@stircrazy. Like the look of that team/ bench. Height at the back, strong midfield, forwards that are capable of scoring and a bench with players that can come on and make an impact; what could go wrong! 😉😎
Interesting to see how they line up.
CJ's thoughts:
Couple of ways this could look. Back three with Browne at RB, or Browne into midfield and Hackney into the forward three. Suspect it might be a 4-3-3, with Browne joining Hackney and Morris in midfield. We shall see at kick-off.
It's a first start for Dael Fry since the Birmingham win on November 8. He really needs a big end to the campaign it feels. Fingers crossed for him.
Meanwhile, the big news is that Brittain and McGree are back in the squad. They both make the bench, but there's still no Strelec or Sene, who are the next in line to make it back. And with that in mind, the bench is looking very strong.
The Beeb's suggesting 4-3-3:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn82x03yvl2t
I too like the look of that defence and midfield. Front line lacks pace but that might not be an issue if Preston are defending deep.
Castledine’s ability to shoot from the edge of the box is a good shout against a team packing the box.
CJ's changed his mind about the formation:
Looks like a back three
Browne at right wing-back. Whittaker and Castledine off Conway.
And Browne fires home in the ninth minute with a little help from Targett! 🙂
CONWAY makes it 2-0 in the 28th minute, assisted by Ayling!
Just noticed that one of Preston's centre backs is Odeluga Offiah, nephew of rugby league international Martin 'Chariots' Offiah. Hopefully his nephew is not as big or fast as his uncle.
CJ has posted a quote from Brett Ormerod, who is apparently working as an analyst for Radio Lancashire today, & suggested that it's hard to argue with his view on the Conway goal:
Odel Offiah is day-dreaming, or else it's laziness, I do not know which, but this game is already being taken away from Preston. It is naivety. You have to be clued up with your back four. He has got to get up there. He is four or five yards behind the rest of his backline playing him miles onside.
No fault to the 'keeper for either of these goals. Both goals were preventable.
In the meantime, Whittaker rediscovered his shooting boots in the 42nd minute. 3-0 at half-time.
Boro looking extremely comfortable after being on the back foot for the first 5-10 minutes - Browne and Conway continuing where they left off against Stoke and then Whittaker with a very sharp piece of play to steal the ball and score - which up until that point he had fluffed 3-4 opportunities to either score or assist. Ayling looking a class above with some great play coming out of defence and if Boro want it there are more goals!
Incidentally, after that 4-game goal drought over christmas, it's now 12 goals in the last 4 league games!
Boring Boro!
They have taken the excitment of the tussle now with a 3-0lead.
But quite frankly it should be 5-0 by now. Let's hope we will see the famous five will make an appearance at Riverside next.
Well deserved lead. Up the Boro!
Well it certainly looks like a Famous Five is on the cards today.... even a sneaky Secret Seven wouldn't flatter! CoB, make it all count in the second half.
PNE down to 10 men in the 50th minute - Jordan Storey for a foul on TC, of all people!
To be honest Preston look hapless - red card followed by keeping error leaves Boro 4-0 up against ten men with over 35 minutes to play.
4-0: a second for TC in the 54th minute - CJ:
Castledine direct free-kick is heading bottom corner. Lacks the pace to beat him, but does bounce awkwardly right in front of him. Still, it's poor from the keeper to push it back into the danger area, where Conway follows up and fires home.
Silvera, Burgzorg & Gilbert on for Targett, Morris & Conway in the 60th minute.
CJ suggests that, as Targett had another knock, but didn't seem too bad, it was just a precaution.
Silvera, Burgzorg & Gilbert on for Targett, Morris & Conway in the 60th minute.
CJ suggests that, as Targett had another knock, but didn't seem too bad, it was just a precaution.
McGree on for HH in the 73rd minute. Hurray!
Should have left Conway on so he could have had his hat trick. 😀
Silvera, Burgzorg & Gilbert on for Targett, Morris & Conway in the 60th minute.
CJ suggests that, as Targett had another knock, but didn't seem too bad, it was just a precaution.
McGree on for HH in the 73rd minute. Hurray!
Malanda off injured in the 84th minute & is replaced by Fin Munroe, who makes his debut.
Not quite my Famous Five but a comfortable win in the end. Are we all Chris Wilder fans for the rest of the afternoon?
So Boro declared at 4-0 and Hellberg opted to gave his bench an outing and the players decided to just manage the game and avoid any more exertion. An easy victory as you're likely to see in the Championship and now 4 in a row and momentum with Boro.
I feel a little disappointed that they didn't keep the pressure on and go for more goals. A missed opportunity to close the goal difference deficit we have on both Coventry and Ipswich. But, listen to me, we have just won 4-0 and I am complaining!!!
Me and Powmill Junior (the taller good looking one of us) will be crossing the border for the Norwich game next week and I suspect we will be delighted to see thw boys so dominant again.
Come on the Blades...🤞
@malcolm I think KH has stressed how much he believes football is a team game and his recent praise for TC emphasised that view. Saving his legs for the Norwich game is probably a good idea, but it was great to see his performance today.
Echo ratings
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-3-3):
7 Brynn: Barely had to make a save as Boro were completely dominant from start to finish
8 Ayling: Produced the pass of the game to set up Conway’s first goal and looked comfortable back at full-back
8 Fry: Couldn’t have wished for a better return to the starting side – cruised through the game as skipper
8 Malanda: Completely dominant at the heart of the back four and took a late clattering in his stride
8 Targett: Played a brilliant ball to set up Browne’s opener, but looked to be struggling with a muscular issue when he went off in the second half
8 Browne: Thoroughly enjoyed himself against his former side – opened the scoring with a clinical finish
9 Hackney: Another excellent midfield showing from a player at the top of his form – always gets Boro moving forward
8 Morris: Played on the left of the midfield three and made some fine runs into the final third to support his forwards
8 Whittaker: His pace and movement caused the Preston defence a host of problems – scored his 11th of the season
9 Conway: So much for being out of form then – made it three goals in the space of four days as he scored in both halves
8 Castledine: Did really well on his first Boro start – his free-kick led to Conway’s second goal
Subs:
6 Silvera (for Targett, 60): Didn’t have to do a lot after coming on in the second half
6 Gilbert (for Conway, 60): Played a couple of nice balls forward from midfield
6 Burgzorg (for Morris, 60):
Munroe (for Malanda, 84)
(not used): McLaughlin (gk), Brittain, McGree, Hansen, Nypan.
Unusual to have a friendly at this time of year but I enjoyed it.
Very well done to KH for the confidence he seems to have given Tommy Conway.
Well done to Len as well for suggesting Browne might be a decent scorer - mind you he should have had a brace!
The Hartlepool Mail's player ratings - more or less in line with the Echo's, both giving TC a 9:
Pity Joe Nicholson can't spell "manoeuvre" - & that's a very strange picture of Fin Munroe at the end...
The Hartlepool Mail's player ratings - more or less in line with the Echo's, both giving TC a 9:
Pity Joe Nicholson can't spell "manoeuvre" - & that's a very strange picture of Fin Munroe at the end...
Another 9 for TC from the Gazette, which, like the Mail, gave Browne a 9:
The Blades 2-0 against the Tractor Boys at half-time... 