And coventry lose and Ipswich draw to make it an even better result!
Great result, surely, Stir. 3pts are what's important. A very good game and great team performance. Hackney deserves M-o-M for his goal and all round play, but he has to stop dragging his man back. Twice again today in crucial situations and it happens every week.
But two good results for us at Ipswich and QPR, so we can all enjoy a great week-end.
Just what the doctor ordered. A WIN.
The bonus was other results went Boro’s way.
So, it’s onwards and upwards.
Well done.
Philip of Huddersfield 😄👋😄
Norwich played well. But we were well worth the win.
We had three or four very good change - so we should have won by 2-0 at least. Morris and Whittaker had great changes.
So we are at the top - in practice. Level on points with the Sky Blues. Up the Boro!
A tough last 15 minutes to watch, but a deserved win and other results going our way. Hull seem to be on a charge at the moment, but it’s in our hands (or feet?) for the time being.
And breathe want us to win too much, felt sick for a lot if 2nd half
Echo player ratings:
The Gazette's:
And the Hartlepool Mail's:
HH MotM for all three - Echo: On this form, Boro’s captain is the best player in the Championship.
"The last five minutes were the most ugly I've seen on the pitch, yet in some ways the most beautiful. The passion from the crowd was unbelievable. The wife and the two kids were here for the first time. I had a great moment with the supporters at the end, I didn't want to leave them. It was a special day, I'm a happy man." - Kim Hellberg 
It’s interesting how League tables change quickly. Only few weeks ago Coventry were miles ahead with a number of teams getting closer and closer to Boro.
Roll forward to now and Boro are joint top on points with Coventry and a useful gap has appeared with the chasing teams.
Good isn’t it ?
So, we look forward to future games in the hope and expectation that Boro can keep the momentum going.
Philip of Huddersfield 😁👍👍
Aaron McLean's analysis of today's Championship results for the Beeb:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cnvgnnjnq75o
A glowing assessment of HH! 🙂
It was good to wake up to see the result from the Riverside that showed my fears were unfounded, although it sounds like the Canaries came to play and we did well to beat them. So attention turns to the midweek games as Hull and Ipswich play their games in hand. Hull are at home to Watford and Ipswich start their run of 4 consecutive away games at inform Derby. I think that we may have to be more concerned with Hull catching us rather than Ipswich as they have only lost once since our 4-1 win there in December.
I had a look to see how we are doing compared to our last promotion season under Karanka. After 30 games we had 58 points as we do now, and were second in the table. We had scored 39 and only conceded 14 and kept 16 clean sheets. We ended up with 89 points losing only 3 games can we do the same this season?
What an interesting and exciting time to be a Boro fan.
I was, as usual, at today’s match and I agree with most of the comments so far, one thing that nobody has mentioned is the recent form of Norwich, before today I believe they have been unbeaten (if not won) their last 4 games and I thought they were excellent against Coventry on Monday, which shows how well Boro “managed” today’s game. As people have pointed out Hull are sneaking up on the rails and their next 4 league fixtures are all at home, Watford, Bristol, QPR and Derby, could be a dark horse 🤔.
Come on BORO.
thanks. we are recovering well. off the medication and starting to take our exercise. We're still being careful about going out but both of us feel a lot better.
Sydney can close a little early but there shouldn't be a problem finding plenty of night-life. I would suggest heading to the Chinatown/Darling Harbour area where there are lots of restaurants to choose from and bars that stay open into the small hours. In fact, the centre of Sydney is quite well known for hidden bars up laneways and even in office buildings.
Another good spot is The Establishment Bar in the centre of town. Its in a little precinct of its own and stays open well past 1.00am. No need to resort to the hotel pizza.
Jervis Bay and the South Coast is incredibly relaxed and you should enjoy the Aussie summer vibe. Finally, the Blue Mountains are incredible. Its strange to think that a pre-historic forest exists just an hour or so from Sydney.
Have a great time
UTB
If you wondered (re my intro) why Harry Amass did not play for Norwich at the Riverside yesterday, here is what BBC wrote about it.
Norwich boss Philippe Clement has revealed on-loan full-back Harry Amass faces a lengthy lay-off after being injured in training.
The 18-year-old, signed from Manchester United, missed Saturday's defeat at Middlesbrough and Clement confirmed afterwards that he was hurt in their final training session for the game.
Amass, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, has only played 15 minutes for Norwich as a substitute in Monday's win over Coventry.
Up the Boro!
Hull are certainly the surprise package given they've got a transfer embargo and that's certainly a surprise to see their next 4 championship games are all at home. Though three of those 4 games they've won on the spin have been away against teams in poor form - Southampton, Preston and Blackburn. Still, Watford and Bristol City are also not in good form either - with the Hornets not winning any of their last 4 and the Robins getting thrashed yesterday and only 1 win in their last 5 against doomed Sheff Wed.
Incidentally, Leo Castledine missed the game after picking up an injury in training but it's not expected to keep him out for too long. Also Kaly Sene is expected to resume training this week after his lay-off.
A long day yesterday for the Powmills of Perth, but well worth the early start and late finish! A very impressive performance, not from a position of dominance, but of standing toe to toe, without giving ground to a very capable opposition. All the same, still with more than just flashes of brilliance.
Agree with most about the standard of refereeing. I felt because he couldn't/didn't get to grips with all the niggling offences, it allowed the game to get more and more disjointed, effectively spoiling it for both teams and for the spectators. That said, having now seen the foul on Conway back on the highlights, I can accept why their keeper only got a yellow, but then again the covering defender would not have reached the penalty spot had Conway's run not been impeded... Norwich were lucky with that.
So much better to see them play live than on TV. This group of players has got tremendous spirit. The next couple of months could get very exciting.
@werdermouth It has been reported today that Javi Gracie has resigned as Watford coach, Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa will take the team for the trip to Hull on Tuesday.
Come on BORO.
The foul on Conway by the keeper was the second foul he suffered as a Norwich defender pulled him back physically round the neck, which he managed to break free from and then ran on to be fouled by the keeper.
in truth the defender should have been red carded as he was the last defender.
I was sat right in line and clearly spotted the foul which was either played,on by the ref or he didn’t see it. I watched it again on the Tv replay
Boro were lucky that there were no serious injuries as the referee let a lot of things go the second half and it turned into a very robust game !
OFB
The NE reporting that Armstrong is to sign for Wolves as Larson joins CP.
Apparently a fee of 7mill + 2mill add ons has been agreed as Wolves look towards playing in the Championship.
Hayden Hackney, has played for the English under 21's and the Scotland under 21's. As his mother was born in Edinburgh, time now for him to play for Scotland. I will let Steve Clarke know !!!
Thanks for that, much appreciated. We aren’t too far away from the Rocks area and I have just seen that the Establishment Bar is only a 5 minute walk from our hotel so that is looking good!
Really looking forward to our trip - we were first meant to be going back in 2020 and since then have had a total of 3 trips cancelled so Mrs BBD will be especially pleased when we finally land in Singapore(hope I am not tempting fate)!
Will try to keep up to speed with all things Boro whilst I am away although might not be able to post too much I suspect.
Hoping we will still be in a strong position when I return although the vagaries of the fixture list and other commitments means that I won’t be able to get up to see a match until 14 March!
UTB
OFB, I agree that the first tackle on Conway should have been a red card but nothing at all was given by the referee. However, having seen the keeper’s tackle on Conway several times now I think the last defender rule was irrelevant . If that tackle had been made by an outfield player I reckon it should have been a straight red as it was physically violent and intentional but as it was the goalkeeper he got away with a yellow.
Can I also add a word of praise for Fry whose last ditch tackle at the end of the game saved 2 points. Fantastic.
@original-fat-bob thanks for that explanation. I missed the detail of that initial foul. Luckily no one was badly hurt in the game, but it really dows highlight the importance of good refereeing to keeping players safe and to keeping a game good to watch.
The right result for us at the end, so no real damage done.
Glad that you and your family saw a victory and that the long journey proved worthwhile! It’s a fair old trek from Perth.
I much prefer watching live as you can see so much more and see how much space, or sometimes lack of, the players create.
@boro-beckys-dad thanks. I agree and I do miss being able to go along more regularly. I hope I will get along to one more game this season.
ASK Kim Hellberg a straight question and he’ll give you a straight answer. Just how good is Hayden Hackney? “I think he’s too good to be here.” You don’t get much more honest than that.
Hellberg quickly tried to clarify his answer – “I say that in a positive way, I think he would be a top player in most of the Premier League teams with the quality he has” – but he didn’t have to. No Middlesbrough supporter is going to take offence at their head coach’s assessment of their captain’s standing because they have seen it with their own eyes all season.
Hackney is too good to be playing in the Championship. When he plays as he did on Saturday, strolling through his side’s 1-0 win over Norwich City with a mixture of elegant passing, ferocious midfield commitment and sublime finishing, the 23-year-old looks every inch a player that should not be plying his trade in the second tier.
Yet here he is, spearheading his hometown team’s promotion push despite having been the subject of firm offers from Porto and Ipswich in the last 12 months and more informal approaches from a number of Premier League sides. If Boro fail to win promotion this season, there is surely no chance of Hackney remaining on Teesside for another campaign, but that is an issue for the future, and hopefully it will not come to pass anyway.
Hackney wants to lead Boro back to the top-flight. He feels fortunate and privileged to have that opportunity, with the Teessiders sitting level top of the table with 16 games remaining, and Boro are certainly lucky to have him leading the way.
“I think he’s everything you want in a player,” said Hellberg, who made a point of ushering Hackney to the front of the celebrations in front of the South Stand in the wake of Saturday’s win. “First, he’s an unbelievable football player, then he wants to do everything for Middlesbrough. He’s always happy, always smiling, always working hard.
“He’s so good, but then he still works together with everyone else to make everyone happy. You cannot be more proud when you see how he fights for everyone else. He helps everyone in every training session, it doesn’t matter if it’s a young person coming up from the Under-21s, you see Hayden talking to him and pushing him. That is what you want in a captain, a leader and a player for the club. I think he’s amazing in every way.”
READ MORE:
Seny Dieng's Middlesbrough situation ahead of deadline day - and two players who could leave
Kim Hellberg's promotion message to the Middlesbrough fans - and view on Norwich win
From the moment he rejected the chance to join Ipswich in the summer, Hackney has taken his performances to another level with Boro. He has always been supremely talented, but there is an added swagger to his game this season, as if he knows he is playing on a higher level than those around him.
He has developed an excellent relationship with his fellow central midfielder, Aidan Morris, and has clearly relished the extra responsibility he has been afforded by Hellberg, who did not hesitate to hand him the captain’s armband when Dael Fry was unavailable in the autumn.
The Redcar-born playmaker was a fan when Boro were last in the Premier League under Aitor Karanka and knows what winning promotion would mean, to the club, the supporters and the wider Teesside area. As a result, he will not be going anywhere no matter what offers are lodged in the final hours of the transfer window.
“This is what I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a kid - play for Middlesbrough,” said Hackney. “And where we are in the league at the minute, as long as we just keep going, we feel confident.
“Winning promotion with Middlesbrough would mean everything to me. I don’t know how I’d be, but I know I’d be over the moon. That is the dream.”
It is a dream that moved another step closer to becoming reality as Boro beat Norwich, with Hackney’s superb 17th-minute strike proving decisive. Morris’ aggressive high pressing stole the ball off the Norwich defence, Riley McGree rolled a pass to Hackney and the Teessider bent a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner.
Boro were excellent for the opening half-hour, attacking with pace and purpose, but when they were unable to add a second goal, Norwich gradually clawed their way back into the game.
It would be over-egging it to suggest Hellberg’s side were hanging on in the closing stages, but they had to show a different side to their character as they dug in, with Dael Fry’s 89th-minute block on a shot from Jovon Makama a key moment.
“I think this was the most beautiful ugly minutes I’ve ever seen in football,” said Hellberg. “Especially the last ten, where it was just about digging in and fighting and getting out with second balls. I was so pleased with how we defended in the second half.”
@malcolm. Not wanting to take anything away from HH, however I think that since Browne became a first eleven pick, Hayden Hackney has been able to showcase his ability even more so.
Reports in the USA suggest Middlesbrough have made a new bid for Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten ⚽
Armstrong going to Wolves
OFB