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.
Wow finish eighth and qualify for the play offs, next season gonna be crazy ,will clubs spend big ? Or could Boro sell all of our best players rake in about £60 - £70 million and finish eighth ( Just Kidding)
Back to Boro , great win , every game now is crucial, but don't forget it's the same for other teams, I think teams at the top going forward will be very cautious only Boro I think won't change ,
Describing Boro to a neutral, Which other team anywhere as a right sided defender popping up in open play in the inside left position crossing a perfect pass to the striker to score, I can't remember
This is why we are dangerous, someone said something like attacking chaos
QPR. Both teams attack ,see goals
By the way ,I haven't checked how many times are we playing after everyone else,more pressure
COB
Thanks, Andy, for your Match Preview. No sign there of its having been quickly "bashed out". Perhaps you like to perform against the clock? Well done!
I think having the play-offs contested between the teams finishing 3rd to 8th in the league will probably help the parachute teams, with larger squads of people who have played at a higher level and perhaps able to fight their way back into the fray after having taken time to get used to the challenge the Championship presents. Especially if an enlarged Play-Off Competition is required for a larger group of teams at the end of the regular season.
Teams like Southampton which started slowly but is now performing rather better. Ipswich didn't exactly start the season like a runaway train either, but the Suffolk side appears also to be catching up as the season progresses.
Boro needs a win at QPR and I'd very happily take the 1-3 score if that were offered. I saw a video blog last night which put Boro's prospects of finishing in an automatic spot at 40% (with Ipswich just slightly higher than that), after the rest of the season had been run through computers 10,000 times. The race is probably going to be down to very fine margins and even if Boro were to go on another six games winning run, Ipswich may also win its own games. Boro's home match against Millwall would be the 6th game in that run. The Big Match on which so much may hang, the game away to Ipswich on Saturday 18th April, would be game nine!
Thanks for the quality starter, Andy. A magnificent job if you’d had plenty of time to prepare but even better given your late notice.
It’ll be interesting to see how KH sets up the team - I’m sure he’ll have done his homework and will give the team the best chance of getting 3 points.
A Sunday afternoon match will be a novelty, that’s for sure
A Sunday afternoon match will be a novelty, that’s for sure
I posted this reply to jarkko on the Birmingham City forum but it also relates to QPR. The QPR kickoff timing, together with a combination of summertime in Oz and regular time in the UK creates just about the worst possible kickoff time for me in Sydney i.e. 3.30am. However, thanks to OnDemand, it creates a solution at the same time. I'm curious how other people cope with the time differences. Do all the usual superstitions work when you're watching a game that has already taken place.
I find myself in the same position. I bought BoroLive at the start of the season expecting to see most games on that service. However, I knew that there would be some Boro games blocked and only available to me through BeInConnect who have the rights to the EFL, including of course the Championship, and so I bought that subscription as well.
There is, of course, an upside in that BeIn also have the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, Carabao Cup and some other sports, but the other main benefit is that their live games are available On Demand and so, for example, the QPR game which kicks off at 3.30 am Sydney time is available to me in full when I get up on Monday morning.
UTB
I sometimes struggle to remember when the KO time is and I am in the UK! It really is a moving feast and fair play to you and others in fr flung places.
Whilst on my travels down to and in Australia, I kept on forgetting although it was a novelty looking at the BBC for live text updates at 8 in the morning and trying to work out what day it was back home.
Throughly enjoyed the bits of Aus that we went to although can’t say I was impressed by the number of traffic lights as you drive through the suburbs of Sydney!¡
Anyway, onto Sunday, yet another 3 points required to keep up our promotion hopes and expectations must be managed so that a draw won’t necessarily be a disaster depending on other results.
A scrappy 1 0 in the dying minutes will be fine for Boro although not great for all our aging hearts!
I’d like to echo everyone’s thoughts about your very fine starter, Andy, and our thanks for stepping in with little time to prepare.
On paper, Boro should beat QPR on Sunday. But this is the Championship, where every other team (the unfortunate Sheffield Wednesday apart) can beat any other team. It’s always tough going to Loftus Road, or whatever it’s called now, and it’s a very tight little ground that offers limited space. Boro have come a cropper there on too many occasions in the past. Everything crossed.
Incidentally, for those of you familiar with East Cleveland, does anyone know why the local Shepherd’s Bush road is named after the village of Loftus, if indeed it is? Is there also a Boosbeck Boulevard, a Lingdale Lane or a Skinningrove Street, I wonder? Just musing!
Congratulations, Andy. I don't know what your field is, but you are a top journalist. It's an intelligent, fluently written piece produced against a tight deadline with not a cliche in sight. Many thanks for stepping in and ensuring this remains a must-read forum.
Thank you for the excellent starter, Andy. Appreciated - and especially so as it was done on such a short notice.
I wish all is well with OFB. Hope to hear from him soon and see him at Riverside again.
BTW, there was a good story about Mogga on the Teesside Live. I wish he will be joining Boro again on some capacity. I wonder if Kim Hellberg has yet met Mogga. Perhaps there is role for him at Rockcliffe?
Up the Boro!
Thanks for all the kind comments.
The preview was thrown together over an early lunch break so doesn’t have the depth or word count that we’re used to from Diasboro previews but, this being such a supportive space, a never for a moment thought anyone would feel shortchanged. I’m glad to read that that instinct was correct!
Most importantly though, get well soon, OFB.
@andy-r Echoing everyone else, very well done with the starter and as always the usual high standard andAndy as you said get healthy and well soon OFB.
Wishing you well OFB.
ATB and UTB,
John
Yes, best of luck ,Bob, we are all thinking of you.
Now that Boro3 is out injured, I will go for a 2-5 win for the mighty Boro at Lofrus Road on Sunday.
Unfortunately, I cannot see the match live as I will be in a concert on Sunday.
Up the Boro!
All the very best, Bob. Hope you’re soon well again. UTB
A belated thanks from me as well - this forum always delivers regardless of time frames and length of the articles.
I’d like to add my best wishes to OFB - I’m looking forward to many more of your posts very soon. Keep safe and all the best.
Thanks for the intro Andy. Another must win game I think although we will know how all the others have got on before we play.
A couple of stats from the BBC
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QPR have lost their past four league games against Middlesbrough but have never lost five in a row against Boro.
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Middlesbrough have won on their past two league visits, having won just three of their first 26 visits beforehand between 1966 and 2022.On other matters I see that Harley Hunt is playing for the Under 21's against Spurs tonight after a long injury layoff. On the Spurs team they have a centre back called Dante Cassanova, what a great name.
Late here to the party after a quite demanding week at work. TGIF I think is what we used to say, Thank Goodness Its Friday!
Adding my thanks Andy for having stepped inro the breach with another worthy opener.
Also adding my best wishes and thoughts and prayers Bob. Truly hope you will soon be fit enough to re-join the conversation in here and to get along to the Riverside. Your Boro3 is very much in demand at this time.
I have not really had time to think about the upcoming game on Sunday. All I can say is that I hope we pick back up where we left off on Monday and keep the rest of the challengers on their toes.
Mrs P-N's brother and his daughter are over from California with us for a few days. So tomorrow we are off to soak up the atmosphere (and the beer) in an Edinburgh rugby pub to cheer on Scotland against France. Then on Sunday they will be treated to QPRvBoro on TV!!
Thanks for the excellent Headliner Andy, given the pace it was produced, first class.
As others have said and a standard cliche now, a must win game, as they all are to maintain the momentum. Possibly a couple of changes given the Wednesday night game that follows. Let’s hope Castledine makes the bench.
Andy, if OFB has any pre-match reviews to do before the end of the league games, I am willing to give the next one a go. Let me know.
Thanks Andy a very informative introduction.
QPR may be inconsistent but they are capable of raising their game against stronger opposition ( e.g. Coventry and Hull) and a win by the narrowest margin away from home would be a great result for us.
Many thanks Andy for stepping in and expertly setting the scene for tomorrow's trip to Loftus Road - albeit another weird kick-off time (5:30pm here) that for me will probably require excusing myself from cooking dinner and sticking a pizza in the oven.
It should be a game that is within the capability of the team to win - Boro are still top of the ten-game form table on 23 points with QPR down in 14th with just about half that haul. As well as those 3 wins mentioned in the previews, the hoops have had 3 nil-nil draws but that was against sides who have struggled to score in Stoke, Oxford and Charlton - all of whom have managed less than a goal per game.
QPR have also conceded 13 goals in their 4 defeats, which may indicate they are vulnerable if attacked - so if I was a betting man then we may see Hellberg return to a back four and play an additional forward.
Hopefully, Leicester can stop Ipswich from winning today and Hull and Millwall cancel each other out - though it's all about winning games now!
To see Boro live on TV is certainly worth all the travelling from California. 😆Mrs P-N's brother and his daughter are over from California with us for a few days. So tomorrow we are off to soak up the atmosphere (and the beer) in an Edinburgh rugby pub to cheer on Scotland against France. Then on Sunday they will be treated to QPRvBoro on TV!!
I hope they will see a big win for the Reds. Up the Boro!
A lazy TV sports weekend ahead for us. The Lionesses vs Iceland at 12.30, Toulouse vs Wigan Warriors at 17.00, then QPR vs Boro tomorrow.
It’s been quite a stressful week, so a quiet weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
A lazy TV sports weekend ahead for us. The Lionesses vs Iceland at 12.30, Toulouse vs Wigan Warriors at 17.00, then QPR vs Boro tomorrow.
It’s been quite a stressful week, so a quiet weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
Not as lazy as I’d hoped apparently - Mrs B has just told me she’s got us tickets for the York Ceramics Fair at the Racecourse tomorrow. I’ll be back home by 16.30!
Hopefully, Leicester can stop Ipswich from winning today and Hull and Millwall cancel each other out - though it's all about winning games now!
Your Millwall wish unfortunately not granted, Werder: 1-3 to the Lions, with the third coming from big Josh's boot. That means that they are a point behind us on 65, but having played the extra game. Tomorrow definitely a "must win"...
Incidentally, I found that I needed to log in again today in order to be able to reply to you. I always click on "remember me" when I do log in, but the system does so for only two weeks. And you can always tell when a member is on-line: the big grey dot to the left of his/her user name turns green. 😉
HULL 1. MILLWALL 3
Another good away performance and win by Millwall.
They refuse to go away and must be serious contenders for finishing second in the League. By comparison, Hull look as though they are wobbling and a top 6 finish may be the best they can expect.
Meanwhile this result and possibly those yet to come makes it more important for Boro to win tomorrow.
There will be more twists and turns so calmness is essential and just aim to win the next game - one game at a time.
Philip of Huddersfield
👍🤔🤔