Since it's Tuesday, I'm shortly heading out to take my son to handball training and hope to be back shortly after kick-off for what should be a thrilling encounter at Elland Road!
Don't they love Middlesbrough at Leeds? They even have a statue for a Boro boy at Elland Road.
The Don Revie Statue. They relish the man who made them tick and dirty. He legacy lives on.
Up the Boro!
Guys
Just to let you know that I shall be posting the Millwall opener after their game with Sheffield United tomorrow night. It’s a game we’d probably like the Lions to win, but only if this doesn’t boost their confidence too much for Saturday!
Dael Fry is apparently ill.
CJ on the line-up:
Three changes this evening then.
With Dael Fry missing out through illness, Matt Clarke is back in the line-up, but there's still no Rav, which means Ayling and McCormick are the only two defenders on the bench.
McGree in for Burgzorg is an interesting change given Burgzorg's recent form. Possibly a decision taken with Millwall on Saturday in mind, or possibly a defensive-minded change, with McGree more defensively minded.
Up top, the one change we did expect was Latte Lath for Conway - really just because Latte Lath is ideal for these type of games. Whether it's causing chaos or thriving from it, these games tend to have that feel to them and therefore suit the Ivorian.
Big show of faith to Dijksteel as well, to keep him in ahead of Ayling.
I thought you thrived on, not from, something... *shakes head*
Poor old Dael Fry! Can we please tell the players to "socially distance" during meetings etc? Take turns to shower and change....? There must be some virulent infections going through the squad at present.
Pity for Girona v Liverpool and Rangers v Spurs to play 2nd fiddle to Leeds v Boro tonight!
@jarkko - We gave them 2 of the best managers in the history of club football management. Yet how do they thank us? Ingrates!
@stircrazy better than being injured, I guess. 😊
True - as long as it doesn't mean that he's also out of commission for the Millwall match.
Forgot to mention earlier that HH is captain again for this evening's encounter.
Bugger! Gnonto gives the Dirties the lead in the 14th minute. Dieng largely at fault again - CJ:
Poor goal to concede. James gets wrong side and away from Borges with a simple ball up the wing. Low cross flicked goalwards which Dieng initially blocks, but then in an attempt to clear from the ground, the Boro keeper kicks it off Gnonto and in.
BOOOOO! Leeds open the scoring - 1:0.
Some more comments from CJ:
Borges and Dieng
Undoubtedly it looks really bad for Dieng, who doesn't react well to the initial block, but in the first place, it's so poor from Borges to let James get the wrong side and away from him so easily. The frustrating thing is it wasn't the first time, so he had the warning and didn't react to it.
Boro penalty shout
Didn't look like much at the time and McGree was the only to half claim for it, but just seeing a replay now and as Azaz plays a ball across the box, McGree gets ahead of Rodon, who catches McGree's heel in swiping for the ball. Maybe soft, but definite contact with player not ball. (17th minute)
Boro really poor so far
Leeds making this look so easy to get through the Boro defence, while Boro are doing little to alleviate the pressure with their own sloppy play.
Terrible backpass there by Hackney, chipping it awkwardly into Dieng with Joseph on the scene. Dieng and Clarke do enough in the end to get rid, (21st minute)
Doesn't bode well... 🙁
As the first half nears its end, we should perhaps be grateful the score is only 1-0 which means we are still IN it.
It would be very nice if we actually passed the ball to a red shirt occasionally.
And get Borges off. He’s been beaten out of position against James at least 3 times, one of which led to the goal, and one which nearly did. Ayling on at left back, please.
@stircrazy I think I’d apportion more blame to Borges who completely lost his man.
Leeds impressive passing the ball quicker and Boro hardly got a touch of the ball in the first 20 minutes. By comparison Boro looked nervous and just couldn’t hold onto the ball. Leeds deserved their goal although I have to say that Dieng didn’t enhance his reputation.
it seemed , after 20 minutes, Leeds decided to have a rest and so Boro had a bit of possession of the ball but their passing was not good. Biggest culprit was Hackney. Borges seems to be caught out of position too often although Mcgree not close enough to him to help.
I don’t think Mcgree deserved a penalty- he was too quick to fall.
Best player Edmundson followed by Clarke who’ve been kept busy.
Not optimistic that Boro will get anything out of this game unless there’s a vast improvement. Leeds just look too good and too fast for Boro.
So, it’s a fingers crossed that Boro might nick a goal in the second half but so far Leeds look the best bet to score more goals.
philip of Huddersfield 👎☹️☹️
It's easy to complain about the first half but we have to recognise that we're up against a really good side. Edmundson and Clarke have been strong in the centre of defence but Leeds are very good at creating space down the wings. I'm not sure that we can just defend and stop them scoring again. That being the case, we may as well have a real go which will also leave gaps for them. Possibly bring on Howson to block up the middle but I'm not sure who to take off.
This is what automatic promotion looks like.
UTB
@martin-bellamy I think Dieng did well with the block and was unlucky with the bounce to Gnoto.
Boro are lucky to be only one down. I know this is harsh, but against teak
ms such as Burnley and Leeds, Azaz is something of a luxury. Our midfield is defensively poor, and Morris is such a miss. Likewise Burgzorg would have been the better choice for this game.
Pace, we struggle to deal with it.
@philip-of-huddersfield - It's after a 45 minutes like that, you need the manager to show his value. What's he going to do?
@selwynoz ...like "promotion" means playing teams better than Leeds every week...?
Hee hee! Borges? Yer jokin' aren't yer?
LEEDS 2-1 BORO now but it only takes ten seconds to score a goal.....
What a sloppy goal to give away.👎👎☹️
philip of Huddersfield
Edmundson booked in the 73rd minute, Dijksteel in the 80th. Burgzorg on for McGree in the 81st minute.
Boro: from heroes to zeros in the space of two matches...
@philip-of-huddersfield More poor passing by Boro ends in a goal for Leeds. I know Leeds are half a yard quicker than us, but our passing, even when not under pressure, has left much to be desired.
MC, too slow to make subs, once more.
Seven minutes added so anything is possible...