously, I’d suggested MC might try Engel and Bangura together down the left, but I suggested Engel further forward. Last night, MC put them both on together - perhaps because he was short of other options? - but played Bangura further forward. This worked a treat, as the 2 of them combined very well to set up some promising attacks, so I think that’s an experiment worth repeating.
This wasn’t the perfect performance. Let’s face it, Vale were very moderate, but still caused us a few problems with dangerous crosses in the first twenty minutes. A better (Championship) side would probably have punished us. But Boro took complete control of the game, and from then on gave Vale very little. We totally dominated the second half, passing the ball crisply in neat, tidy patterns and with considerable aplomb. This was impressive. So, well done to all.
As with Bamford, our fans were, sadly, most uncharitable towards Connor Ripley, giving him considerable stick. He seemed to enjoy some of it, if his surreptitious ‘Up Yours’ gesture and accompanying smile were anything to go by, but the abuse went a bit too far. Boro fans appeared to realise this later on, as they ultimately serenaded him with, ‘He’s one of our own!’ In complete contrast, Big Uche was warmly appreciated by all, which was only fitting.
Now, whom shall we beat in the semi?
Liverpool's the fourth name into the hat for the semi-final draw after they hammered the Hammers by 5-1.
If we draw Liverpool, their fans will be booking London hotel rooms for the final weekend, just like they did in the late 1990s
Chelsea it is then. Sadly in Middlesbrough first. Still, remember the last 2 legged encounter we had with them.....
CoB
So Chelsea it is in the semi-final but they have to thank Kieran Trippier for a defensive mistake that gifted them an injury-time equaliser and then further compounded the error as he missed the target with his penalty - would have preferred Newcastle but at least we avoided Liverpool 😓
Boro v Chelsea
Chelsea v Boro
Two cracking games which deserve two good opening leader write ups for the Diasborians.
Are there two or even one of us keen to take up the challenge and prepare the header for these games.
Andy R and myself have worked our way through the Carabao cup games on a turn and turnabout basis not even thinking that Boro would get so far in the competition!
So not wishing to monopolise the writing for this we are throwing open the opportunity to others to lead the way and come up with the headers for these games.
Just put your hands 🙌 up and say you’ll do one (or two ) of these games by replying to this post !
OFB
Hi OFB. As I’m down for the Mackems in early February, I’d rather not do the Chelsea away game. I’m happy to offer the home leg, though as I will still be surrounded by the alcoholic haze engendered by Christmas, New Year and my birthday, I can’t guarantee a masterpiece!
I'm down for the Villa preview played on 6th January so I'd be pushed to manage the first leg on 9th January - I could in theory manage the 2nd leg on 23rd January if nobody else is keen.
ok you do the home one then I’m sure it will be read by all of us in an alcoholic haze
OFB
A rare report on the match (with ratings) in yesterday's Times: