Woken this morning with a tinge of expectant excitement, mildly anxious and impatient to see how our Boro away day plays out. It's a little like that feeling on Christmas morning when you are sure, but then again at the same time not so sure, that Santa must have visited in the night.
The expectation part of my feeling is with OFB on this one. The anxious part is seeing all those lovely bubbles slowly bursting.
Overall though I am positive we can and will take all three points.
CoB
P.S. Finn Azaz man of the match performance scoring a hat trick and laying on another in a convincing 'let us bring you down to earth' victory over the early prerenders to the throne.
@original-fat-bob Reading Dom Shaw’s piece in the NE, attached, it does appear that MFC do have some potential signings identified for January.
Of course getting them is one thing and then there would have to be the ruthless deregistering of existing players to make room for any newcomers. We are already at 26 with Malander, and then there is Engels to sort out.
it only proves what I think of Azaz his heart wasn’t in it for the Boro and just went through the motions !
Wr all knew he had ability but lack of team spirit and belief in the club
OFB
It won't happen. It probably shouldn't happen. And I don't think it will happen.
But there is a case for dropping Tommy Conway to the bench for this one.
Hear me out.
The first requirement of any away game is to quieten the home crowd.
However the very sight of Tommy is enough to guarantee that any self-respecting Bristolian will be immediately whipped up into fleck-foamed frenzy
And that is before he starts to fall over, commit fouls or make himself obnoxious to opponents, let alone his old club, in the way that we all love him for.
And we also know that however many times Tommy gets hacked down or earns a stonewall penalty this afternoon he will get nothing out of the referee.
So, better to leave him out, deprive the crowd of their boo-boy, calmly outplay them, be three up at half time, and unleash a fresh and rarin' to go Tommy in the second half.
As I say it won't happen, but it will be interesting to see how the predictable scenario of Tommy as chief villain plays itself out, and how it affects the performance of both teams and the outcome of the game.
@lenmasterman - There is something to be said for doing the unpredictable. But, like you, I doubt he'd drop Conway for this one. If he went another four or five games without scoring, leaving last weekend's penalty as his only goal in more than 20 games though, that might change. Remember most of those goal-less games came before KH arrived.
I LOVE the 0-4 predicition by OFB but, without wishing to be boring, any win would do. Let's keep the run going and then with Blackburn at home on Boxing Day it wouldn't be unrealistic to see the gap to the Play-Off places growing into a chasm. So long as Boro is on the right side of that chasm, first OR second place would suit me fine!
UTB....
The ability to watch the game later is bringing a smile to my face, even despite the huge quantity of Malbec I consumed last night, at my neighbour’s party to celebrate their 6th anniversary of moving in to Sherburn. It’s grey and foggy today, both inside my head and outside the window.
it only proves what I think of Azaz his heart wasn’t in it for the Boro and just went through the motions !
Wr all knew he had ability but lack of team spirit and belief in the club
OFB
I couldn't agree more
One change to the starting line-up - Gilbert for Browne:
One change to the starting line-up - Gilbert for Browne:
CJ's thoughts:
Big call from Hellberg and a huge show of faith from him in Alex Gilbert, who returns to the side after being rested against QPR. He was brilliant against Hull and Charlton, to be fair to him, but Bristol City always felt like a tougher away game. But Hellberg has restored him to the midfield, with Alan Browne dropping back to the bench.
Maybe slightly harsh that Bangura is also not back in the team. A good problem to have now that natural centre-backs are returning though. Bangura doesn't start, but Targett does. Probably that little more defensively-minded than Bangura for today's away test.
As for the squad, despite returning to training this week, there's still no Dael Fry. Sontje Hansen also not in the squad again today, despite also being in training this week. One to ask Hellberg about after.
Saints drawing 1-1 at home to Coventry with 10 minutes to go. Coventry took the lead just before half-time, but had Jay Dasilva sent off at the start of the second half & "our" Nathan Wood equalised in the 56th minute...
Saints drawing 1-1 at home to Coventry with 10 minutes to go. Coventry took the lead just before half-time, but had Jay Dasilva sent off at the start of the second half & "our" Nathan Wood equalised in the 56th minute...
And that's how it finished.
Further to my previous post and my concerns over injuries, it looks as though the McGree one has hit again. Nypan it is for him
McGree off injured in the 16th minute; replaced by Nypan. 🙁
Riis puts the Robins ahead a minute later (mistake by Sol Brynn). 🙁
Another decent chance for Boro throughout through Conway, and Bristol catch us out again, and a mistake by Brynn lets the ball go under him.
All those missed early chances now costing. Is it going to be a “bogey Bristo” day.
Boro playing well, but they keep getting caught in transition when their attacks break down in losing the ball too many times
Whittaker booked in the 26th minute (bet365 commentator: "frustration - starved of service, Bristol City doing a good job of frustrating [him]".
Boro look as though they could score ever time they attack, but the bounce just is not going for. Is it going to be one of those afternoons.
Whittaker booked in the 26th minute (bet365 commentator: "frustration - starved of service, Bristol City doing a good job of frustrating [him]".
Matt Targett follows MW into the ref's book in the 33rd minute.
Bet365 commentator keeps pronouncing Alex Gilbert's name with a hard "g", as though it were spelt "Guiberr" (stress on the second syllable). Does he know something i don't?
Shots and shots on target matter.
10 shots by City ,(5 on target).
11 by Boro (none on target acc to BBC).
Hope McGree isn't going to be long-term absent again.
CJ's summary of the first half:
A poor opening 30 minutes for Boro. Lacked their usual control and were far too open. They conceded numerous chances and one soft goal. In an open game, they've had their own chances. But they've lacked the finish or final pass. Still there for Boro, but improvements needed.
Well Boro should probably be about 3-0 up here. Bristol City surely can’t believe their luck that we’ve hit the post, not made anything of the two or three terrible defensive mix-ups from the hosts and gifted them a goal with a rare goalkeeping error. And McGree off injured.
Very lucky indeed.
Boro need to be more ruthless though. Time to win a second half.
My fears of a bad day at the office has certainly appeared in the first half where we dominate possession but can’t get a shot on target and a mistake by Brynn sees them in front.
The real work for KH and his team start now. What can they do to change a losing position against a well organised team. Good teams find a way! CoB 😎
We should be at least two or three in front. Some glorious chances gone missing.
Let's hope we can continues as well. And finally score. Up the Boro!
Mistake bringing Nypan on (hopeless) should have brought Brown on and pushed Gilbert forward
OFB
@jarkko Yes and yet Bristol should probably have been two up.
A lot of Boro’s final passes have been poor. Brittain is get down his side an awful lot, but too many attacks are breaking and he is getting left behind. Also Whittaker is not tracking back at all.
Lots to do for KH and his staff. I am also not sure Nypan was the right choice to replace McGree
No changes at the start of the second half.
Second goal for the Robins scored by the sub in the 62nd minute! 🙁 The bubble is bursting...
Oh dear