Thanks @selwyoz for that very informative starter which I read yesterday together with the first batch of responses. I am especially grateful for the background on Adi Viveash and a summary of what we might expect to see from Coventry (hopefully not their "average of three goals a game" tonight, though).
Today has been an "interesting" day due to discovering, just before going to bed last night, a blocked drain from the kitchen sink which I later discovered also effects the sink in the utility room next door to it. I was a little concerned because my efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful and I know the dishwasher next to the sink shares the same waste water route out of the house and that makes me wonder whether the clothes washer does as well! However the plumber is coming tomorrow so I won't have run out of clothes or dishes by then!
I would have preferred to play Coventry when they are clearly off form. That is not the position. Or when Boro's team is flying and the new management team has got its feet under the table and has taken a view on the players available from the squad and the style of play which best suits them. That is not the position, either. However I am not totally without hope at home and with a full stadium and a team whose players SHOULD be giving everything to show the new manager that THEY deserve a regular start in the team.
I'd settle for a draw but hope for a win. But clearly Coventry has started this season in the same way Arsenal has started in the Premier League. I can't believe I'm saying this after the first handful of games the two teams played, but I hope Boro continues in better form than Liverpool in their equivalent league.
Liverpool and Boro both started like a house on fire. Although Boro hit a "dodgy spell" after that, Liverpool appears to have crashed into the rocks. Let's hope Boro's form is better than Liverpool's from here onwards. How many times, especially with Liverpool defending the league title won last season, would that be a realistic sentence to type? (I won't comment on ManU losing last night at OT to an Everton team down to 10 men early in the game).
Thank you, Selwyn, for a fantastic opener, full of insight and interest.
Tactically, I think a lot will depend on who is fit. If Fry is, then you'd imagine he'd start whatever the setup. If Targett isn't then we might see Luke Ayling shifted once again, this time to left back, or possibly Brittain to that side.
If neither Fry or Targett are fit then we have a bit of a problem as it seems as if Bangura isn't match fit either.
In that case, it might be an idea to go back to the old Keiron McKenna / Carrick / De Zerbi tactics of playing the left back in a very advanced position, which brings Silvera into play. I agree that Silvera would be a risk up against Sakamoto but sometimes the best option is simply to try and push the other guy back by going forward yourself.
In that scenario I'd start McGree back in his favoured wide left role, coming into central areas when Silvera advances up the line alongside Hackney, with Browne and Morris under strict instructions to patrol and protect the remaining three defenders.
Problem is you need an old fashioned right winger on the other side to hold width, as the right back stays at home and forms the back three. That was Jones' role, later taken on by Doak but I'm not sure what we've got now - it isn't Whittaker, who always wants to come inside and most likely isn't Burgzorg either. The closest might be Hamilton but we've seen nothing of him really. Could Sene play that role?
Perhaps we best hope that at least one of Fry or Targett make it.
Oh, and happy birthday, Len!
No Fry, Targett on the bench. Maybe it is Silvera playing as an advanced left back Carrick-style.
Unfortunately I won’t be home until 21:30ish so I’m leaving you lot in charge….
What about a sneaky Boro3 tonight 🤪🤪🤪
Two changes:
At least McGree starts!
Boro a goal down after 10 minutes. 🙁
Boro a goal down after 10 minutes. 🙁
And two after 15... CJ:
Corner that should never have been after a Brynn fumble. Initial one headed clear but volleyed back on and Kitching heads home. Disastrous start for Boro.
One back - Whittaker in the 32nd minute, assisted by Alfie Jones.
One back - Whittaker in the 32nd minute, assisted by Alfie Jones.
CJ:
Browne does well to recycle a cleared corner beyond the back post. Cross from the byline is flicked on by Jones and Whittaker volleys into the bottom corner. Think he sliced it, but who cares. Lifeline for Boro.
Who is the chap sitting next to Gibbo? The eldery man with white (gray) hair?
Still game on. We have had more of the ball, but they are lethal and score for fun. They are dangerous. Up the Boro!
Problem with Aidan Morris just before half-time:
Receiving treatment. Won the ball well on the counter press but somehow penalised for it. It looks like he gets twisted as the players go down and he's limping off at the break.
We need three to win the match. A draw more likely, though. Up the Boro!What about a sneaky Boro3 tonight 🤪🤪🤪
CJ's verdict on the first half:
Boro have done well here to respond after falling two behind after just 15 minutes. Coventry clinical, but two avoidable goals from a Boro perspective. Boro responded well and have managed to pull one back. Still lacking much attacking conviction though.
Just got back in time for kick-off and Boro started really well but stunning opener for Coventry and also little we could do with the second after a great first-time cross and perfect header. I feared the worst after that but credit to the players for keeping on the front foot and a well-deserved goal to get them back in it. Really enjoyable game with both teams up for it.
Coventry look strong and solid and dangerous on the counter - Boro also looking sharp and could easily have scored a few too - I fancy we won't see Morris come out for the second half - perhaps a game for Nypan to unlock the Coventry defence?
Behind to two great goals. The shot from Simms was unstoppable but its striking to note how good they are a creating clear shooting opportunities with just 31% possession. They play as if they don't even want the ball except when they can win it in midfield and strike forward.
The second goal came from a corner and I wouldn't blame Brynn as the ball ricocheted off two defenders. The ball went back to Grimes who hit a stunning volley right onto the head of the Coventry player. No chance for anyone to do anything.
Other than that, Boro have dominated possession but come up against a packed 5-4 defence. Despite that we have created opportunities to cross but haven't been able to find the right ball except for the clever turn by Browne and the chip to the far post that fell to Whittaker for a neat finish. We could really do with a big forward to create some chaos in their box.
Not sure what we should change. Needless to say that the next goal counts for everything.
UTB
Equaliser! The gods must be smiling on us: own goal in the 49th minute! 
CJ:
Boro level! Whittaker goes close but denied by a great save. Disaster for Bobby Thomas though as a corner goes through to Bobby Thomas at the back post and he doesn't react. Bounces off him and in.
It's now vital that the lads hold out for at least a draw: Stoke 3-0 at home to Charlton. 
CJ in the 75th minute:
Conway's missed a sitter
It just won't go in for him. Wonderful diagonal from Hackney gets Brittain in behind the full-back. He volleys across the face of goal where Conway is running on to it. Goal at his mercy, he fires over. His reaction says it all. Shirt over his face.
Burgzorg & Sène on for Whittaker & Conway in the 80th minute.
Coventry regains the lead in the 85th & makes it 2-4 in the 87th!
Burgzorg & Sène on for Whittaker & Conway in the 80th minute.
Coventry regains the lead in the 85th & makes it 2-4 in the 87th!
CJ:
That's cruel on Boro. They've looked most likely since their equaliser to go and win this one. Coventry score twice in quick succession again and have won it.
The first came as Silvera failed to control a cross. It fell to Thomas whose effort was well saved by Brynn, but bounced off Kitching and in.
Second was a cross and Simms just able to outjump Boro's makeshift defence to head home from close range.
The big moment of the match - Conway's miss from a sitter.
Then we run out of steam. For example Brittain - not the only one.
But we are the best of the rest. A good game to watch. Up the Boro!
Silvera was excellent. My MoM is Whittaker, though. Up the Boro!
And to think that there are those who believe Conway should be leading the line for Scotland. I think he needs a rest when Strelec is fit again.
Lots of positives tonight. Coventry are a very good team and we could definitely have won.
Oh Tommy!
Hard to avoid the implications of that miss.
We're a good side but don't have the power up front and Coventry never left us space to counter-attack. Instead they let us bring the ball up from defence and left it to us. We created a couple of good chances but missed the crucial one.
UTB
Well, that is the difference. Being incisive up front. Boro were brilliant tonight, except in front of goal. If Hellberg can solve that problem, we will be alright.
I thought 4-2 was harsh in the end - after 50 minutes you could only see one winner as Coventry were on the ropes as Boro kept probing for a winner - but Conway misses a sitter and not long after got caught by a double sucker punch.
You have to hand it to Coventry they look like a side who knows they can score goals - whereas Boro look like a side that hope they can score goals. Fry a big miss with Simms winning everything in the air tonight.
Thought that was Whittaker's best game in a Boro shirt - even made some good tackles and challenges and nearly scored a worldie too - looks to have regained his confidence. Sadly Conway looks like a player who is lacking confidence and you really need to take your chances in games like these.
Overall a very enjoyable game until Coventry scored those late goals - I'm sure Lampard will leave the Riverside a relieved man.
Coventry showed they are a classy team and miles above the other teams at this stage of the season. 10 points above the second team with a staggering goal difference of + 30.
Boro started well and then Bang ! Bang! and they were losing 2-0.
But , over 90 minutes the score of 4-2 flattered Coventry a bit.
All credit to Boro, they never gave up and deservedly got back to 2-2 and were on top and looked as though they would win.
But then , for me, the turning point was when Conway missed an absolute sitter 15 minutes from the end. Had he scored then I think Boro could have held onto their lead.
This miss seemed to galvanise Coventry and they scored 2 quick goals. Game, set and match.
Overall, the performance augurs well for the future. Let’s hope all the tired legs can recover for the next game.
philip of Huddersfield 👍👍☹️
So Derby next who are on a winning streak.
Wonder who’s doing the preview ???
Oh no !!!!!
OFB
I think that’s as well as I’ve seen Boro play so far this season. On a different day we’d have won.
A really enjoyable game. It looked like there was going to be only one winner after the equaliser, then Tommy missed the sitter. Sitting in the dug out after his substitution he looked like he was going to burst into tears. On another point why is Mark Drury no longer doing the BBC Tees commentary?