Now 3-1 two minutes into injury time.
Goal number 3 comes about because Borges could not make an even half decent cross while we had Leeds under pressure... Boro forced to recycle and ball given away again.
Hackney still well off ...
Oh well. It was always going to be a big ask, especially given Werder was opening the thread 😉
At least Boro made a game of it in the second half half and deserve credit.
Pity that they couldn’t hold onto a point. The defence, despite the tremendous efforts of Edmundson ( Boro’s best player ?) , is always likely to leak goals.
Doak well contained tonight and so not the usual threat on the right.
Leeds clearly the best team and must be a good bet for automatic promotion.
Millwall now becomes a must win.
Philip of Huddersfield 👎👎☹️☹️
We have to play at the level that Leeds are showing to expect to be able to catch up to an automatic spot. Reaching the playoffs is a different challenge which may be possible but I fear that our squad doesn't have the quality to catch up the deficit on team like Leeds and Sheffield United. We concede too many goals by losing the ball in our own half and we don't have Morris to paper over those cracks.
I do have one question of Carrick. Why play Conway against Burnley when there were gaps to play balls down the flanks and behind their defence which would have suited Latte Lath. Why play Latte Lath against Leeds and then not give him one ball to run on to, instead losing out every time by playing odds-against passes into midfield.
It's a mystery.
Anyway, losing at Leeds will be the norm for most teams so it's not the end of the world but we certainly need to bounce back against 'managerless' Millwall.
UTB
@philip-of-huddersfield Leeds by far the best team I have seen this, especially on their own patch.
All this previous talk about auto promotion is just pie in the sky. To do that, you need home form like Leeds and not like ours.
The reality is, we are fighting for fifth or sixth. Even Sunderland are better than us to date.
That was a really poor defeat. We gave the ball away far too often, and were the masters of our own downfall. How many times did we make suicidal passes out of defence? Barlaser and Hackney both guilty of this all game, and even our best player, Edmondson, got in on the act for their second goal.
Leeds are clearly a fantastic side, who I think will win the league. But you can’t go on keeping gifting them the ball, which makes life much easier for them. The commentators said this was one of Leeds’ toughest game of the season. I rather doubt that.
I think the pitfalls of that Boro performance were obvious to anyone who witnessed it - second best all over the pitch in the first half as Leeds looked sharper and a yard quicker - with their pace out wide causing our full-backs problems.
Having come out in the second half with more intensity and pressing well, Boro got into their rhythm and looked the better side - then got the equaliser and appeared to offer more threat than Leeds.
However, once again poor passing when playing out from the back cost us the game as Leeds punished ridiculous passes that were never on - though I'm still not certain the third goal was onside as Dieng looked ahead of the ball and only one Boro player was behind it. Nevertheless, it was another poor decision to make another pass that wasn't on that made the goal self inflicted.
Anyway, automatic places are off the agenda now for the foreseeable future and it's all about trying to consolidate a top six spot until such a time that anything better becomes an option.
Probably missed Morris today and Hackney looked off it with Barlaser's level dropping midway through the second half - even Azaz couldn't find his A-game and McGree was mostly not in the game as he didn't find the space he needed - nor did Doak who lacked his usual verve and fluffed a few good opportunities.
In truth Boro needed to be at their best to get anything from this game - they weren't!
That was the toughest fixture in the Chanpionship calendar and it showed. Leeds a level above for much of the game.
We had our moments in the second half but couldn’t make them count and too often rushed the ball forward from midfield with countless ambitious through balls quite easily cut out.
Midfield was the main issue. A line-up of Hackney, Barlaser, McGree, Azaz and Doak was pretty hopeful really with none of them known for doing their best work in their own half. No better options were available, however. We passed nervously at times which is in some part credit to Leeds’ well executed press.
If Leeds don’t finish top then they’ve underachieved and I think tonight somewhat exposed the gap to us.
Not despondent. The playoffs are our ceiling and absolutely there for us. Main take away is that Leeds are a better side than us.
I’m not downhearted at all. I’ve never really believed that we could achieve automatic promotion but I’m confident we’ll finish in a play off position. We won’t face many teams as good as Leeds but we need to go on a run of wins now, starting on Saturday.
Personally, I’m happier with ELL up front than TC - he stretches defences and holds the ball up well. Leeds nullified Doak tonight, but there won’t be many teams capable of doing that - we could do with not giving the ball away in our half quite so often though.
Many Leeds fans commenting this evening seem to be rating Boro as the best side they have seen at Elland Road this season and one of the few who have tried to play football rather than park the bus - if only we could cut out these silly defensive errors as the majority of the goals we concede appear to be avoidable.
I thought that Leeds were impressive right across their team tonight. Tommy Smith in the studio said at half time that we looked nervous. If we'd been on top of our game I think we'd still have had a tough time of it. But there were mistakes and sloppy play all over the place.
Maybe the struggles that Ben Doak had showed how much more difficult he might find things at a higher level. Best if he stays with us for now,eh.
Just watched the game, id don't normally jump straight away, but I'm aggast at Neil Madison on Radio Tees, what game was he watching, I know he's on the payroll, but that young lady Dana ,had more insight than he did.
Leeds were different class tonight, and you've got to be honest, control the ball better, found each other better, won the second ball, were quicker, the only reason we didn't get absolutely hammered ,was the back four especially Edmonson, put the effort in, the midfield was atrocious, and Leeds maybe showed us , there are issues, our midfield are technically good, but when they lose the ball, against speed, they are lost,
We had a couple of brake aways that were an embarrassment, totally lnept,
Now if we finish sixth, we get a second chance, but a Morris type must be brought in, a Solid RB, if Fry is unfit , a mobile CB who can bring the ball out,
And really are we too soft, the. First half, we looked scared to get stuck in.
I know a week is upside down in football, , but for me tonight , we really looked when the going got tough , the tough didn't get going,
@stircrazy I think I’d apportion more blame to Borges who completely lost his man.
I agree Borges lost his man and does that in most games. Ayling at left back please !
OFB
As lots have said a disappointing performance Leeds were a class above tonight, much quicker and slicker with their passing and movement. We do need and injection of pace if we are to reach the playoffs. It is not surprising Leeds looked better than us their starting 11 had a total of 417 Premier League appearances, ours had 3- Ben Doak, and 9 players valued at over 10 million Euro, we have one again Ben Doak. I know it has been in for a while but can somebody explain why the law was changed over goal kicks not having to go out of the box before it is in play? What was the thinking as to how it was meant to improve the game as I can't see it and we are not very good at utilising it as we always seem to invite pressure.
I couldn't understand how he was marking ,he was so far off him, why didn't he go tight, was he stopping him going inside or outside.
@peter-surtees I just cannot see how you can say that Peter, unless you mean on a possible “one off game”
We are ten points behind Leeds, eleven behind Sheffield if they win their game in hand. Then come Burnley and Sunderland. All have been more consistent than Boro. Probably our worst trait.
I think we can make fifth or sixth, but we will have to improve and be more consistent to achieve that especially in defence. How many clean sheets have we. I don’t know off hand, but I will bet it is not many.
Last night proves we are not good enough for top 2, best we can hope fir 5th or 6th. We concede too many goals and have A habit of conceding goals after giving away possession on the edge of our box. We can't deal with teams pressing us, all a little disheartening really.
Last time we were promoted we had a very strong defence and a leader. There is no leader on the pitch. Also it is even more difficult for teams that haven't got parachute money to go up, it looks like the ones that do tend to be not good enough for PL but too good for EFL.
I realise Ipswich went up last season, but they are getting schooled this.
Boro build up your hopes only to shatter them.
As the great man said it is what it is
PS lots of comments in interweb about if we had only taken our chances, a team that gets promoted does take their chances and doesn't concede stupid goals
@original-fat-bob Whilst I not disagree Bob, it is only papering over the cracks. Even Ayling does not have much pace.
No, the fact is, as good as some of the players brought in through the recruitment team, they have failed miserably with left backs.
I only suggested Ayling as a quick fix as ATM we have a problem down on that left hand side.
Clark although I’ve liked him over the past year or so it’s obvious that he appears to not be at his best at present.
Hopefully the return of VDB and Fry will bring some skill and good defending into the side.
If you look at the goalkeeping stats it can be seen that Deeng has had a poor season and appears to be going backwards with his form. He needs to be changed out for the good of the team as he flaps at the ball and punches rather than catches which is not the sign of a confident goalie.
Midfield has suffered from the loss of Morris and hopefully his return to the side is imminent. H2 is a shadow of his self at present and perhaps the responsibility of the captaincy is weighing too much on him and he needs to concentrate on his own game.
i didn’t really post much before now as I needed time to try and write a balanced view and not a quick vitriolic response after a disappointing night at Leeds.
Yes Leeds are a good team but we gave away the ball so much and appeared to be frightened of them.
Still onwards and upwards and look forward to seeing the next game!
OFB
I’ve got some sympathy for Clarke. He has no outlet on the left, as Borges just gives him the ball back. I’m sure that he’s sussed that - you can see that he’s reluctant to pass that way and often turns back to go right. I had high hopes of Borges when he arrived - in an interview I’m sure he said that he was keen to use the attacking side of his game more. Maybe he’s changed his mind.
I don’t think Dieng had a bad game. I’d keep him in for now - he’s made plenty of game rescuing saves, behind a defence that can’t fill him with confidence.
A disappointing result but Boro don't seem to be able to play with even 90% intensity across the team.
My observations, for what they are worth, HH is not a Captain he simply has to focus fully on his midfield task not be trying to follow and monitor the entire team. Is the keeper the best we have? He doesn't fill or inspire me with confidence. Boro don't seem to use use their substitutes well or soon enough. Borges? He needs to learn how to concentrate, that side of the team is weak and a target for a good opposition. Clean sheets? Boro always concede even when we score a lot of goals. Injuries? Is there a gypsies curse on the Riverside or Hurworth?
Maybe if we accept these flaws, because there will be no auto promotion, Boro might just scrape sixth and a little play-off excitement.
And so on to Millwall.
UTB,
John
PS At least this might stop teams coveting our manager and some of the players.
I stand by my assertion that we should be aiming for second.
That was the first time I've really seen Ben Doak struggle by his own efforts.
@peter-surtees I am glad to see that I am not the only one that thinks last night was a bad day at the office against a very on song Leeds team, small margins “if” the penalty for McGree had been given, who knows. We have 78 points to play for and out of the top 8 teams we have already played away at Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Watford, WBA, with them all to play at the Riverside.
As Alex Ferguson once said when asked about Man Utd’s league position, he replied the league doesn’t start until the new year !
Come on BORO.
@exmil You can add me to the camp, too. I was disappointed with the result, and we had a bad day at the office and were sloppy in passing. But we can still get promoted in the top two, me thinks.
But still we were close to get a point or three yesterday. If Doak had scored when free against their goalkeeper, or the penalty would have been given or two sloppy passes less were done. It was a more even contest than the score line suggests.
We were below par and Leeds deserved to win - but just. We are usually better than we were yesterday.
And please remember the other teams will also have bad days in the office, too. Burnley only drew with Derby County at home yesterday. Sunderland went five games without a win. WBA have drawn most of their matches recently.
Why do we presume that there won't be a bad batch of matches played by Leeds or Sheffield United, for example? There is about half of the season left and we are playing well on average. As Carrick says, we are in a good place.
I won't worry about the season yet. Our aim must be automatic promotion, though. There is enough of the season left and we won't need to go to Leeds nor Burnley anymore, for example. Let's enjoy the season now.
Up the Boro!
Nothing has changed my opinion that teams which get promoted are capable of keeping clean sheets and are the teams which lose the fewest games . This is the norm and is borne out by the current league table. And in all other Divisions.
By comparison , Boro have already lost a lot of games -7 out of 20 . At this rate they are on track to lose around 15 games by the end of the season. That feels pretty average to me with virtually no real chance of finishing in the top 2 and , at best might squeeze into the top 6.
At this rate, playing with numbers, they could total just over 70 points . Not enough for the top 6? I’d not put money on them finishing in the top 6. I can hear comments of negativity- or is it realism ??!!
Perhaps the comments on their eventual league position are a distraction with upbeat comments when they win a few games followed by the opposite when they lose and don’t perform.
Their final position is academic at the moment with 78 points still to play for. Just take a game at a time and if they win that’s fine, if they win and play well that’s a bonus and just accept poor performances are the norm for all but a small number of of teams. The position in the league will simply mirror the team’s efforts - the table doesn’t lie.
.
So, it’s Millwall on Saturday followed by games Boro are capable of winning but past performances say they are most likely to lose some.
Philip of Huddersfield
☹️👎
There's only Leeds so far this season that I would class as definitely better than us. We didn't play very well at Sunderland but I didn't see a gulf in class as there was for much of last night.
On that basis - the basis of quality - second is achievable. The problem is that I don't think we're quite consistent enough to make up the gap and we had an indifferent start, giving others a bit of a head start.
Since my own view is that on an occasional basis The Gazette's Boro reporter is the recipient of unattributed briefings from the Boro's Director of Football his most recent article today may be of particular interest.
The definite view is expressed that the most salient lesson to be learned from last night's game is that Giles is now likely to be a strong candidate for recruitment in the January window.
Discuss, fellow Diasborians.
With particular reference to how this will improve our defensive vulnerabilities.
The apparently uncontroversial opinion is expressed that while Borges has done well defensively(!!), his attacking capabilities are leaving much to be desired.
Some very good and laid out posts from the last two games.
I am still unsure as to MC´s tactical nous. He still appears to have only one way and no alternative to suit the various opposition systems. I also believe his team selection and substitutions can be at times be difficult to understand, however I am not a coach with badges.
I think one thing we can all agree on though is the left side of the team. It offers very, very little and opposing teams can now double up on Doak knowing that our left side will probably not exploit that. That requires change of some significance.
Yes. aim high as I am sure MC is doing. But he also needs to be more flexible and be given some better players if possible in January.