Fry has the captain's armband again.
deservedly so he’s a Boro lad and has the pride of wearing it and stop this sharing it round as it demeans the position !
OFB
@original-fat-bob. I am feeling very much like you and have been since late last season.
It’s very frustrating supporting your team and seeing the same mistakes being made time after time. Sadly, we have been on a downward trajectory since the end of the Southgate era.
As you point out, it’s even more frustrating when you see teams which are minnows residing in the PL and spending £20M + on players while we shop in the bargain basement.
Its also very difficult accepting that we are no more than a mid table Championship side at best and there is little evidence to suggest that that will change anytime soon under the current ownership/management. 😎
Really big test this for Kante today. Hope the lad is up to it
@Jarkko - I see you've shown you are a nailed-on first teamer with your Match Preview. But because the whistle to start the match has just blown, I will limit myself at this stage to the usual "blind faith" score prediction.
Millwall 1-2 BORO. Fingers crossed. But of course, it would be no surprise if the Millwall scorer turned out to be Coburn. I'd certainly settle for that as the match begins....
Rushed home thinking Boro were on sky channel 404. Got it wrong. So will have to rely on this and other sites for scores
philip
Well 20 minutes gone and I'm struggling to see what's changed in Boro's style - no sign of a press and lots of playing out from the back and short passes in midfield with no sign of any end product other than Silvera's blocked cross.
Difficult first 15 minutes for Boro, with little apart from a couple of poor corners from us.
Nothing up front, just a continuation from the previous matches.
Great cross from Silvera, with his right foot, big miss by Whittaker. 👎
That should have been him off the mark.
We just need to win the second ball in midfield and stop giving it away. That’s all three of Kante, Morris and Hackney.
Three bookings now to Millwall
Silvera the pick up to now, Whittaker, is he actually playing?
Boro so frustrating at the back around the box. Ayling once more plays a poor pass and we lose the ball in a poor position infront of the box. Then he redeems himself with a block clearance on the line
Debatable penalaty call for Boro and Conway. Not given, but I think it possibly was.
Three bookings now to Millwall
One of them for Coburn.
First half (45+3) survived. Can Boro hold out for 45+ more? 
CJ's assessment of the first half:
Not too bad so far for Boro. They had to weather a really early storm and it was a tough opening 20. They started to grow in the game though and have had enough positive openings to offer encouragement. Still not ruthless enough in that final third though. Neither GK had a major save to make.
Whittaker's been really poor and Hackney is struggling to get in the game. Plenty of aggression, but Kante has been caught in possession too many times, in dangerous areas at times too.
@pedro. “Whittaker, is he actually playing?”
Complete light weight. Offers nothing. Forss is better on the right wing and defends better. 😎
Interesting to see Boro for the first time under Edwards and it wasn't what I was expecting and was a bit surprised to see Boro trying to play out from the back and midfield in tight positions. The football seems very similar to how Carrick played but there doesn't appear to be many options in attack - Silvera showed lots of energy down the left and looked dangerous at times - Whittaker couldn't really keep hold of the ball and didn't offer much and Conway was making runs but didn't do much when he got the ball.
The game certainly opened up after 20 minutes or so but quite a few players have been caught on the ball in midfield and lost possession in dangerous positions - Ayling also a mixture of good and bad - plus Kante looks sharp but not strong enough in possession.
Also not much sign of the Boro press today but overall I think Boro have enough to win this game if they avoid making self-inflicted mistakes.
From CJ
Not too bad so far for Boro. They had to weather a really early storm and it was a tough opening 20. They started to grow in the game though and have had enough positive openings to offer encouragement. Still not ruthless enough in that final third though. Neither GK had a major save to make.
Whittaker's been really poor and Hackney is struggling to get in the game. Plenty of aggression, but Kante has been caught in possession too many times, in dangerous areas at times too.
Hackney really needs to up his game if he wants (even) a move. Kante looks the part, but the pace of the game is obviously faster than he is used to and he loses or does not win and keep the ball.
Jones looking good and Britain showing more than against Swansea as he builds up.
Tins hats on for the first 10 minutes with Boro barely able to get beyond our own penalty area. But since then w have given as good as we got, and I thought it was a stonewall penalty for Conway at first sight
Credit to Silvera, who was our only outlet for the first 25 minutes. He was our only danger, but he is no wing back and Millwall's threats were mainly down our left with Jones having to come to the rescue more than once. Kante has done well enough but has been caught on the ball 3 or 4 times. Hackney also coming more into the game but the same can hardly be said of Whittaker who somehow managed not to touch in a lovely cross from Silvera,
So much, much better than midweek or indeed the first 10 minutes here. We are better when committing to counter-attack than when we sit back a fiddle around in our own half
We have a chance here
First shot on target after good play by Hansen and Whittaker. GOAL HACKNEY
Hansen on for Kanté at the start of the second half & Boro nicks the first goal: HH in the 49th minute, assisted by Whittaker.
Hansen involved. Great turn to beat Cooper. He plays it to Whittaker, who gets into the box and pulls back for Hackney, who arrives to fire it home.
Great move from Boro to take the lead - superb turn from Hansen and good feet from Whittaker and nicely slotted home by Hackney driving into the box!
Boro lose the ball again due to poor tight passing around the box. Ball comes in and Coburn hits the bar then post and then off Ayling and cleared.
That’s twice we have nearly shot ourselves in the foot. Edwards needs to stop this foolishness
Finn Azaz & Burgzorg on for Whittaker & Conway in the 69th minute.
Alfie Jones makes it 0-2 with his maiden Boro goal in the 87th minute:
Corner from the right. It's scruffy, but who cares. Ayling keeps it alive. His shot is blocked, but falls kindly for Jones, who smashes it home.
Am I seeing things?
Burgzorg adds a third in the seventh minute of injury time, assisted by Azaz!
Welcome back to Bob's favourite Boro3! 😀
Boro second in the table behind Stoke on GD.
Seeing is believing I guess
Well Boro are Up and running a welcome return to Boro3 and a welcome return to me as a rejuvenated Boro supporter. Why did I ever doubt ?
OFB
Wow! How impressive was that performance from Boro - especially in the second half. I wasn't expecting Boro to play such good football under Edwards at this stage. Hansen looks like he's got swagger and pace and add the wonderkid from City and this side is going to scare defenders. Morris and Hackney were too good for Millwall in midfield and Silvera proved a good outlet down the left. Great and unexpected start to the season and well this will only increase the confidence of the team!