Btw, I meant to mention that I think Dijksteel could do a job in midfield while we await the return of Hackney and Morris. Neither Howson nor Barlaser managed to stem Blackburn’s dominance in the first half. I rather think Anfernee might have given us a bit more stability in there. He’s got a good engine, good pace and is good on the ball.
@exmil - Brilliant news, exmil! Certainly better than as well as more important than Wednesday's football.
Congratulations Powmill on the Match Preview and exmil on the medical news.
Anyone who believes they can predict how the Hull City game will go for Boro must live on a different planet to me. Following Boro is never an easy ride. At least England are 408-7 against NZ before lunch on Day Three (a lead of 60).
Thanks for the intro Powmill. Forever Dormo the BBC had Barry lining up on the left in their latest match. I am a bit apprehensive after watching Wednesdays game particularly if Hull play the same way as Blackburn and without the manager who the players appeared to be confused with about how they play. Apparently Walterball was all about high energy high intensity play which has so far produced 17 goals in 18 games. They did sell their best players from last season and their replacements have been shown to be poor. The chairman sacked Rosenior last season because his vision did not align with the owner who wanted all out attacking football.
Superb Headliner Powmill, well put together and especially after the debacle against Blackburn.
I think there is an underlying disquiet overall with this season’s performances. Inconsistency being the main one. Also Len’s excellent post may have more than a little truth in it.
Although we scored all those goals in the previous three wins, the defence and at times the midfield, displayed a lack of confidence, especially with the fans. Clarke has not got anywhere near his pre injury form. Ayling, nothing like last season’s. The LB position is an enigma. How many seasons and players before find a good level one?
Without the glue of Morris, Boro have come unstuck. A player I believe more important than HH.
So once more, lots of issues. Injuries, sickness. How can one team have so many.
Our home form is rubbish.
Boro have now lost a third of their home games so far this season and won only four of nine. Take the five-goal mauling of Luton out of the equation and Boro have scored just seven goals in eight Championship games at the Riverside.
Infact the only good news this week has come from exmil. Thank you for that.
As a former referee and it doesn't matter the level,the laws are the same,
The linesman's job apart from throw ins and corners , is to follow the last defender simple ,free kicks are usually left to the ref, unless the something happens behind the run of play .Also if the referee is actually watching the goings on ,he can or should overule the linesman,poor officials on Wednesday.
Watched Sheffield u and Sunderland, I'm telling you wasn't a great game of two supposedly top teams, but Sheffield U are terrible, Sunderland were a bit better,but how Sheffield are up there is beyond belief,and I've seen them a few times. The points we've let go is so annoying. COB
Exmil,
Fantastic news, that has made my Saturday whether Boro win or not. I'm almost two and a quarter years in and still get twangs of pain but nothing serious or worrying, just what the Consultant calls 'the new normal'. Stay well, look after yourself and above all remain as positive as you possibly can.
On to the Boro, well I don't know what to expect, apart from a low scoring game, I can't see fives, fours or threes, sorry OFB! Just don't lose Boro. My only question that keeps nagging away in a corner of my mind is why so many injuries?
Anyway best wishes to everyone and Exmil, keep the recovery going!
UTB,
John
Thank you for your introduction Powmill. I hope McGree is fit. The team seems far more balanced when he plays.
Hull are potentially a strong team being hampered by their owner's daft decision to sack a perfectly good young manager last summer.
If you are Napoleon are Boro your Old Guard? If so let's hope it is Austerlitz today, not Waterloo!
Powmill,
Please excuse my bad manners, thank you for a great starter article, my apologies for forgetting. It must be an age thing multi-thinking never mind multi-tasking seems to be a problem some days!
UTB,
John
Not a bad shout. I think he was mainly a midfielder at Charlton. But of course it was a long time ago he played in midfield.Btw, I meant to mention that I think Dijksteel could do a job in midfield while we await the return of Hackney and Morris. Neither Howson nor Barlaser managed to stem Blackburn’s dominance in the first half. I rather think Anfernee might have given us a bit more stability in there. He’s got a good engine, good pace and is good on the ball.
BTW, is Dijkstee one of the longest serving players after Howson at the Boro now?
Up the Boro!
And great to hear your positive recovery, ExMill. Wonderful, I hope the Boro players would as fit as you, too. Up the Boro!
Team News...
Lots of changes as Azaz and Hackney return with Howson dropping to the bench - Dijksteel also starts instead of Ayling and Conway leads the line ahead of Latte Lath - plus Fry replaces Clarke in defence and Burgzorg returns too.
Perhaps worth noting that Ryan Giles is on the Tigers' bench...
CJ's thoughts on the five Boro team changes:
Five changes for Boro then, with the positive news of welcoming back Hackney, Azaz and Burgzorg. Hopefully all three are fit after injury/illness to pick up where they left off.
No Riley McGree at all after he went off injured on Wednesday. Still no Seny Dieng either. Dijksteel in for Ayling at right-back - something we speculated might be a consideration in a three-game week after Oxford.
Interesting call on Conway over Latte Lath too. No bad thing when that's your options, mind.
Finally, Dael Fry makes his long-awaited return to the starting line-up. His first Boro start since February. He'll be desperate to now stay injury-free and cement his place.
It's perhaps five-and-half changes with Conway leading the line instead of playing in the number ten role as on Wednesday. Not surprised that McGree is not risked today given Burgzorg is fit again - though not sure what has happened to Dieng as he struggles to shake of illness - especially given goalkeeping doesn't expend that much energy.
From the Beeb's live text commentary just now:
Boro need to be ruthless at Riverside
Middlesbrough v Hull City (12:30 GMT)
Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport at Riverside Stadium
For play-off chasing and free scoring Middlesbrough, few would have expected the surprise 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night. But that has been the story of Boro's season. For all the big wins over QPR, Oxford and Luton, they have thrown away points at home.
The Blackburn loss can be added to Riverside defeats by Bristol City and Coventry and draws with Portsmouth and Preston North End - all games head coach Michael Carrick would have expected more from.
Look at the five teams above them - just one home loss between them from a combined 42 games and even that was Burnley's win at Leeds.
The message is clear - Boro won't move up the table unless they are ruthless at the Riverside.
I was out on Wednesday from 16.00 until about 22.50 & the first thing I did after I'd given my cat his dinner was check on the outcome of the Blackburn match which was bitterly disappointing, but, strangely, not a great surprise. I couldn't bring myself to comment on the match thread & am desperately hoping for a positive reaction today. Fingers crossed...
Young Mr Azaz gives Boro the lead in the 24th minute, assisted by HH. 🙂
Great strike from Azaz!
Conway makes it 2-0 in the 41st minute, assisted by Doak. This is more like it! 👍
CJ:
Boro have another! Dijksteel does well to keep Boro in possession as Burgzorg undersells Doak with a pass. In the area, Doak produces a really inventive chipped cross the back post for Conway, who then does really well to loop his header back over the keeper and in. McLaughlin sliding in but can't keep it out.
First quarter of the game was a bit cagey as both sides were mostly content to have safe possession but Boro upped the pace a bit and another great strike for Azaz got the team ahead. Though it didn't seem to galvanise Boro into going for the second and they seemed to sit back and let Hull have the ball but once the ball broke to Doak he found Conway at the far post who looped in a good header to make it comfortable going into the break - there are more goals if Boro want them - not sure if they'll get 8 though 😉
Hull have given Boro a few problems and I think on another day, that could have been a red card for Borges, for the shirt pull. Probably saved, by the Hull player falling over.
I would to see Boro add a little more distance in the score line, just to stop me being nervous.
Just as I write this, Borges is booked. Is there not a LB we could loan in January?
Another Adam Lanigan comment from the Beeb's match commentary during the half-time break:
Premier League in-waiting Doak:
In the last few minutes, we have had a glimpse into why everyone is making such a big fuss about Ben Doak.
First, there was the fine run that nearly brought a penalty and now the 19-year-old stands up a lovely looped cross for fellow Scotland international Tommy Conway to head in.
Boro had better take advantage of having him this season, because, on-loan from Liverpool, this kid is a Premier League player in-waiting.
CJ on the near penalty:
Boro break with real pace as Doak is set away by Azaz and it's two-on-two for Boro. Doak breaks into the box and looks to cutback for Conway again as Simons cuts it out on the slide. Conway and Doak pleading for handball and penalty but nothing given. Replay did show it was Simons's trailing arm that it hits. Might have been harsh, but it definitely hit the arm.
CJ in the 51st minute:
Boro close to a second [I presume he meant third!]
Moment that sums up the how much Boro have benefited from having Hackney and Azaz back. Hackney drives and plays it into Azaz, rather than Doak. As Hull go towards Azaz, he quickly pops it around the corner into Doak's feet. Doak bursts into the box and Coyle is fortunate not to turn it into his own net as Pandur just about grabs it.
I've corrected his other two typos. 😉
The Tigers pull one back in the 71st minute. Pity there'll be no clean sheet for Sol Brynn. CJ:
Dijksteel poor as he misjudges the ball and it goes over him to get Kamara away. He crosses and Burstow is in ahead of Borges at the back post to head into an empty net. Still work to do for Boro to win this one...
Boro giving the ball away far too much. Game on for Hull to equalise.
The two-goal difference is restored by Conway in the 79th minute, again assisted by Doak. Surely that's that?
A comfortable scoreline in the end but not as comfortable performance as it should have been - as letting Hull back into the game made it a nervous time until Conway scored the third. Dijksteel not looking at his best at right-back and it was his error that let Hull in behind the Boro defence for their goal and after that seemed to be absent on several occasions from where he should've been.
Conway looks at his best when he plays as the main striker and Doak as usual looked dangerous with the ball. The return of Azaz gave Boro the guile they'd been missing in midweek and Hackney also offered an extra dimension in midfield. Credit also to Fry for putting in a solid performance and Burgzorg also gave that extra drive down the left that was missing with Hamilton. Jones was given 4 minutes at the end but he must be wondering where his next significant game-time will come from.
Still, job done and the other early kick-offs have gone our way too with Millwall and Watford being held.
A low scoring win for Boro. But at least OFB saw a Boro3. Up the Boro!
An enjoyable afternoon at the Riverside with a few impressive performances, Azaz (great goal) Conway two different finishes, Doak turning their defence inside out, Edmunson solid, Fry one of his best games for a very long time - welcome back, Brynn getting better every game, good to see Hackney back and avoided a yellow so now on 3 and the Burnley game is the last one for the yellow 5, Barlaser steady, Burgzorg improving by each game. I then called in the “Navi” for a John Smiths while I waited for my son to pick me up, overall a very good day.
Come on BORO.