Great opener, Clive. Hoping for the best today.
Currently in Edinburgh with my girlfriend so contributions here will be limited ‘til around Tuesday, but will be following the lads nonetheless. Made plenty of notes after the Burnley game which I’m sure will remain relevant.
PS It’s at times like these that I’m glad the Millwall game was postponed as it means I can just focus on enjoying the trip. It’s my first preview and I am really looking forward to it.
The Potters running riot at home to the Addicks in one if the three early kick-offs: 3-0 after 25 minutes!
Thank you Clive for a very thorough, comprehensive preview. I do hope to see Ashley Phillips given a full game to see how he does. We are in need of recovery pace at the back, and invaluable as Luke Ayling's distribution has been, he is no Usain Bolt.
Hope we can grab an away win today.
UTB
The Potters running riot at home to the Addicks in one if the three early kick-offs: 3-0 after 25 minutes!
4-0 at half-time. "Sinners" a goal up at Lincoln & PNE 2-0 at home to Blackburn.
@powmillnaemore. Agree with your line up, especially 3 at the back.
I also like your extra man, if the referee will allow it. 🤣🤣🤣
Team/injury news from CJ:
Barron and Cozier-Duberry could both be involved today, while Byram and Pukstas are still awaiting their debuts too.
On the injury front, Peart-Harris is available again after missing the midweek draw at QPR [sic[, but Sarmiento will still miss out today.
Phillips starts, Ayling on the bench along with Conway & Strelec:
A very belated thank you to Clive for the opener and for all the other comments as to where we are at and what to expect. As always extremely informative and interesting as to be expected!
Looks like almost 4 4 2 formation to me with perhaps a more defensive minded midfield? Certainly have some good option for impact subs depending on how the game is panning out.
another tough game ahead of us and whilst naturally wanting a victory, a draw away from home against the current front runners wouldn’t be too bad in the usual mad championship where a team who had lost their first 3 games beat the team that hadn’t lost!
Hard to tell exactly what formation but could be that 4-2-2-2 with Arfsten playing an attacking role on the right - i expect we'll see quite few subs in the second half and few debuts.
Looking forward to seeing Cozier- Duberry. We desperately need his pace. I know little about him, but we can be sure of one thing. He will receive more than his fair share of kicking from Championship defenders. He'll need to be resilient and tough, as was Ben Doak. I hope and trust he is made of the right stuff.
We should get discount for watching this one as the teams are in black and white - QPR the men in black versus Real Boro - pity there was a clash of both traditional home kits...
From the Beeb's live text commentary:
Boro aiming to burst QPR's bubble
Game of the day? Not going to argue...
The unbeaten Rs have made their strongest start to a campaign since 2013-14, when they also had 10 points at this stage. They won eight of their opening 10 games on that occasion and went on to finish fourth before going up via the play-offs - that was also the last time they won promotion to the Premier League.
Many would have expected last year's beaten play-off finalists Middlesbrough to have made the faster start, but taking only one point from two away games, at Blackburn and Burnley, means they are three points behind the Rs ahead of this encounter.
Boro won 4-0 at Loftus Road in March in one of the most complete performances of last, or any, Championship season and Kim Hellberg will be hoping for a repeat to establish his side among the front-runners. WIll Lankshear might be the key to that happening. He has six goals in his first six appearances for Boro.
Early lead for Boro: Lanky Will in the 20th minute, assisted by today's captain, Brittain. 🙂
And he does it again! Paying back his transfer fee for sure.
Question is can we hang on to the lead and capitalize on it?
Early lead for Boro: Lanky Will in the 20th minute, assisted by today's captain, Brittain. 🙂
If it can but stay that way, Boro will be up to second in the table... 
Boro up to second spot with that goal...
It's "Bandemonium" where I am, on the southern slope of the North York Moors (in Cropton) and in Ryedale. Brass bands are delivered by a coach to various venues (pubs are popular) to play a short concert of tunes before another coach arrives to drop off a different band whilst the current band is shipped out to the next venue. Nice to sit in the garden at the back of the New Inn with a glass of Lagavulin and a separate glass of water to sip, whilst the band plays in the sunshine. I think there are nine bands coming to the New Inn.
And it's Bandemonium (almost) as Will Lankshear proves he really IS on fire, scoring from close range to put Boro ahead at QPR! Get in!
Early lead for Boro: Lanky Will in the 20th minute, assisted by today's captain, Brittain. 🙂
CJ:
Boro patience pays off. Berhalter with a lovely ball out to Brittain. Heavy touch helps him as he wins the duel to get away from his man before drilling it low across the face of goal. Lankshear in at the back post for the simple finish.
And a note of caution:
Boro good value for their lead. Been dominant so far. But defending leads away from home in the league has not been Boro's strength. In the last six away games in the Championship, Boro have taken the lead but not won one.
We have to have a second goal before half time. Totally on top, but the second half might just be different. Come on lads seal the deal
We have to have a second goal before half time. Totally on top, but the second half might just be different. Come on lads seal the deal
Indeed - we are struggling to play 2 good half’s at the moment and to finish the game off
Five minutes of injury time in which to claim a nerve-steadying second goal...
Well probably our most solid performance so far this season but we have still failed to make the most of our dominance.
Having taken the lead we have since spurned a few good opportunities and QPR are still in this and are a far better side than in previous seasons. We have looked a bit more ragged as the half neared its end and need to be switched on in the second half.
The big question is can we see this out or is this just another Blackburn/Burnley in prospect? 😎
A pretty good first half performance - yes, we need another goal but hopefully it’ll come in the second half.
Brittain having a good game on the right - we seem to be giving him the ball further forward than of late, which is allowing him to get his cross in.
I’m feeling optimistic for a good away win.
Boro looking comfortable and again for the third away game in a row 1-0 up at Half-time - can they make it stick this time? Well again Boro missed opportunities to increase their lead with Joseph lacking a first touch on a couple of occasions and Lankshear missing a one-on-one and a few more shots too - 9 shots in the first half for Boro but only one goal.
I've got a feeling with QPR playing a high line and playing it out then this could be a game for Conway to pressure them - plus we should give Cozier-Duberry a run at this defence. Also not sure if Harris has got much left in the tank judging by his efforts towards half-time.
A good performance with much more variety between short passes and longer balls. We should have sealed it with Lankshear through one on one but failing to beat the keeper.
We have to get a grip of Smith. He has pace and is troubling us. I remember him from a couple of seasons ago when he gave Giles the run around. The crowd's noise levels rise whenever he gets the ball. Brittain has been outstanding going forward and made the goal, but he has let his winger go more than once.
We put a lot of effort and running into the first half. Phillips' race may be run after 60 minutes, and Arfsten and Joseph will also need replacing. McGree too.
Looking forward to seeing the subs
Joseph's three contributions have been a poor touch and a mis-kick from two gilt-edged chances, and running the same channel and getting in the way of Lanksheare . We haven't really seen anything from him other than some energy in defending from the front.
We need to keep up our energy on a very warm London day
Come on, Boro!
Squeaky bum time
This is tense!
Darent look