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Boro just worked so much harder in that second half. A shocking indictment of the first half really but with a little fire in our bellies we quickly overwhelmed Stoke.
Talent cannot prosper without hard work and the two halves highlighted that tonight.
Let’s hope Boro bring that kind of effort for the rest of the season. If they do then we have every chance.
The proverbial game of two halves - Boro came out with more intensity with the ineffectual Gilbert and Silvera subbed and suddenly looked up for the game and were soon rewarded. I think the early goal affected Stoke immediately before they had time to get back into their rhythm and the momentum shifted and the belief returned to Boro - and indeed the belief that Tommy Conway would score again also returned! So this is what teams who go for promotion do - they put a poor first half behind them and then pick up the points. Job done and hopefully lesson learnt.
I’m so pleased for TC - all look lost for a moment there, but fair play, he did what strikers do. Here’s to many more.
I like wet nights in Stoke!
Seriously, never been there. Too cold for me. But a deserved win in the end. We were professional tonight. A good second half fight back. Superb. Up the Boro!
2 massive away wins if not top class performances in the last week. Brown was excellent. What a solid pro. Hellberg not happy and clearly demanded more at half time and we got it. UTB!
Forget what I said at half-time, eventually we turned out worthy winners. We need to talk about Alan Browne, a seasoned pro who was comfortably M-o-M, marking Thomas out of the game and both scoring and assisting from right back. I have thought all along that we are missing a trick with Browne. We have used him as a utility defender, and he will turn in a solid performance wherever he plays. But I remember him as a goalscoring attacking midfielder for many seasons at Preston. I seem to recall that he scored around 25 goals in a couple of seasons only a few years back, and in the last two games he has certainly shown that he has a great eye for goal, as well as being probably our best crosser of the ball. But tonight, when so many others were fluffing their lines he was our most assured defender, crosser and finisher. Good as he was as a temporary back, we probably need to look no further if we wish to ramp up our goal tally from midfield
I’m not sure where Sarmiento plays - another no. 10 type is what I have in my head?
My shopping list would be a big brute of a centre forward that Conway/Strelec can work off and an out and out left winger: left footed, pacey and with a decent delivery.
Tactically that allows for the kind of 4-4-2 we tried to play tonight, with Whittaker coming into a dangerous 10 position from the right, Brittain (once fit again) marauding up the right for width and the new left winger holding width on the other side and looking to supply the big new forward.
I wouldn’t spend money on another centre back in this window. Appreciate we have a number unavailable and injury prone but we do have numbers and several who seem to be able to fill in there.
More threat is what the squad really needs to push on, and maybe letting a few of the samey attacking mids go, rather than signing another one.
Thats no comment on Sarmiento who might be excellent for all I know (and Brighton have a terrific recent record of unearthing top young talent from overseas), just what I think the squad would benefit from most.
@andy-r My shopping list would be a big brute of a centre forward that Conway/Strelec can work off and an out and out left winger: left footed, pacey and with a decent delivery.
From what I have gleaned from the internet, Sarmiento appears to be a winger, right footed (but can use his left) has played as a winger on the left, but tends to come inside onto his right. Would that not cause congestion if correct, and most importantly not deliver crosses from the left which we do need, because that is not Targett strong point.
If that is who he is, then there looks to be possibly little future for Hamilton, Hansen and maybe Sene.
However, that is for another day. Great comeback and a little like Edwards, Hellberg rang the changes at HT with the required result.
Len, one could argue that Browne, overall, has been the best import this season.
@pedro There is no point in putting links to the Northern Echo as a person has to pay to read it, but thanks anyway.
Come on BORO.
As many have said the distinct game of two halves. For the first time under KH the first half was atrocious, rarely have I seen so many misplaced passes, but the second half was a vast improvement. It must have been some half time team talk. With that win we have now accumulated more points away from home than all teams in the top 4 divisions (25) this season. Interestingly Ipswich sit 13th in the away league, having only played 12 away games. In fact from Feb 3 they play 5 consecutive away games including an FA Cup game at Wrexham. Also saw that, according to soccerstats, tonight's game was the only the 12th time a home team had scored first and lost, and only the 8th time a home team was ahead at half time and lost. Home teams have scored first in 51% of matches this season.
@exmil I do not pay, although I have registered.
KIM HELLBERG described Middlesbrough's win at Stoke City as "massive" and hailed his players for their show of character after battling back from a "terrible" start.
Boro's first half display at the bet365 Stadium was very possibly the worst of Hellberg's tenure so far and the home side were deservedly ahead after Tomas Rigo's 15th minute opener.
But Hellberg made two changes at half-time, bringing on Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine, and the alterations plus whatever the head coach said at the interval sparked an instant improvement.
Alan Browne levelled for Boro just three minutes into the second half before Tommy Conway ended his long-wait for a goal from open play when he scored the winner on the hour mark.
RECOMMENDED READING:
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The win lifts Boro back up to second, and Hellberg said: "I’m delighted, especially with the result. I think that's the most important thing.
"The first 20 minutes were not good enough. They were the worst. You're having the ball but you're not doing anything with it. You don't take it forward, you’re just passing it until we lose it.
"I think that was a terrible display in the first 20 minutes. Then we grow into the game and we use that momentum into the second half and we turn it around against a team that have conceded five in the last eight games.
"That's the best defensive record in terms of conceded goals in the league, and you turn the game around from 1-0 away from home. That is massive."
As well as changing personnel at half-time, Hellberg made some crucial tactical tweaks.
He said: "Everyone was disappointed but we also felt that we were growing into the game.
"I think that was more about me sending in energy, making some small adjustments in positions, being clear that we need to take the ball forward because that's where we're good.
"We are very good at passing a ball, but as soon as we start passing the ball to pass the ball, we are without purpose. Because that’s what I think we did the first 20 minutes - we had no purpose.
"We are just trying to solve it. We're still brave with it, but we're almost stupid with the ball because it just ends up us playing until we lose it, not taking it forward.
"We don't punish them for trying to get the ball. We changed that and then we talked even more about it at half time.
"I think that's what we've seen in the second half: we make them defend low, it ends up with our right back scoring rebounds and then his crossing around there.
"That's where we're so good, when we open up space and we take the ball forward in different ways depending on which space they give us.
"I think that is where we're at our best. It was a performance of some football that was brilliant, some football that was not good enough, and more credit to the players for a strong mentality in turning this game around because that is tough."
Boro were again without a number of injured players at Stoke, but Hellberg said on Tuesday David Strelec and Kaly Sene are making good progress.
And asked after Wednesday night's game whether Riley McGree and Callum Brittain are close to be able to return, he said: "They are. It's just a matter of time."
Just listened to a post-match video of Alan Browne where he said Kim Hellberg is not a shouter but a calm talker and he simply explained what they had being doing wrong at HT and what they needed to change - he also said he's a brilliant tactician too. Hellberg also said post-match that his philosophy is about players opening up space for other players in team and a player can have a big impact without touching the ball.
I have neither paid or registered to NE but use the 'Reader View' to bypass the paywall - though you must click on that as soon as it becomes available when you load a specific page or article - i.e. before the paywall message has loaded. I use the Firefox browser on my laptop and Safari on my iphone - both have reader view.
How to use Reader View on Firefox
How to use Reader View on Safari
Incidentally, I've noticed the Northern Echo has started blocking the site for users outside the UK so I now must use my VPN set to UK to allow the page to load.
@werdermouth I think Dom Shaw and Scott Wilson have earned their salary. So I rather pay for the articles. I don't read other than the sport pages though. But at least I have done my share in helping the two gentleman to support their families. Up the Boro!
Well, I broke my duck (twice) last night at Stoke - the first time I’d seen us win there, and I think the first time I’d seen us beat a Mark Robins side!
in classic football parlance, I was sick as a parrot at half-time, but over the moon at the end. That first half was desperately poor. There was an an instant reaction and a huge improvement second half - with Leo Castledine making a big difference - but we still needed to be careful towards the end. Boro gave away too many corners and free kicks in stupid areas in the last 10 nervy minutes. This gave Thomas the chance to whip in his really dangerous crosses on several occasions. Ironically Stoke played better with 10 men, but we didn’t make it easy for ourselves.
Anyway. Job done. Move on. 3 points on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke! If we can win there we can win anywhere. And 4 of our next 6 games are at home.
Amazingly, it turned out to be relatively mild! I simply don’t believe it! That’s the last time I listen to Captain Blackandbluestriped Beard!
@powmillnaemore I do think we need newpapers now. Especially so in the modern world. A trusted sourse like the Northern Echo, Teesside Live and BBC. I still trust the BBC most of these sources.
This is a "political" and especially ethical choise in a way. I do not trust people like Putin, Trump or (in lesser sense) Boris Johnson. Generally I do not believe much I read in social media.
Up the Boro!
I have neither paid or registered to NE but use the 'Reader View' to bypass the paywall - though you must click on that as soon as it becomes available when you load a specific page or article - i.e. before the paywall message has loaded. I use the Firefox browser on my laptop and Safari on my iphone - both have reader view.
How to use Reader View on Firefox
How to use Reader View on Safari
Incidentally, I've noticed the Northern Echo has started blocking the site for users outside the UK so I now must use my VPN set to UK to allow the page to load.
Many thanks for repeating that little "wrinkle", Werder. I've seen you recommend it before, but never managed to get it to work, even though I have Firefox. However, I decided to give it another whirl just now & must have done something right, as it worked! 🙂 👍
KH's thoughts on Browne, yesterday evening's MotM:
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kim-hellbergs-past-life-alan-33279745
A better article by Dom Shaw:
I think if I paid everyone for a snippet I read on the internet to support their families then I'd have been broke a long time ago - though I get your point.
Interestingly, it appears Northern Echo articles at the moment are no longer behind a subscription wall - they seem to do it from time to time then stop. In reality, most publishers require enough views to please their advertisers who fund them and they need the hits. That's why the Gazette changed their model to producing more shorter articles that essential said nothing much but got more hits for advertising.
I'd prefer if there was a micro-payments system that automatically credited the publisher that was funded through your ISP subscription. What I don't like about having to sign up to sites is that they want too much personal information on top of collecting a lot of your browsing data and passing it on to third parties.
Imagine if when you bought a newspaper back in the day that they asked for the amount of information about yourself that they expect you to give them today just for reading something they've published publicly - nobody would ever have bought a newspaper!
Though I forgot to add that the user is the product these days - especially so on social media - it's all about providing content to collect data from users - which is then collated and monetised on an industrial scale.
@werdermouth. Thanks for that Werder. Just tried it on my iPad with Google browser and VPN linked to UK and was able to read the full article having clicked on Pedro’s link and using Reader View. 😎
Actually the main driver for registration/subscription walls at the moment is more about preventing AI searches from basically summarising the information published. It's been a big complaint from many organisations that has meant many people have stopped actually visiting their sites based on search results as now they rarely move beyond the AI summary or even Chat GPT summaries - which essentially reduces their revenue from advertising.
I can ask Chat GPT if middlesbrough have signed Sarmiento and they will give me enough information for a casual enquiry without visiting any site. This will only get worse as the AI improves and it probably won't be long before fewer and fewer people visit the direct source.
KIM HELLBERG described Middlesbrough's win at Stoke City as "massive" and hailed his players for their show of character after battling back from a "terrible" start.
Boro's first half display at the bet365 Stadium was very possibly the worst of Hellberg's tenure so far and the home side were deservedly ahead after Tomas Rigo's 15th minute opener.
But Hellberg made two changes at half-time, bringing on Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine, and the alterations plus whatever the head coach said at the interval sparked an instant improvement.
Alan Browne levelled for Boro just three minutes into the second half before Tommy Conway ended his long-wait for a goal from open play when he scored the winner on the hour mark.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Full-time Middlesbrough moment to cherish after Stoke City fightback
- Middlesbrough star has stepped up at time of need after transfer masterstroke
- Jeremy Sarmiento Middlesbrough latest after fresh January transfer twist
The win lifts Boro back up to second, and Hellberg said: "I’m delighted, especially with the result. I think that's the most important thing.
"The first 20 minutes were not good enough. They were the worst. You're having the ball but you're not doing anything with it. You don't take it forward, you’re just passing it until we lose it.
"I think that was a terrible display in the first 20 minutes. Then we grow into the game and we use that momentum into the second half and we turn it around against a team that have conceded five in the last eight games.
"That's the best defensive record in terms of conceded goals in the league, and you turn the game around from 1-0 away from home. That is massive."
As well as changing personnel at half-time, Hellberg made some crucial tactical tweaks.
He said: "Everyone was disappointed but we also felt that we were growing into the game.
"I think that was more about me sending in energy, making some small adjustments in positions, being clear that we need to take the ball forward because that's where we're good.
"We are very good at passing a ball, but as soon as we start passing the ball to pass the ball, we are without purpose. Because that’s what I think we did the first 20 minutes - we had no purpose.
"We are just trying to solve it. We're still brave with it, but we're almost stupid with the ball because it just ends up us playing until we lose it, not taking it forward.
"We don't punish them for trying to get the ball. We changed that and then we talked even more about it at half time.
"I think that's what we've seen in the second half: we make them defend low, it ends up with our right back scoring rebounds and then his crossing around there.
"That's where we're so good, when we open up space and we take the ball forward in different ways depending on which space they give us.
"I think that is where we're at our best. It was a performance of some football that was brilliant, some football that was not good enough, and more credit to the players for a strong mentality in turning this game around because that is tough."
Boro were again without a number of injured players at Stoke, but Hellberg said on Tuesday David Strelec and Kaly Sene are making good progress.
And asked after Wednesday night's game whether Riley McGree and Callum Brittain are close to be able to return, he said: "They are. It's just a matter of time."
I’ve put up the starter for the PNE game a bit early to cope with the early kick off on Saturday.
https://diasboro.club/forum/2025-26/boro-vs-preston-3/#post-41832
ALAN Browne clearly isn't one for fuss or attention.
After collecting his Man of the Match award from Sky on the Stoke City pitch on Wednesday night, the midfielder was accompanied by Middlesbrough striker and fellow goalscorer Tommy Conway as the pair made their way towards the away end to show their appreciation to the travelling Boro supporters.
Despite the encouragement of Boro's fans, Browne didn't fancy orchestrating three away end roars with celebratory fist-pumps - as has become the norm after wins this season - with the understated midfielder instead happy to applaud. But how he deserved being serenaded by the thousands in the away end who'd not yet left for home.
And it didn't stop there, for Browne and Conway got the same treatment from their teammates once they returned to the bet365 Stadium away dressing room.
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"They were singing Tommy and also Brownie’s name when they came in a bit later," laughed boss Kim Hellberg post-match.
Browne - the shrewdest of summer signings - scored the leveller and set up Conway's winner as Boro battled back from behind to beat the Potters 2-1 and climb back into the Championship's automatic promotion places.
The former Preston captain has been one of Boro's best and most consistent players in recent weeks, all while playing out of position at right-back to cover for the injured Callum Brittain.
"He's unbelievable," said Hellberg.
"In his past life he must have played right back.
"It's unbelievable how he can go out and play against those four players he played against, Kevin for Fulham, and then the three top players he played against in the league now, and defended that good and still being able to get points, be in the box, make crosses, runs, and still defend one-against-one when you're not used to being in those situations.
"He's been absolutely brilliant. Hats off to him and well-deserved Man of the Match."
Browne leads by example.
"I think he just wants to play football," said Hellberg.
"He just wants to go out and run and run and run and just play football. He loves it and he's all for the team.
"I'm so impressed because it's sometimes crazy with football. I think we have the best right back in the league. And then we see Brownie now coming in as a right back and doing that role in a brilliant way where he gets all his good qualities in that position - he can use his running, he can use his right foot and the defending. It's so impressive and I'm very happy for him because he does everything he can every day."
If Hellberg was happy for Browne then you can imagine his delight for Conway, who finally ended his wait for an open play goal, his first since the end of August.
And it came just a day after Hellberg had used his pre-match press conference to tell of how Conway is the type of player who "made him fall in love with football".
Hellberg will say Conway has repaid that faith and trust with his performances for the team since the head coach's arrival, but there's no better way for a striker to say thank you than to pop up with a goal, a winner, at the most crucial of times.
Hellberg said: "He's been brilliant. That's what I'm trying to do all the time, I'm trying to just help them develop, trying to help them.
"We talk about positions, how you work here, are you in the right position? Good, then the goals will come, that's no problem. We judge it more on what he does than the result of what he does, if that makes sense.
"Everyone can see if he scores or not from the shot, but is he in the right position we're talking about? Does he help his friend? That's how we develop from that and how we try to build the culture of how we play and an environment where we're working with development.
"He's been brilliant in that. And you know the goals are going to come. That was a clear number nine goal where you're on the far post, your movement's good, the cross is unbelievable, and it's a top goal even if they are defending with a lot of players in their own box.
"For us to score five goals from two tough away games is impressive. It was an unbelievable spell of four games not scoring a goal, but otherwise we've scored so many.
"And that tells everything about this group and there's a lot of different players that score, and that's impressive. And that for me, that's the most important thing, not who scores it, that we score."
No Championship team has scored more goals than Boro since Hellberg's appointment and only Ipswich have picked up more points - one.
Boro's quality has been on display during that time but also - in the last week especially - their character. At West Brom, they recovered from throwing away a two-goal lead. At Stoke, they recovered after falling behind and responded after their two direct rivals - Coventry and Ipswich - won 24 hours earlier.
Hellberg said: "They're such a nice group and they're so good with each other. That's the mentality we need to keep that all the time, even when it's tough.
"It would be easy to start feeling sorry for yourself. We've had injuries for a long time and we've had players playing out of position. It would be easy to say, 'Ah, I'm not right back' or 'I'm not playing here', but this group just works through it and that's the most impressive thing."
I was out late last night and so recorded the game. Arriving home I thought do I sit up all night to watch? No , i will just watch the second half.
So switched on the Tv and Boro losing 0-1 . Oh dear! But then Boro equalise early in the second half by Browne - is he the best signing this year ?
Then , at last the number 9 scores!! He fluffs the initial attempt but all credit to him as he reacts quickly to score. As he ran over to the Boro supporters it looked as though he mouthed “ this goal is for you “. Boro were in control.
I was expecting a third goal but it didn’t come and Stoke had a couple of near misses when Thomas crossed the ball and Brynn missed it completely and it narrowly didn’t go in the net . Then, from the same player with an identical cross Brynn made a good save to concede a corner. I digress to say that Thomas( ex Huddersfield Town ) would be an ideal player for Boro - tricky winger with pace and one of the best at crossing the ball. I’m not happy with the prospects of Sarmiento who has played very little football this season and nothing for a couple of months. It will take many weeks to get him match fit and trust worthy for 90 minutes. We need players who can play now.
So Boro , win 2-1 and the commentators said on a number of occasions that their first half performance was the worst ever under the new coach. I was intending to watch the first half but now decided to give it a miss and to enjoy the good feeling of the second half.
So , that’s two games where the team didn’t perform well for 90 minutes but , like all good teams , won both games. A good sign.
It’s looking like Ipswich are the team emerging as strong challengers to get promotion. The next 6 games will be interesting as Ipswich have 4 away and 2 at home whilst Boro have 4 at home and 2 away. So , hoping Boro can collect more points to strengthen their position in the League.
Philip of Huddersfield
👍👍👍😄
I have just caught up after a busy few days(and I’m retired!).
After seeing Ipswich and Coventry both win, I was extremely concerned about the game last night and so it proved to be the case.
Was using my tried and tested BBC live text viewing and updates and was not at all happy at half time to say the least. THe changes made the difference and having seen the highlights now, I can see why.
The determination is pleasing to see and good to see TC score although he almost managed to fluff that one as well - hope his confidence is well and truly back now for Saturday.
Slightly Disappointed with Brynn with their goal and also when he went for a ball and completely missed it which fortunately didn’t cause an issue.That said he redeemed himself with the touch onto the bar to prevent a certain goal.
KH does appear to be getting the best out of the players and a couple of more signings before the end of the window should further improve things.
UTB