Yes I did say I wasn't making a judgment. It was really about my own expectations that, given the sheer size of our new keeper, his eye-watering fee and his Man U pedigree, I was expecting a dominating figure with a big personality. I don't think we have got that, but I'd settle for someone more prosaic who is simply good at keeping the ball out of the net.
It's like a friend of mine once said. When you visit the stadium...
"You want a win... You don't want your big day out to the stadium with prices of travel, accommodation in some cases and the tickets to result in your team losing... Good football matters less in the actual stadium..."
And we got that win today. In a particularly difficult context, too - the new signings not being fully settled, a full house adding to expectations, and an opposition potentially delighted to simply be playing at this level again having not been as high as the second tier since the year in which Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins' West Side Story was released.
So for all the nitpicks, and they are there, there really are plenty of positive parallels. Let's get going...
PARALLELS AND POINTS
- All four of our successful promotions between 1991 and 2016 have featured a win in the first home league game. Millwall in 1991 (Robbie Mustoe got the goal in a 1-0 win for Lennie Lawrence's team), Burnley in 1994 (a John Hendrie double got the Bryan Robson reign off to a winning start, the final score being 2-0), Charlton in 1997 (It mirrors today's performance in a sense, Gianluca Festa and a last minute goal from Fabrizio Ravanelli reversing a first half 1-0 deficit back then) and Bolton in 2015 (Diego Fabbrini and a Kike Garcia double wrapping up an easy 3-0 win by half time).
- Speaking of Bolton, there's another parallel to be drawn here, this time with the away fixture in 2015-16 - once again, what once looked a severe setback was flipped on its head by the predatory finishing of a proven goalscorer.
- I believe Argentina have received praise this summer for their quality-driven comebacks against Egypt and England, perhaps we should praise Boro for the same? I'd argue that the trajectory of the game echoes both those matches in that the losing team appeared simply unable to sustain either the tempo or the mentality to hold on or seal the match even though they may have won the hearts of neutrals with their underdog charm.
- Which leads me to ponder if this was one of those instances where we mixed things up a bit after the break and ultimately triumphed, or if we won against a team who'd "tried to out football us and failed" (my choice for top insight of 2025-26, from KP in Spain). I wonder...
- But never mind that for now. What's perhaps best is that Will Lankshear goes two points better than Ravanelli and Massimo Maccarone in having a multi-goal home league debut and a victory! His achievement matches that of Marco Branca, who scored one at home on his cup debut and two at home on his league debut, giving everyone a huge lift. Same again?
Our second half performance was excellent. It was such a relief to get the win late on when it looked for all the world that we’d have to settle for what would have been a disappointing point. At last we have a real centre-forward!
Our bench looked much stronger today. How good is it to have both Alfie Jones and the wonderful Riley McGree back?! Let’s hope they both stay fit now for the season.
I’ve discovered that several articles (but not all) blocked on the EG by the paywall are provided for free on the Teesside Live free app. It may be available on the App Store, but is also linked in some of the EG online paper articles. Here are today’s scores on the doors from the app:
Brittain - 6
Ayling - 6
Malanda 6
Borges 5
Kante 6
Berhalter 6
Whittaker 5
Castledine 6
Joseph 7
Lankshear 8
Subs:
Arfsten 6
McGree 7
Peart-Harris 6
Sarmiento 6
I’m sorry I can’t copy the accompanying text for everyone, as to do so would take me half an hour (and well past my bedtime), given the way you have to copy each one awkwardly individually.
It looked like my prediction of having to settle for a point was looking optimistic for most of the first half where we were woeful. The commentator here said that we had only 3 touches intheir box in the opening 30 minutes. The second half was much better and shows what a better bench and a good striker gives the team. Along with others I would not be unhappy for Whittaker to go to the Hammers. The commentator on the BEIn coverage was very effusive about how good a player he is, an elite Championship player he described him as. The Philips signing is quite exciting, he only turned 21 in June and already has over 90 Championship appearances, he is 6ft 4ins,and does not have a senior goal. Going forward I wonder if Hellberg will rotate Joseph and McGree to keep them fit for a full season.
Thanks, Clive. Nothing for Vitek?
Off topic, Boro may well have got its act together today in the second half, but all the lads are going to have to pull up their respective socks against Mogga's next week. He was there today & he's sure to have spotted weaknesses to exploit...
A good day for the Lankshear family his brother Alex scored the first goal for Gateshead in their National League win over Woking. Alex is a centre back.
@lenmasterman
I haven't seen the match and get just about all of my Boro information from this blog and some of the links which you guys provide, but the thing is Len, is that he (Vitek) is still very young; even younger than Sol Brynn.
Most goalkeepers don't develop overnight and rarely become "good" goalkeepers until they are quite a bit older.
Like you said, "No judgement". He'll need some time just like the rest of the team as they learn to play with each other.
Same again would be very good, Si.
First league game of the season and THREE points banked. Seven points ahead of Southampton as I type this and two in front of Wolves. Two goals by the new striker. McGree back on the pitch and performing. Sell-out crowd. New centre-back unveiled after a bit of "will we, won't we?" in relation to a suspected issue arising from his medical. Plenty of players to bed into the squad and initial signs look promising. Let's not be harsh - surely we've got to allow for a difficult first 45 minutes?
But the headline in Sunday's Sports Sections will undoubtedly be Werder breaking the curse. I hope that we don't need another Play-Off Final but maybe Werder could write the Match Preview for it if we get there, as it would be good to get THAT monkey off our club's back and, if it helps....
I'm guilty of having made assumptions about Vitek that may be less than fair. Brynn is a keeper who is very good at catching the ball in often crowded and difficult situations , giving instant relief to a defence which may be under some pressure. But he lacks the height and physical presence to definitively dominate a crowded box.
Vitec is a 6' 7" monster. I had rather assumed that he would really come into his own in the kind of situation we found ourselves in for long periods during the first half yesterday. Sol Brynn plus an extra 7 inches.
Instead we looked incredibly shaky right across our defence, scrambling the ball away and looking vulnerable from every corner and set piece. I'd be worried if this were to set the pattern for our season
I take the point that Vitec is still a very young man. Really a very promising kid rather than a dominating personality. That may be an unfair under-estimation, but in that first half our defenders did not play as though they had the reassurance of a a young Kasper(or even Peter) Schmeichel playing behind them. Or a Sol Brynn.
From the Gazette
Radek Vitek - 6
Very little he could do with the goal, and then had little else to do. Encouragingly caught two balls confidently, as he used his big frame well.
Callum Brittain - 6
Article continues below
One of many players to have very contrasting halves. First half, he was poor in possession and often got caught in dangerous areas trying to be a little too clever. Much improved in the second half, his attacking output helped push Lincoln back.
Luke Ayling - 6
Beaten once or twice in the game when faced up one on when, but in general was protected better against a Lincoln side who offered little. Could have done more early on to get his team-mates to settle better.
Adilson Malanda - 6
A solid enough performance back in defence. Not much either centre-back could do with their goal, as Reach ghosted in from wide. Lincoln didn’t offer much else, but Malanda was solid and assured to win his duels and keep Boro on the front foot.
Neto Borges - 5
Really unconvincing throughout, as his sloppy pass gifted Lincoln a throw that they went and scored from. It wasn’t his only sloppy pass either.
Abdoulaye Kante - 6
After a really unconvincing 20 minutes, Kante grew into it. He started looking very nervous and edgy in possession, as Boro struggled to get a grip. As Boro settled, so did he. A big opportunity for him, there’s still a question mark over if he can be main deputy to Aidan Morris this season.
Sebastian Berhalter - 6
An example of when decimal points for scores would be helpful. Without them, it’s hard to rate him seven in a game he didn’t quite make as big an impact as he’d hoped. But he was still far more assured in possession than Kante.
Morgan Whittaker - 5
A typical Whittaker performance where, if he doesn’t provide a moment in the final third, you’re not getting much else from him. Caught the ire of Boro fans for giving the ball away one too many times, and was caught not tracking back for the Lincoln goal.
Leo Castledine - 6
Struggled to offer much in a poor first half performance where he looked somewhat off the pace. Just before coming off, he at least provided the assist for Boro’s equaliser, even if it looked like an attempted cross.
Kyle Joseph - 7
Mixed but generally positive debut from the summer signing. Like every Boro player, there were one or two sloppy moments in possession, but he was also the one bit of spark in attack that Boro had, creating Boro’s best two first-half chances with his direct play out wide.
Will Lankshear - 8
Once again, Lankshear proves Boro’s difference maker. A case of being instinctively in the right place at the right time for both goals. Boro didn’t provide him with great service in this one, and yet he still wins them the game with two goals.
Subs
Max Arfsten (Borges 62’) - 6 - Still didn’t really show what he’s potentially capable of in the final third after coming on at 1-1 with Lincoln having ten men behind the ball.
Myles Peart-Harris (Kante 62’) - 6 - Made a positive difference in the middle, looking far more confident in possession than Kante, and physical to battle off it. Missed a good chance before Boro’s winner though.
Riley McGree (Castledine 62’) - 7 - Provided the moment that won it for Boro, with a bit of magic on the byline to beat his man, cut in and provide the assist for the winning goal.
Jeremy Sarmeinto (Joseph 71’) - 6 - Added spark as Boro chased the winner, but still lacked end
For those who cannot access the Gazette.
Mark Walker, Press Association
09:45, 13 Aug 2026
(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
The Sky Bet Championship gets under way on Friday night when relegated Wolves face Blackburn at Molineux.
With the play-offs expanded from four to six teams for the first time, the Press Association takes a look at each club’s chances during the 2026-27 season.
Birmingham
Chris Davies’ side finished 10th last season, falling short of expectation after an impressive promotion, and Blues co-owner Tom Brady expects them to push on. More than £10million spent on new players this summer appears to be shrewd investment, but the pressure could mount on their manager if they make a slow start.
Prediction: Play-offs
Blackburn
Optimism is in short supply at Ewood Park after Blackburn narrowly avoided relegation last season. Tony Mowbray has returned for a second spell in charge but their squad looks weaker than it did in May, with just two new signings off-setting the departures of Sondre Tronstad, Ryan Hedges and Nathan Redmond.
Prediction: Relegation
Bolton
Back in the second tier for the first time in seven years after their play-off final win over Stockport, Bolton have struggled to add enough players with Championship experience, particularly up front, and Steven Schumacher’s squad will be competing in a mini-league at the foot of the table to avoid the drop.
Prediction: Relegation
Bristol City
New boss Michael Skubala worked wonders at Lincoln last season and has been backed by the club’s owners with the summer arrivals of strikers Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj. The Robins will hope to benefit from the expanded play-offs, but will fall just short in their highly-regarded manager’s first season.
Prediction: Top half
Burnley
Yo-yo specialists Burnley have tasked Belgian boss Nicky Hayen with steering them straight back to the top flight and they should be in the mix. But after the departures of key players Jaidon Anthony, Florentino Luis and Maxime Esteve, the Clarets could this time find an automatic promotion place is beyond them.
Prediction: Play-offs
Cardiff
Cardiff bounced straight back to the Championship last season and boss Brian Barry-Murphy has placed his trust in homegrown talent. The Bluebirds are closing in on several new signings to boost their young group and with that in mind they should be strong enough to avoid relegation this time round.
Prediction: Survival – just
Charlton
New signings Danny McNamara and Karlan Grant have boosted Charlton’s squad after they survived by a six-point margin last season following promotion in 2025. The Addicks will be battling it out in the lower half, but are progressing under boss Nathan Jones and should have enough to avoid the drop.
Prediction: Survival – just
Derby
The Rams finished eighth last season and will be challenging for a repeat that would be good enough for the play-offs this season. Sammie Szmodics’ return and the permanent signing of Bobby Clark will help, but the Championship is ultra-competitive and John Eustace’s side could narrowly miss out.
Prediction: Mid-table
Lincoln
The Imps are back in the second tier for the first time in 65 years after their surprise League One title triumph and have spent £10million on refurbishing Sincil Bank. But manager Michael Skubala has moved on to Bristol City and and new joint bosses Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw face a huge task to keep them up.
Prediction: Relegation
Middlesbrough
Boro have invested heavily since their play-off final defeat to Hull in May and although Hayden Hackney has departed for Everton, the arrivals of USA midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, goalkeeper Radek Vitek and striker Will Lankshear among others should see Kim Hellberg’s side challenging again for a top-two finish.
Prediction: Promotion
Millwall
The Lions were a surprise package last season, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion before losing to Hull in the play-off semi-finals, but could find it difficult to maintain their momentum after a raft of incomings and outgoings. Alex Neil’s side will challenge for the top eight before falling just short.
Prediction: Mid-table
Norwich
Optimism abounds at Carrow Road after their transformation in the second half of last season under Belgian manager Philippe Clement. Four new signings to date, including £8m winger Andre Brooks from Sheffield United, can give them added momentum as the Canaries look to improve on last term’s ninth-placed finish.
Prediction: Play-offs
Portsmouth
Pompey have finished 16th and 18th in their two seasons back in the Championship and have signalled their intentions by paying a reported £3million for striker Marko Milovanovic. Other new recruits should keep John Mousinho’s side moving in the right direction and they will expect to steer clear of relegation.
Prediction: Bottom half
Preston
A club record outlay of £6million to make Alfie Devine’s loan move from Tottenham permanent will help keep Preston competitive as they look to improve on last season’s 14th-placed finish after a poor run early last year saw them falter. Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be looking up, but the top eight is beyond them.
Prediction: Bottom half
QPR
QPR have made some key signings, including Tariq Lamptey, Glen Kamara and goalkeeper Pierce Charles, and if French head coach Julien Stephan can iron out inconsistency in his second season in charge after signing a new contract, the Hoops should enjoy a stress-free season and avoid a relegation battle.
Prediction: Bottom half
Sheffield United
Chris Wilder steadied the ship last season after a dismal start under former boss Ruben Selles, steering the Blades to a 13th-placed finish. But after limited team strengthening, plus Andre Brooks’ departure to Norwich and with Gus Hamer expected to rejoin Coventry, it is hard to see them challenging for the play-offs.
Prediction: Mid-table
Southampton
The Saints went 19 games unbeaten at the end of last season before the Spygate saga saw them thrown out of the play-offs and deducted four points for this campaign. Manager Tonda Eckert is still waiting to learn if he will be sanctioned, casting doubts over whether his side can challenge for automatic promotion.
Prediction: Play-offs
Stoke
Stoke have spent around £20million this summer on the likes of Ethan Galbraith, Milan Smit and Djibril Soumare and fans will be expecting them to challenge in the top half of the table under Mark Robins. But the Potters have not finished higher than 14th since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
Prediction: Mid-table
Swansea
Head coach Vitor Matos guided the Swans to an 11th-placed finish last season after arriving in November and has been backed in the transfer market. Ross Stewart adds to their options in attack and if they can keep hold of Zan Vipotnik, last season’s top scorer in the Championship, a play-off challenge could be mounted.
Prediction: Top half
Watford
Watford have appointed Italian Alessio Dionisi as their 24th permanent manager in the last 14 years and have added six new signings, all from Serie A, since finishing 16th last season. The club lacks the stability needed to make an impact in the top half of the table and they will be looking over their shoulders.
Prediction: Survival – just
West Brom
The Baggies finished one place above the drop zone last season, which was one to forget as they were deducted two points and struggled under three different managers. But they turned the tide under James Morrison, who has since been appointed permanent boss, and a season of consolidation lies ahead.
Prediction: Bottom half
West Ham
Despite the sales of Matheus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville following relegation, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and England forward Jarrod Bowen remain in place and the calibre of their squad is a class above their Championship opposition. A defiant London Stadium will also be key in their bid to bounce straight back.
Prediction: Promotion
Wolves
Wolves, back in the second tier for the first time since 2018, must quickly put a wretched season behind them, but they have also retained the core of their Premier League squad and under new manager Cesar Peixoto, plus the return of Raul Jimenez and arrival of fellow free signing Kieran Trippier, they can wipe the slate clean.
Prediction: Promotion
Wrexham
Wrexham just missed out on the play-offs on the final day in their first season back in the second tier for 44 years. Phil Parkinson’s side will be better for the experience and although it has been a relatively quiet summer under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, a top-eight finish beckons.
Prediction: Play-offs
Not sure if this will load after copying. Just tried and it worked for me off here.
3 minutes of highlights from yesterday. Just seen the second goal, as a replay. What a goal that is, magic McGree and what a finish, unbelievable.
Please remember we have Jones coming back, Malanda is one of the best defenders in the league and then Ashley Phillips, too. The former Spurs defender has played two and half season in the Championship and his height is 1,96 m (about 6 ft 5 in in old money). So I wouldn't be too worried about our defence long term.Instead we looked incredibly shaky right across our defence, scrambling the ball away and looking vulnerable from every corner and set piece. I'd be worried if this were to set the pattern for our season
I am happy with the three points. Our defence was not bad last season and now improved (Fry and Jones missed most of the last season.)
Up the Boro!
I’m confident that Vitek will prove to be an excellent addition by the end of the season. Was yesterday his first appearance of any kind for us?
I do agree that Sol is a calm presence and good at taking high balls in, and that his distribution was very good.
I don’t expect Vitek to match Sol for distribution.
However, I’m sure the stats showed Sol to be second worst in the league for “goals prevented” last season - essentially a very poor shot stopper when ranked against his peers. I’d like to know where Vitek placed in that but given he was Bristol City’s player of the season, I assume he was high on the list.
So I think we’re going to look back and think we’ve signed a much better goalkeeper but one whose distribution is his main weakness. I think we’ll all take that.
I had made an assumption that we wouldn’t have the funds to make such wholesale changes this summer and therefore that Sol would continue as we had greater priorities to resolve but the unexpected windfall from Rogers sale to Chelsea seems to have changed that and I’m pleased that the club have addressed the goalkeeping position with someone who has a highly successful season of Championship football already under his belt and the potential to be a top level stopper.
He was 4th in goals prevented and second in saves made. Number one in goals prevented was Rushworth(Coventry) and top saves was Pandur(Hull). Vitek made 147 saves last season, Pandur made 150, Sol Brynn made 109
Like others, I was also a little disappointed in Vitek, at the same time recognising this was his first time with a whole new set of players in front of him and a whole new way a team plays. A good finish from Reach, who was not tracked by a lazy Whittaker, but I think Vitek will also be disappointed he didn't close the angle enough (I think he had time). We will see how things progress for him over the next nonth or two.
We missed the on-field presense of Aidan Morris, especially in the first half. I think we would have dominated the midfield with him playing. I also think Berhalter will look much better with a midfield enforcer like Morris next to him.
Knowing the players we have still to come back from injury, all in all I think the future is looking very rosy indeed.
@mw-in-darwin I like to see an extended version of those stats showing how many saves each keeper had to make. A leaky defence presumably means that a gk has to attempt more saves than an effective back line, so it’s not all in the hands of the keeper as to how many saves he makes.
@mw-in-darwin I like to see an extended version of those stats showing how many saves each keeper had to make. A leaky defence presumably means that a gk has to attempt more saves than an effective back line, so it’s not all in the hands of the keeper as to how many saves he makes.
Thats why the goals prevented stat is more useful as it just judges effectiveness rather than purely raw saves. As I say, though Brynn is learning and has some good qualities, he was found wanting last season compared to his peers including Vitek.
Thanks for those Press Association judgements on the Championship clubs.
Here’s an earlier BBC version, which seems to include some of the PA information, but also does it in more depth. I think this particular article is going to be really helpful for Diasboro preview writers!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy8edygyw02o
“Morgan Whittaker - 5
A typical Whittaker performance where, if he doesn’t provide a moment in the final third, you’re not getting much else from him. Caught the ire of Boro fans for giving the ball away one too many times, and was caught not tracking back for the Lincoln goal.”
Craig Johns gets a lot of stick for his reporting and deservedly so at times. This assessment, however, is spot on for me; I am in the happy to let him go to West Ham, for the right price, camp. 😎
The world & his wife seem to be indulging in Championship crystal ball-gazing at the moment. The Sunday Times opts for Wolves & the Hammers as its title contenders, commenting that "the race for automatic promotion may feel like a closed shop". It goes on to say:
The most likely challengers are Middlesbrough and Southampton, who have shared headlines since May because of the “Spygate” scandal. The fallout has so far been minimal for Tonda Eckert’s side, who have kept the core of their team from last season, including their hugely influential loanees, Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz. The four-point deduction, the FA investigation hanging over Eckert for his part in Spygate and the departure of the talented midfielder Shea Charles to Fulham are all potential hindrances, but they clearly still have the quality to be right up there.
Middlesbrough have had an eye-catching transfer window, spending big to overhaul the spine of their team. Their deal for Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur could rise to a club-record fee of £20million if they are promoted, but he should bring the cutting edge they lacked last season. Radek Vitek’s arrival in goal is also a huge boost, while Sebastian Berhalter could be the perfect replacement for Hayden Hackney, playing alongside his fellow Columbus Crew academy graduate Aidan Morris.
@k-p-in-spain I hope Craig Johns stays at the Gazette and will not be joining West Ham. 🤣
Up the Boro!
Just seen the highlights of the Millwall game and couldn’t help noticing the very similar type of goals (2) scored by young Coburn compared to Lankshear.
I see similar styles of play insofa as they are direct, get into the penalty area when needed and score tap -ins.
Coburn had a few injuries last season and so it will be interesting to see how he does this year and the number of goals he scores. I think he’ll do well but I hope Lankshear does better !!
philip of Huddersfield 👍🤔👍
Andy and Martin, here is a website link, where you can change the metrics that you want to consider. I set it at goalkeepers. Change the metric at the top. /
Goals Prevented / Save Percentage / and others
Of course one has to allow for goalkeepers at the promotion chasing clubs looking better as they have a better defence in front of them. Likewise a lesser team, Bristil City, with a lesser defence, may have a goalkeeper that has higher stats than possible expected, because he has shown to be a better goalkeeper.
https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/leagues/48/stats/season/27195/players/_goals_prevented
The most likely challengers are Middlesbrough and Southampton, who have shared headlines since May because of the “Spygate” scandal. The fallout has so far been minimal for Tonda Eckert’s side, who have kept the core of their team from last season, including their hugely influential loanees, Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz. The four-point deduction, the FA investigation hanging over Eckert for his part in Spygate and the departure of the talented midfielder Shea Charles to Fulham are all potential hindrances, but they clearly still have the quality to be right up there.
Tee-hee! Saints lost 1-2 at Vicarage Road earlier, their goal coming from Larin, so they're still four points adrift at the bottom of the table after this weekend's matches. Azaz got on as a sub in the 57th minute.
@philip-of-huddersfioed
i always liked Coburn but was decidedly put off the player by his overexuberant celebrations when he scored against his home club when he returned last season.
As an air of professionalism look at the way an ex player celebrated his goal against us yesterday for Lincoln. Adam Reach, quiet calm and mindful of the chance Boro and their fans game him in the professional game
OFB