@werdermouth. Yes but they have that bloke called Bamford, remember him! 😉😎
The Leeds match is live on SkyTV - yippee!
Painful memories stirred by the intro to the match on the Beeb's live text commentary:
It's 20 years since Middlesbrough tasted success in this competition.
Michael Carrick led them to the semi-finals last season and they even led 1-0 after the first leg of the semi-final against Chelsea before succumbing to a 6-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Leeds, who lost to Aston Villa in the 1996 League Cup final, are looking to get their home form back on track.
After nearly going the whole of last season unbeaten in front of their own fans Daniel Farke's side have only won one of their past five games at Elland Road.
Both of these sides are using tonight's game to help tune up players who didn't see any/much action on Saturday, with eight changes from the hosts and just the seven from the visitors.
@werdermouth Have we found any streams available? Anyone?
UTB!
CJ:
Almost a dangerous opening for Leeds which ends but is brought back for a free-kick after Howson's lunge on Bamford. A nasty one that sees the Boro skipper be the first player into the book. This fixture is synonymous with red cards, so Howson now needs to be careful.
CJ's verdict on the first half:
Boro had to weather an early storm after a tetchy start, with Brynn called into early action. Leeds looked dangerous early on but Boro have managed to settle into it. Having limited Leeds to no more major chances, they ended the half creating a couple of half-decent openings. This one finely in the balance at the break.
Boro looking pretty solid so far despite Leeds having the bulk of possession and have created quite a few chances on the break - probably have looked the most likely to score. I like the look of Gilbert as he seems to have the making of a good footballer - but Burgzorg hasn't quite got into the game yet or Coburn though have both pressed well - plus Dijksteel has had a decent half too and Jones has proved to be both dangerous going forward and effective in defence. Looks to be a game that Boro could win but wouldn't be surprised to see penalties.
Tommy Conway, today Boro have agreed a £4.5m with Bristol and he is travelling to Middlesbrough tonight ( not as previously reported) for his medical tomorrow.
Come on BORO.
"Anf" gives Boro the lead in the 50th minute - the Beeb:
Boro have been well on top in the first few minutes of this half and now they have the lead.
Anfernee Dijksteel picks the ball up just inside the Leeds half on the right-hand side and marauds forward and forward and inwards and then passes a lovely shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.
CJ in the 52nd minute:
It's Dijksteel again, attacking the right flank. This time he squares across the box to Burgzorg who is unmarked on the penalty spot. His first effort is straight at Darlow though, and as it comes back out to him, he slices his rebound volley over the bar.
Ayling on for Jonny H in the 56th minute.
Burgzorg makes it 2-0 in the 60th minute with a little help from Barlaser & Big Josh.
And Big Josh makes it 3-0 in the 66th minutes - CJ:
Dijksteel wins a header and Jones plays a one-two with Gilbert to get into a good position. His effort is blocked but falls kindly to Coburn who has the goal at his mercy as he slams it home. Big goal for him as Boro close in on Conway.
Welcome back, Boro3! 🙂
MsCormick & Azaz on for Engel & Burgzorg in the 69th minute.
Hamilton makes his debut in the 81st minute, when he & ELL replace Jones & Coburn.
Amusing comment by the Beeb about "Anf" at 21.34:
Josh Coburn smashes a crisp low shot across goal that Leeds keeper Karl Darlow manages to turn away and then Anfernee Dijksteel, who has morphed into Cafu over the course of this game, cracks an effort over the bar from range.
Wow terrific second half from Boro they played Leeds off the pitch and what a great opening goal from Dijksteel! They looked so comfortable on the ball and just kept the ball and controlled the game to the point Farke made a quintuple substitution and Boro promptly scored again and could easily have had a few more. Couldn't have dreamed of more from a trip to Leeds - though we did score 3 at Elland road last time 😉
Just wow
So ofb’s prediction comes true again as Boro3 take the points at Elland Road. I think we’ll all take that won’t we?
That was amazing. So many good things to note and excellent performances all over the pitch. Brynn looked top class until the 96th minute when he missed a punch. Clarke is wonderful and Engel looks a proper player these days. Morris gets better by the minute (what a coup for the recruitment team) and that somehow freed up Barlaser to play better. Gilbert got better as the game went on and Burgzorg has some lovely touches - and the important second goal - and, wonder of wonders, Dijksteel had a stormer. That game was worth a contract extension. Up top Coburn had one of his best games and laid on a Harry Kane style pass for the second goal. I'm not sure whether he stays or goes out on loan.
However, most importantly for me, this looked like a Boro first team. In my head I knew about all the players who were rested but the team that played on the night looked coherent, played together and looked confident in each other. We really do have a squad that can stand up.
We don't want to get too carried away but Leeds 0 Middlesbrough 3 is a score to warm the heart.
UTB
Boro v Stoke next round
Echo player ratings - with a nod in the headline to the Beeb's comment about "Anf":
And the Gazette's:
Sounds like an excellent game can't wait to see the highlights later today. What was surprising was that Sonny Finch and Law Mcabe weren't involved nor at the weekend. I wonder if they are looking to be loaned out and we didn't want them to be cuptied. First win at Elland Road since 2011 13th August Jonny Howson sent off in that one- for Leeds.
OFB,
Now then you old Sage, how about you tip us off with the lottery numbers please. I can hear it now, '... and there are twenty-two winners all from Middlesbrough'!
A slight headache, thank you Timothy Taylor, but I can cope with that. Wow indeed.
UTB,
John
Well that was a nice surprise and apart from Jonnie Howson’s injury that was a perfect evening.
It clearly demonstrates we now have a squad and MC is going to have a headache for the rest of the season deciding who is in and who is out; he will need all his man management skills to keep them all happy. Burgzorg appeared not to be happy at being substituted!
It was good to see virtually every player in the side being comfortable on the ball and having the ability to move it around at will. We were solid out of possession and a threat when in possession, particularly in the second half which was a joy to watch; an all around excellent team performance.
Aidan Morris is another Robbie Mustoe and looks as if he has been a Championship player for years.
I hope that the talk of Coburn leaving is all paper talk as I believe he gives us a different option/outlet and we will need variety and variation over the season. His through ball for the second goal was superb and he made some intelligent runs particularly during the second half, he has a good footballing brain.
Now the difficult bit, we need ideally three points on Saturday if we are to be top two contenders; can’t wait for Saturday. 😎
Well that was a nice surprise and apart from Jonnie Howson’s injury that was a perfect evening.
Was it the same injury (ancle?) that Jonny had earlier that prevented him playing against Herenveen? I hope he is not out for long - eventhough I always believed that we have a great player in Morris. The latter could be th a real find for Boro long term.
I have yet to see the goals but I listened to Boro Live all match except the last 20 mins when I had the link provided by Werder. But the the match was over by then (I am not going to complain about the 0-3 lead at the time, like).
So it was a fabulous win for the Boro. I hope it shows how strong a squad we have. Also happy that the long running sage of signing Bristol City's Tommy Conway is moving on finally. There is a medical planned for today even though it is not yet agreed between the two clubs. This is what they wrote at the Bristol end: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-tommy-conway-bristol-city-9483647
Well, looking forward to Derby match on Saturday. Up the Boro!
As it wasn’t prudent to allocate Preciew writers for subsequent rounds of the League Cup (I still call it that!) or if you insist the Carabao Cup we need someone to step up to the mark and volunteer to write the Middlesbrough v Stoke Cup game.
Please shout up !!
OFB
Anfernee Dijksteel has been at Boro for five years and a day yesterday, when he scored his first goal for the club.
He is aged 27 (born October 1996) and I hope we keep him for the time being. He has always been good in attacking and can also play at centre back. And originally he was a central midfielder when he signed from Charlton, I think.
So who is missing Tommy Smith now? Perhaps Marcus Forss who played well together with Tommy. But then again Anfernee played very well with Jones and Crooks. So very difficult to say who to keep of the three right backs we have at the club after Ayling joined us permanately.
Tommy's contract will expire on Jun 30, 2025. The same date as the contract of Anfernee will expire, too. Tommy will be a bit over 33 year old by then.
I have now seen the goal scored by our Dutch/Surinam right back. Excellent and so important to win the game. Up the Boro!
With Smith still injured, it's an obvious solution to keep Dijksteel this season. Like you, I think that he is a valuable squad member and, given Smith's age and his injury, Dijksteel is needed for the moment as cover/alternative to Ayling and is more logical for the long term but nothing need be done on an extension of his contract before January.
The more interesting question which will now come up most weeks is "how do you pick a first team?" from this squad.
UTB
Heard the BBC Tees interview with Michael Carrick now. Howson's injury was a hamstring tweak, and Carrick was saying that he hoped it was caught early to limit the damage. Up the Boro!