Interesting perspective on the match from across the Pond:
So,the Marton Oracle forecast Boro2 and Boro2 it was !
OFB
A Times interview with Mogga:
Some of the material I've seen before, but some of it was new, to me at least.
Echo player ratings:
Jonny H MotM.
And the Gazette's:
Johns's Engish really does leave a lot to be desired. How on earth do you play "in front of" an atmosphere? 
A new word for me as a Boro supporter this season. An away clean sheet. Not assosiated wirh Boro.
And what is a bogey team?
Can we please play Blackburn away every week?
Life is good. Up the Boro!
The win was Middlesbrough's fifth victory in their past seven matches and pushes them into the play-off places - and three points clear of seventh position - with six games remaining.
Just saying, like. Up the Boro!
Will be supporting Sunderland ( may the lord take mercy on my soul ) and Burnley today
The atmosphere in the pub was good last night. The smell of garlic from the pizzas which people had ordered was heavy. The game started with a BANG and Conway's goal was excellent. When the OG went in a few minutes later (clearly an OG as the ball was heading well wide of the goal), even I became confident. Of course that didn't stop the nerves in the 2nd half as Boro missed chances to put the game to bed, and Blackburn threw players forward in an attempt to get back into the game. But the defence held out.
All in all, a job well done. Nobody (apart from the home fans) can compain at a 2-0 win away from home. And suddenly, despite all we've seen this season so far, we find Boro in a Play-Off position pending Saturday's matches involving the other contenders. It might even be that, after this weekend's fixtures, Boro will look a decent bet to qualify for the short, but massively valuable, end-of-season tournament. That didn't seem likely a few weeks back.
Of course if a team is going to compete in the Play-Offs, its supporters will feel much more confident to enter those final games on a good run with the players in form. The last time Boro qualified, the season had already started to decline as the team was nailed on to finish in the top 4 with a few weeks to go. It felt then that the foot had been taken off the accelerator in the last few weeks, games were lost and it proved too difficult to apply that foot again in the after-season games against Coventry. Of course there is the game against Leeds to play next Tuesday. Win THAT game and not only does Boro's confidence (and momentum) go through the roof but Leeds (maybe believing it's going to be third place although Leeds winning the league appeared likely a few weeks ago) will be on a downer. That would be sweet.
I was so pleased that my “typical Boro” prediction did not materialise and to see the team at it from the start which produced two early goals; the first an excellent one following good team movement, passing and control and a superb finish. A lucky deflection resulting in the second.
It was a shame that the team could not maintain the dominance of the first half and became rather sloppy, regularly losing the ball with poor passing seen throughout the team; this was allied to some poor decision making and shooting. We should really have won more comfortably against a poor Blackburn side.
Overall a good win, three much needed points and a clean sheet; fingers crossed NB is not sidelined for long. 😎
@k-p-in-spain I agree about Borges, which is a bit of a volte-face for me, given how I criticised him earlier in the season for always passing the ball straight back to Clarke every time he was given it. I’m happy to admit that I was too quick to judge.
MC on TC (= "Top Cat" to those with long memories! 😉 ):
🙂
After a great 3 away points against a usual “bogey” team, which featured an excellent goal by Tommy Conway (now our leading scorer) also some very good performances throughout the team. My mind has drifted to season tickets, has anyone heard any news on how many early bird tickets were taken up 🤔.
Come on BORO.
@martin-bellamy I think your initial assessment was bang on. Borges has only shown himself since the recent centre back crisis and which he has helped fill admirably. It can be these coming together out of adversity moments that shape a team and while Borges is not as good as Rav or Dael he has made himself an integral part of the squad makeup.
Thank goodness we made do what what we had rather than looking elsewhere to Erik Peiters or similar. If you want to go up then you need to bond and it's about the right group as much as the ability of that group. Somehow we seem to be getting there in this respect. #excitedand nowonedge
I’ve just watched TC’s goal again and it really is first rate. Keeps himself onside, brilliant first touch, than buries it. Perfect.
And, for your enjoyment, check out this fella enjoying our second goal.
Will be supporting Sunderland ( may the lord take mercy on my soul ) and Burnley today
Both parts of your mission accomplished, Paul: the Clarets by 2-1 & the Deck Chairs by 1-0. 😉 That means that Boro clings on to 5th place. The Hornets to beat the Robins at Ashton Gate, anyone?
So results went our way again in the early kick-off’s with both Coventry and West Brom losing - plus Leeds failed to beat Luton to add to the pressure as they drop to 3rd 🥳
Leeds failed to beat Luton to add to the pressure as they drop to 3rd 🥳
I see that it was Isaiah Jones who got the goal that gave the Hatters an early lead.
I really enjoyed our first half last night. Boro were excellent and never gave Rovers a sniff. Second half was a lot nervier as BR applied lots more pressure and for long periods penned us in our own half. Much of this was because our passing got very sloppy and it seemed that we had no outlet up top to release the pressure - at least until Rovers made it more open for our breakaways later on as they chased the game.
What for me was the most impressive aspect of the win was Boro’s steely determination not to give anything away. This was a huge team effort with every man doing his bit to cover, to run back to defend or to put in hard tackles. Make no mistake, this was not an easy win: there were crunching tackles all over the pitch, with Morris in particular feeling the brunt of many. But Boro gave as good as they got. We’ll need more of this till the season’s end, but it was very encouraging. It resulted in a well-earned and thoroughly deserved clean sheet.
I didn’t hear any boos from the sparse home following - that’s because the noise in our end was deafening! Magnificent support, which was fully appreciated by Carrick and the boys at the end as Burgzorg and Conway both produced the three-cheer-fist pumps reminiscent of Gareth Southgate. This went down extremely well with our fans, as you can imagine.
Did you notice the tackle Howson put in just before our second goal? See it on the video at about 2 min 5 s:
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2025/april/04/highlights--blackburn-rovers-0-2-boro/
In Howson we trust. Up the Boro!
Almost the perfect weekend, the only down side was Bristol City winning to be equal on points with us. Tuesday night is looming as a very big game with Leeds looking to be in a bit of a slump. Also just seen that Spennymoor managed by ex Boro U23 coach are going to Wembley in the FA trophy. The beat Rochdale who play in a week higher than them.
@mw-in-darwin Also the smaller (trophy virgins) Darlo, Hartlepool and Sunderland won this weekend.
Boro have the playoffs in their own hands now. Up the Boro!
Just a heads up, I'll get the Leeds thread started this evening or early in the morning.
So, Saints relegated from the Prem & needing to pick up at least two more points from their last seven matches to avoid "beating" Derby's record low total of 11...
@stircrazy it looks unlikely that either of Leicester or Ipswich will close the 12 point gap to Wolves in 17th. So, all three promoted clubs to be relegated in their first season. Quite depressing really and for all we woukd live to see Boro win promotion, the reality of that couks be painful watching.
@powmillnaemore But also look what Forest, Bournemouth or Brighton have done. None a bigger club than Boro - so it can be done if a club is run properly.
There is always hope. Up the Boro!
quite right Jarkko. But over the last two seasons, each of the six clubs promoted was relegated the very next season. So yes. It can be done, but the gulf gets wider every year, so it is arguably less likely (though still possible) that a club promoted from the Championship will last more than one season in the Premier League.@powmillnaemore But also look what Forest, Bournemouth or Brighton have done. None a bigger club than Boro - so it can be done if a club is run properly.
There is always hope. Up the Boro!
Never say never. We might get promoted and find our playing style will win us enough points to be safe. All the same, being realistic, however it pans out it is likely to be tough going for whichever club and it's supporters wins promotion this year.
Got to hope it is us though!!!
@powmillnaemore you are right. The gap is widening.
The authorities must do something and quickly.
Up the Boro!
The thoughts of Beeb Radio 5 Live reporter, Adam Cottier, about MC after the Blackburn match:
@powmillnaemore Irrespective of whether we com straight back down, providing the income is spent wisely on transfers and wages (relegation clauses etc) then it could set Boro up for a decent next season, wherever we are. Even if it was for one season, wouldn’t you like to see the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs etc play at the Riverside 🤔, as jarkko pointed out we could do a Brighton, Bournemouth, Forest etc.
Come on BORO.
@exmil For me, having a season watching the big teams seems pointless if we get beaten every week. I’m pretty sure those teams can be watched every week on MOTD.
For sure, the EPL can be seen as Nirvana, but if every week brings a loss and a draw seems like a huge win, then where’s the fun in that? I accept that we’d get relegated with a massive financial bonus but for what? Just to try and get back there again?
It feels like going to watch a load of disappointing gigs, just to sustain the belief that one day you’ll get to see your favourite band play at the Riverside. And then, when you do, it rains all night.