Still a bit relaxed compared to previous seasons as we are more of a team with a coach who changes things around if not going to plan - and, of course, Boro are top of the League.
This will be a real test for the team plus the opposition have Mark Robins who always seems to do well against Boro
I agree with others that it will be a low scoring game and so, I’d be delighted with 1-0. A draw would not be a catastrophe.
Sorba Thomas is a lively player- usually gets the ball and sets off running towards the opponents goal . Very direct.
Philip of Huddersfield 👍😁👍
@original-fat-bob Get well soon, mate. Your heath is more important than today's result. But hope you will enjoy the result, too. Up the Boro!
Sorry to hear that Bob. Above all else, look after yourself. I too hope they can find something to help longer term. Also I see AndyR has stepped into the breach for the Portsmouth opener. Thanks Andy.
Let's hope the Boro can provide you a bit of a tonic, at least for tonight Bob.🤞
... This will be a real test for the team plus the opposition have Mark Robins who always seems to do well against Boro...
Was it Mark Robins that seemed to do well against Boro, or was it our Adi?
Maybe we will find the answer to that one tonight.
I am just on the bus home to Perth from work in Glasgow today and managed to catch up with the highlights from the Soton game. Did anyone else notice, but RE spent some time talking quite earnestly to Still at the end of the game. It really looked like he was giving the young manager some encouragement. Certainly more than a quick touch of the hand you witness at the end of most matches. Yet another sign to me of how good and sincere a man we seem to have at the helm now.
Hope you feeling better soon - take it easy and hopefully Boro give you a tonic tonight!
Let's hope the Boro can provide you a bit of a tonic, at least for tonight Bob.🤞
Just saw your post after writing mine - so that’s a double tonic for OFB - best no gin though….
Best wishes, Bob. Hope the Boro do the right thing by you and speed your recovery with a good win. Thanks Andy for stepping in for the Pompey preview.
Agree with Philip that Thomas is a real danger man not only for his ability on the ball but for his delivery at set pieces. I touted him as a possible signing a couple of seasons ago, and was surprised that he must have been seen and passed over when we signed Burgzog. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the two if Dela gets a chance off the bench tonight.
I'll go for a 1-0 win. That'll do just fine
PS Glad to see Browne in tonight. Thought he was outstanding when introduced as a sub last Saturday. An experienced hand just when we needed it most
Two changes - courtesy of the Echo:
MIDDLESBROUGH: Brynn, Ayling, Edmundson, Jones, Targett; Browne, Hackney, Morris; Nypan, Conway, Strelec
SUBSTITUTES: McLaughlin, Fry, Burgzorg, Whittaker, Sène, Silvera, Bangura, Hansen, Kanté
I hope that Browne will play in midfield making us really strong in that area rather than right wing back. This would have the disadvantage of moving Ayling , but it's paramount that we get a goal, after which we could revert to 5 at the back. The alternative of playing Browne at wing back from the off and moving him further forward if we go behind is reactive rather than being progressive from the start
I like Brittain pity he’s injured but Browne has played at wingback for Sunderland. Whittaker has been a disappointment since he signed. I think there is a player in there but his form and confidence is shot.
OFB
From the Beeb's preview of this evening's Championship matches:
First against third at The Riverside
An early-season test of promotion credentials as table-topping Middlesbrough will seek to extend their perfect home record as third-placed Stoke visit.
The Potters are four points adrift of unbeaten Boro, who came back to draw 1-1 at Southampton on Saturday. Rob Edwards' men are the third-leading scorers in the Championship while possessing the stingiest defence with just five goals conceded in their opening seven matches.
Mark Robins' Potters also came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Norwich on Saturday but after winning their first two away games, they went down 1-0 at QPR in their most recent away game and have won only one of their past nine games at Boro.
Edwards remains wary of their threat, however, telling BBC Radio Tees: "It's no surprise at all [to see them doing well], they look really solid and have a real attacking threat as well."
Sammy Silvera on for George Edmondson in the sixth minute following an injury sustained by the latter. 🙁
Sammy Silvera on for George Edmondson in the sixth minute following an injury sustained by the latter. 🙁
Silvera then booked in the 13th!
That looked like a penalty to me. It’s deffo a foul on Conway if it’s anywhere else on the pitch.
Sammy Silvera on for George Edmondson in the sixth minute following an injury sustained by the latter. 🙁
Silvera then booked in the 13th!
Boro apparently collecting yellow cards like stamps: six on Saturday & now a second already (for Conway) in the 32nd minute this evening!
Terrible decision. It looked like a stone-cold penalty
We should have had a penalty - instead the ref gives a yellow card for Conway. But it was a stone-wall penalty as Maddo is talking during the half time break.
Same for Silvera yellow. It was not a foul.
Anyway, well played but perhaps the tempo was lowered by the Boro players towards the break. Changes and fresh legs. Stoke came for a 0-0 draw.
Up the Boro!
Agreed. Stonewall penalty. Why didn’t the linesman see that? We wuz robbed.
I said a few weeks ago Conway is a marked man with referees, from where I am sat that is a stonewall penalty and I hear that replays prove it 100% ?
Great atmosphere though, worrying after dominating the first half we have nothing to show for it, we have all seen these games before, but I hold on to us getting the winning goal/s in the second half.
Good performance so far with lots of neat approach play. We need to get onto Strellecs wavelength. He seems to have made little impression, but his movement off the ball in creating space for himself hasn't been picked up. That's his real strength rather than the spectacular goal he scored against Germany. We came closest to scoring when he created his own chance out of nothing. But a progressive half with Browne doing what I expected in being a controlling midfield presence and allowing Hackney to get forward much more than usual.
My 1-0 is looking a reasonable prospect
Boro were the dominant team in the first half without creating any clear cut chances. You can see why Stoke don’t concede many goals and they seem content to play for corners and long throw ins. They are no pushover.
The downside is yet another injury to a central defender. Obviously Fry is not fit to play most of a game.
The talking point is whether Boro should have had a penalty. Probably, but when a player exaggerates his fall to the ground then understandably referees don’t give the foul. Conway always exaggerates his fall to the ground and, as Bob, has pointed out, he may be getting a reputation as a diver.
Another concern is Sterling - he’s not in the game and the pattern of play doesn’t seem to be suiting him.
Hopefully Boro can get a goal - perhaps one goal will win it.
Philip of Huddersfield
Another concern is Sterling - he’s not in the game and the pattern of play doesn’t seem to be suiting him.
Philip of Huddersfield
Did you mean Strelec, Philip?
Hansen on for Morris & Sène for Strelec in the 64th minute.
Hansen on for Morris & Sène for Strelec in the 64th minute.
Kanté on for Conway & Fry for Nypan in the 82nd minute.
So it finishes 0-0 & we're still four points clear at the top of the league, though Coventry could narrow the gap to a point with a win in its next match...