Bugger! Strand Larsen gives Palace the lead in the 37th minute. 🙁
Boro have looked impressive in that first half without creating any clear chances - they've looked sharp, passed it around and pressed well and looked the better side. But a familiar story of the opposition scoring on the break with one of their few attacks. Cozier-Duberry looks the kind of player Boro have been missing since the days of Doak and Jones - he will certainly add a new dimension. Enjoyed the game but not the score and maybe Hellberg will need to freshen up tired legs soon into the second half after all that intensity from several players who are probably not fully match fit.
We don’t look outclassed, although it’s the old, old story of lack of threat in their box. I’m still not sure about Strelec.
Our new winger will cause some problems for defenders in the Championship I think.
Boro playing some lovely one-touch football and dominating possession impressively, but effectively we’re up against a low-block with Palace loading their penalty area. It has meant we haven’t been able to create good chances and have been over-reluctant to shoot. It’s a very pleasing performance, though.
It's deja vu from last season all the possession but powder puff up front
Enjoying the game, apart from their goal.
Let us see what the 2nd half brings. We are overdue a good 2nd half I think...
PALACE NOT TROUBLED
For all Boro’s 65% possession they have hardly troubled the Palace goalkeeper. They just can’t find the final telling pass in and around the penalty area. Strelec still oblivious - hardly touched the ball, doesn’t make runs into space etc. It looks very much like a typical Boro Championship game. Loads of possession but not creating chances.
The good point is the new right winger. He looks tricky and is prepared to take players on. Compare him to Conway who has fallen over about half a dozen times claiming a free kick.
By comparison , Bryn had to be alert to make 2 good saves and had little chance to prevent their goal. They made it look so easy to score. Palace are strolling through the game playing within themselves apparently waiting for opportunities to pounce and score.
Based on the first half and losing 0-1, I can’t see Boro getting back into the game never mind going onto win.
I could be wrong !!
Philip of Huddersfield 👎🤔☹️
2-0 - Strand Larsen again in the 53rd minute. 🙁
Time to turn to the bench?
That was a very poor goal to concede.
Malanda booked in the 64th minute, Castledine & Lankshear on for Conway & Strelec in the 67th, Borges having replaced Byram at the start of the half.
3-0: Kamada in the 72nd minute. Game over.
GAME OVER
3-0 and it’s men against boys. This is a lesson to Boro on how to play.
Philip of Huddersfield 👎☹️
Typical Boro. Start well, plenty of possession, but do nothing with it.
OK, CP are EPL and it shows. However unfortunately it is quite alot of the same old football.
As I posted after the QPR game, just who is going to score the goals to win matches.
Hellberg seriously needs to look for a Plan B, because despite the stats he keeps quoting, the goals are not going in.
60% possession and we get beat, same old same old, typical Boro
Comfortable win for Palace, despite all our possession. We barely threatened their goal. KH and the coaches need to get that finsl thirdvofcthe pitch sorted. Even a PL team knows all it has to do is sit back and wait for the break.
Still, best to be out of it so far as fixtures go.
I thought Boro's performance was quite good tonight - Morris was excellent and Cozier-Duberry also looked a handful with Peart-Harris having some nice play to. Where Boro lost out was getting caught on the break with defenders out of position and the far superior quality on deliveries by Palace and of course some clinical finishing - especially their third which was different class.
Perhaps Ayling has been exposed at this level and Strelec is just not match fit and I wonder if he ever will. Though overall, Boro were very neat and sharp in possession - beat the press well and also were very good at pressing Palace a the other end. Though lacked quality in the final third and Strelec didn't offer a target up top and Conway a little predictable cutting inside and for me too often going to ground. Scoreline was harsh but Boro were not outplayed and were the much better side in the first half.
Enjoyed the performance but enough positives to take into the Championship!
A confusing game if we hadn’t seen it several times before. Lots of really good things from Boro but equally, a bit rubbish in both boxes. Palace only got forward about four times in the match but comfortably scored three.
Thought Morris was the best player on the pitch from either side, Brittain was pretty good as well. Malanda had a very good first half but faded. Conway was as willing as always but no actual threat. Cozier-Duberry promising.
Everyone else wasn’t really good enough.
Not sure we’ve learnt much but no injuries and a clearer schedule ahead. Not the end of the world.
Not sure we’ve learnt much but no injuries and a clearer schedule ahead. Not the end of the world.
I think that we were learnt that Ayling and Jones are vulnerable in the air. Two tonight and the same thing against West Brom.
Otherwise, I agree, Morris was excellent and Cosier-Duberry will cause chaos in the championship.
Utb
Meanwhile, back in the real world, the Hammers have gone top of the Championship table after beating Bolton 2-3 away, pushing Boro down to third, with the Swans clinging on to second place after losing 3-1 to the "Sinners" at St Mary's. Boro needs to snuff out the Canaries on Saturday...
Looking miserable in the North West with Burnley, Bolton and Preston in the bottom three!
Looking miserable in the North West with Burnley, Bolton and Preston in the bottom three!
My nose bleeds... 😉
Very much like our last encounter against a Premier League team in a cup in London, lose but not disgraced despite the score lines. Some good performances particularly Morris, Peart-Harris, and Cozier-Duberry. The latter two are probably our first double barrelled players. The downside was how open the defence was and we don't close down players who are going to cross. For the first two goals Brittain gave their player too much room to measure his cross. However, it is worth remembering that three of the Palace players who started have combined transfer fees in excess of 100 million, and we think we have spent a lot of money.
Not sure we’ve learnt much but no injuries and a clearer schedule ahead. Not the end of the world.
I think that we were learnt that Ayling and Jones are vulnerable in the air. Two tonight and the same thing against West Brom.
Otherwise, I agree, Morris was excellent and Cosier-Duberry will cause chaos in the championship.
Utb
I think we knew that about Ayling! Jones I’m less concerned with but suspect that Phillips and Malanda will become the default centre back pairing before long. Maybe even for the weekend.
Bitterly disappointed with the result. The performance looked OK until they scored their first two goals.
Ayling is not looking like a central defender this season and unfortunately it was not the best day for Jones either.
Malanda was superb for the first 60 min, I think.
The difference was in both boxes. We had shots but did not look like scoring. And the defending was bad. Overall, we played nicely and well. But the result was difficult to take.
We are a team like work in progress.
I hope we get a better result back in the Championship on Saturday. We need to keep in the top two or there abouts until the international break when we have more time to train properly with the new players. Until then, it’s travelling and resting between the matches.
Up the Boro!
PS. Good summaries from MW in Darwin and Selwynoz above.
Just read the BBC match report, which seems it was written by somebody who only saw the score...
Crystal Palace booked their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over Championship side Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park
However, reading the comments at the bottom of the article from Palace supporters tells a different story with many impressed with Boro and thought the scoreline flattered them as Boro were the better side for the first hour but got caught on the break for 2 goals.
I think it has been mentioned by opposition managers before that they think Boro are vulnerable on the break because often their flexible player rotation can leave them with defenders out of position in transition. Palace broke quickly and let's face it Ayling is not the quickest and Jones was nowhere to be seen for the third goal as he was closer to the Palace box when the move started. Both Brittain and Byram failed or even made a proper attempt to block the chipped crosses for the first 2 goals with Strand Larsen able to head in without being under pressure.
You could argue if Boro had started with Lankshear they may have got the goal their play deserved - though it does expose that the team is weaker without him as Strelec never looked like scoring as most of his attempts were scuffed and he never really got into the centre-forward position.
Palace basically won the game by having more quality in attack rather than playing better than Boro - give Hellberg Strand Larsen instead of Strelec and it would've been a different outcome. Still, questions remain on the defensive structure during transition and ensuring the full-backs are tighter - perhaps Boro should look at fielding their quickest central defenders if they want to be more fluid in position.
It is not a new issue though werder, and that worries me a little.
Hellberg is intent on his attacking system and with it, its vulnerability.
Brittain was too open against QPR, but we got away with it. Against the teams with better forwards, we probably won't.
We have issues at both ends of the pitch. Hopefully Hellberg can comprise and solve the defensive part.
Upfront, without is going to score the goals to win matches.
Good posts from werder, MW and Andy.
I am sampling the delights of Prague, so did not see the game.
I think what last night’s game showed me was the gulf between a very good Championship team and an average PL one, particularly as far as strikers are concerned.
Palace were clinical when they had chances, we definitely weren’t.
As for positives, I thought Malanda had a good game in midfield and our two double-barrelled chaps looked very useful. Morris looked like he could play at PL level every week.
We’ll do well in our league this year, although promotion would bring a need for quite a few higher standard players. Let’s enjoy the ride.
Last night’s loss to a PL side did not come as a complete surprise and was more likely than us pinching the tie.
I was disappointed with the score and the way in which we conceded. We dominated possession but palace always looked in control and able to step up a gear if they needed to.
What concerns me is that we are still failing to execute in the final third of the pitch which has been a constant failing across three managers, MC, RE and KH and we remain vulnerable to the counter attack; unless these aspects are addressed then we will struggle for top two.
Looking at the new boys, Peart Harris looked useful and Cozier Dubery may turn a few Championship defenders inside out but it remains to be seen if there is an end product and if we can capitalise.
I am not in favour of playing TC wide left as he does not have a left foot and continually looks to come back onto his right which is so easy to defend; to my mind when he is used like this we are effectively a man light and whilst KH is a big fan of TC he needs to put the team’s needs first. 😎
With last night’s results and tonight’s fixtures, Boro could drop to 5th although we can make it up next Tuesday when we play our rearranged fixture at home against Millwall. We have Norwich and Millwall at home then Birmingham away before the first International break (3 weeks) I wonder how many players we will lose to international call ups but it will give KH and his team time to integrate and assess his remaining squad.
Come on BORO.
Just a reninder, the Norwich opener will be coming later tomorrow....