@werdermouth - I hope you enjoyed the gig! And that your ears recover. Your post gave me and Mrs Dormo a giggle. (I am now reading the various posts. Better late than never).
We’ve had a fantastic day in the sunshine down the road in Scarborough today with two daughters and a few granddaughters. Perfect for taking my mind off tomorrow’s game.
Whatever happens tomorrow in Ipswich, Boro clearly has a Premier League supporters' Blog. The posts on this thread have been excellent from the Match Preview onwards, including the reported views of the unhappy Ipswich fan and a couple of lengthy pieces/reflections from Si. The writing this season has (not infrequently) been better than the football - not ALL season because there have been periods in which it would have been VERY harsh to criticise the football and the results, but in the last section of the season the writing has been A+ and the football results C-.
Let us hope the players have done their revision and the coaching staff their homework, and that it will be possible to ace the examination the next four games will provide.
So Millwall won and move up to second and Southampton continue their winning streak too - if Boro can win at Ipswich then it will leave the race for second spot extremely tight with everyone just one point behind the Lions.
Indeed, Boro really do need to win today to keep their stuttering automatic hopes alive - though with home games against Sheff Wed and Watford to come it would under normal circumstances be regarded as a good chance!
When looking for omens to see if things can turn around for Boro, I got a surprise unexpected one in my Wordle this morning with a random guess - now maybe I'm due that win with my preview today - 5-0 would put Boro in 3rd if the football gods are listening...
Thanking "Weirder" for the Match Preview (above) might have sounded unfriendly, maybe even downright rude. Instead it was a typo and my fat fingers apologise. I also failed to spot it before sending the post in! I will NEVER get the hang of this interwebby thing.
With predictive text and tiny keyboard keys it always amazes me that anything typed on a phone comes out making sense - hopefully Boro pull off a victory today - weirder things have happened...
Two changes & no McGree:
The thoughts of Chairman CJ:
Although it's a boost to have Whittaker back in the squad, what a huge blow to be without Riley McGree. Will ask about that when I can, but that's going to be a huge loss, with Gilbert back into the starting XI for the first time since being hooked at half-time against Stoke in January.
It's two changes, with Ayling back in ahead of Sarmiento for a switch to a 3-5-2.
Whittaker is back on the bench, but options still light, with no Hackney or Castledine return and McGree now added to the list.
The thoughts of Chairman CJ:
Although it's a boost to have Whittaker back in the squad, what a huge blow to be without Riley McGree. Will ask about that when I can, but that's going to be a huge loss, with Gilbert back into the starting XI for the first time since being hooked at half-time against Stoke in January.
Will get more from Kim Hellberg after, but club sources indicating that it is an injury for Riley McGree. He got injured in training yesterday.
As good a starting X1 as we could have hoped for given Riley's injury, with Whittaker, Hansen, Bangura and Sarmiento as viable attacking options should we go behind. Not optimistic but hopeful. Come on Boro!
Well. High Noon is almost upon us. MCGree is a huge loss. Hopefully Gilbert will find some of his form from earlier in the season. Above all, let's hope the team finds the right intensity from the get go and that each and every single one of them remembered to pack their scoring boots before heading to Suffolk.
Come on Boro. Make us all proud.
Stats from the Beeb, the final point being rendered redundant by the injury. They don't make for very encouraging reading:
- Ipswich have won just one of their past 10 league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L6), a 2-0 away win in December 2023.
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their past four away league games against Ipswich (W2 D2), having been winless in their previous nine visits to Portman Road (D4 L5).
- Ipswich have lost the fewest home matches in the Championship this season (1/21), and are unbeaten in their past 15 home league games (W10 D5).
- Since the start of March, Middlesbrough have only scored 11 goals from 19 xG in the Championship – this is the biggest underperformance of any side in this period (-8). They failed to score in the defeat to Portsmouth last time out, despite having 20 shots and hitting the target eight times.
- Riley McGree has been directly involved in eight league goals for Middlesbrough this season (5 goals, 3 assists), and is aiming to equal both his most goals (6) and goal involvements (9) in a single Championship campaign (both from 2022-23).
@lenmasterman I suppose with McGree, we have always been waiting for the next injury.
However the mystery continues with Jones, Castledine and even Hackney. If they are nursing HH for the playoffs fair enough.
We will certainly need more physical players next year, assuming we can move the failures on.
Some more thoughts from CJ - in the 14th minute:
Malanda - Interesting role. He's regularly stepping up into midfield alongside Morris when Boro have the ball, with Gilbert then getting further forward. He's more a midfielder here than a centre-back.
And three minutes later:
Boro have been really poor in possession so far. The passing has been shoddy. Constantly giving it away in their own half, constantly putting team-mates under pressure. Ipswich smothering them with the press.
That said, Strelec gives Boro the lead in the 25th minute, assisted by Browne. "Out of nothing", says the Beeb commentary. 🙂
Five minutes later, the Tractor Boys bag an equaliser! 🙁
Beeb commentary on the goal:
Aidan Morris slots a glorious reverse pass in to Alan Browne on the right of the area and Browne slides it low into the middle, past the reach of keeper Christian Walton, where David Strelec taps home from a couple of yards out.
Clinical.
Boro's season is alive. Ipswich's is all of a sudden feeling under pressure.
Followed by some stats:
21 times Boro have gone ahead this season, 18 times they have won and they have lost only once, against Millwall. The recent Middlesbrough have been a shadow of their early season form, however.
This has become very interesting indeed.
That was before the equaliser...
Totally different Boro style today. Lots of long balls but some very dubious passing out from the back too.
Morris more into the game towards the end of the half. We don’t look like winning at the moment.
Certainly has been a competitive high-tempo first half where Ipswich looked the more dangerous side but Boro got the first goal with a rare series of passes. Unfortunately, the lead didn't last long as Boro got caught on the break again. Boro's midfield has struggled to contain Ipswich with Gilbert looking a bit off the pace and Malanda's dual role as a makeshift midfielder/defender not really working. Perhaps should bring on Whittaker and shift Brown into central midfield. Still, Boro in it and still could win this one.
Some very nervy defending, Malanda having another poor outing. Ipswich much quicker to the ball and able to spring from defence much more quickly than we are, although they are getting most of the decisions from the referee. He has given one foul for us and 11 against. Can't agree with Mick Mills on the BBC
"Middlesbrough have probably finished the half the better side though."
My heart is in my mouth here. We could get well beaten if this continues the same way in the 2nd half. Ipswich are well drilled to disupt our quick passing meaning we are losing the ball way too easily.
Defence is panicky and I think it is partly Brynn that is causing that. His distribution has been poor as well. He needs to calm down.
Referee is giving all the soft decisions to Ipswich, on the orher hand we are giving him the option to make a decision.
Strelec should have done better to grab a second.
I have no idea whwre we go in the 2nd half. Probably introduce Whittaker for Strelec.
Anxious moments....
For much of that first half we’ve had precious little control in midfield. If Malanda is going to continue in that role he’ll need to get a grip, as Ipswich have been very fluent and very impressive. It hasn’t helped that we’ve given the ball away too often and have played some really stupid balls out of defence, putting ourselves under real pressure. It was a very poor equaliser to give away. It also hasn’t helped that referee Gillett has given a lot of soft fouls against us. We’re probably lucky to go in equal at halftime, as we’ve been battered, really, but still all to play for.
@powmillnaemore To be fair, you cannot blame him for some of the suicidal passes from our defenders in the 18 yard box.
Hellberg to change his set up as we have lost the midfield ap apart from Morris trying his best but outnumbered.
Malander position is not working and he has been poor as has Gilbert and needs replacing at HT. Whittaker on and Browne more central, otherwise it is just a matter of time before Ipswich score more goals.
Beeb in the 51st minute:
Boro might be ahead.
Absolutely frantic.
Tommy Conway dribbles across the box and sends Alan Browne a little wide but he dinks in a high ball which is met at the back post by Alex Gilbert whose low effort is blocked on the line by Azor Matusiwa with the ball pinballing back and forth before dropping to grateful Christian Walton to gather.
🙁
Targett booked in the 52nd minute "after a rash tackle in midfield to stop a Town break" (Beeb).
Sarmiento on for Gilbert in the 60th minute.
Glenn Speller on the Beeb's commentary:
Middlesbrough are suddenly firing in this second-half - whatever Kim Hellberg said at the break is working.
They are getting more men forward when they have possession and should be in front with that chance for Alex Gilbert. However, with this approach they are leaving gaps for Ipswich to exploit.
A nice reception from the home fans for visiting substitute Jeremy Sarmiento when he came on - memories of his contribution to Ipswich's promotion two years ago still live long in these parts.
Boro take the lead again with a Tommy Conway goal. Jack Clarke on for Town, beware the injury time penalty
Boro retakes the lead - TC in the 64th minute - Maddo on the Beeb's commentary:
It's about mixing your game up and there we go down the sides. Strelec does really well to hold it up and it's Alan Browne who squares it. Brittain gets it, goes for goal, it comes back out and there's Tommy Conway to tap it in.
We are looking so much better....
Boro retakes the lead - TC in the 64th minute - Maddo on the Beeb's commentary:
It's about mixing your game up and there we go down the sides. Strelec does really well to hold it up and it's Alan Browne who squares it. Brittain gets it, goes for goal, it comes back out and there's Tommy Conway to tap it in.
Still ahead 16 minutes later. Can they hold out for the last 10+? 
Sarmiento on for Gilbert in the 60th minute.
Silvera on for Strelec in the 82nd minute. Whittaker getting ready to make his return from injury, according to CJ.
Bu**er.... we should have been home and dry, but gift them their lifeline....