After Boro managed a much needed three points at St Andrews on Monday night to maintain automatic promotion hopes, the next chapter of this increasingly gripping season is away at QPR in an unusual (for the Championship) Sunday, 4.30pm slot.
The latest victory over Birmingham City had a bit of everything for Boro fans: periods which had to be watchfully weathered, slick creative counters, composed conversion and then determined diligence to see that game out. It would be greedy to ask for much more.
Indeed, it would be greedy to ask much more of Kim Hellberg full stop. The 37-year-old Swede will celebrate 100 days at the helm on Saturday as he finetunes his QPR match plans. His Championship record to date is P19 W11 D3 L5 with those wins so far coming in streaks or four, then six, and now one so far…. Could we be at the start of another winning run?
Hellberg’s 36pts is the division’s fourth best over that 100 days or so, with only Ipswich (39pts), Millwall (37pts) and Norwich (also 36pts but with a slightly better goal difference) ahead.
It’s good stuff – both in the tables and on the eye - from a squad that most accept still has a few holes in it.
QPR, meanwhile, have managed only 25pts in that period with a mixed record of having won seven, drawn four and lost eight, which leaves them in 15th overall with little prospect of the play-offs or relegation.
With just two wins in the last six and only three in their last ten, the season has somewhat dwindled for The Hoops after a decent start under new manager, Julien Stephan. That said, those two most recent wins were impressive ones against Coventry and Hull, so perhaps these sorts of “free-hit” fixtures suit them in the same way that Boro’s best performances have often come against sides who want to attack.
Stephan most often sets his side up in a 4-3-3 formation so it will be interesting see if Hellberg sticks with his 3-4-2-1 tactical revelation from Monday night or whether he judges this game to be better suited to a back four, though Boro’s shape is unpredictably fluid however they appear on the teamsheet these days.
No time to delve deeper this time around I’m afraid, so over to you, Diasborans.
I’m hoping that we have just embarked on another winning run and will go for QPR 1-3 Boro.
Thanks for stepping in at short notice Andy and for producing another informative and superbly articulated article; a joy to read.
We need another battling performance on Sunday and ideally all three points. At this stage of the season it’s the result which is all important and if we can’t manage to win then don’t lose.
I will be happy with a scrappy 0-1 and three points and for OFB to tell us he is on the mend. 😎
Well done on stepping into the breach, Andy. 👍
Totally off topic, I see that Championship clubs have voted in favour of a six-team promotion play-off instead of just four from next season:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g00mr00zdo
All the more reason for Boro to secure promotion this season, methinks.
I second KP’s thanks for stepping in at short notice with a great opener and I also wish OFB a speedy recovery and return to the family fold.
Come on BORO.
Well done on stepping into the breach, Andy. 👍
Totally off topic, I see that Championship clubs have voted in favour of a six-team promotion play-off instead of just four from next season:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g00mr00zdo
Although I don’t agree with the decision (Imho it is to milk as much money as possible out of the leagues) it may help in the battle against who else gets relegated with what looks like Wolves and Burnley.
Come on BORO.