Double jeopardy penalises Boro
After the two-week International pandemic spreading festival, domestic football returned as Norwich made the long trek up to the Riverside. The game saw a possible reunion for ex-Boro lads Ben Gibson and Jordan Hugill with Jonny Howson and Patrick Roberts in reverse.
Boro had lost Marcus Browne due to a training ground injury this week but as his appearances have been limited it’s not unreasonable to guess that he wasn’t going to feature for this one anyway. Grant Hall was back fully fit along with new signing Duncan Watmore while Sam Morsy was still injured. George Saville who had been missing for compassionate grounds was back and available.
The Canaries had a few injury worries coming into this one with Bali Mumba also suffering a training injury this week. Adam Idah was injured while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland. Their preferred left back Xavi Quintilla was out with a hip flexor problem while long termers Onel Hernandez, Kieran Dowell and Sam Byram were all out until early in the new year. Josip Drmic and Moritz Leitner are both persona non grata at Carrow Road and haven’t even been given squad numbers this season.
Farke did have Grant Hanley and Max Aarons available after they both pulled out of International duties. Third-placed Norwich like Boro had put a run of unbeaten games behind them in the build-up to this one with seven games without defeat. Gibson and Hugill both made the Norwich starting eleven while Saville and Johnson were back in for Boro, Wing and Coulson dropped to the bench. McNair was deemed fit enough to go yet again and Akpom had got the nod over Britt. Roberts and Watmore were both on the Boro bench.
Referee Tony Harrington's whistle sounded as Boro kicked off. We had lined up with a flat back four of Dijksteel, Fry, McNair and Bola, Spence and Johnson were on the flanks. In the first minute, Spence played Dijksteel into a bit of bother early on but Anfernee was up to the high standards expected of him this season. A low Hugill cross was then dealt with unconvincingly by Bola, ending up with a free-kick to the visitors and an early chance for Norwich to get the big lads up. Knocked wide and then delivered in it was hit past the far post by Buendia as the visitors started with great intent in the fourth minute.
A tasty challenge between Saville and Hugill saw Hugill seriously struggling to shake off the after-effects. McNair took the free-kick which had gone Boro’s way but the ball ended up back with Bettinelli.
Ten minutes in and a foul by Sorenson on Spence meant Boro had a Tav free-kick. It was blocked by Buendia as Boro showed promise in easing their way into the game after a powerful start from the visitors. Hugill then went down holding his shoulder and looking to be in serious trouble. Pukki was warmed up and looked to be coming on for the ex-Boro loanee but Hugill returned despite looking in discomfort.
Not surprisingly Sorenson earned the game's first yellow for a challenge on Howson after Jonny looked to break quickly. A right-wing foray by Spence and Saville saw a move that should have delivered more as Boro now started to ask questions of the visitors. The opening four minutes were all Norwich but since then Boro were threatening despite the away side dominating the possession stats. On twenty-five minutes there were still no real attempts either on or off target on Tim Krul from Boro, solid performance defensively from Boro but apart from Spence, there was ominously little creativity. A cross from Johnson down the left involving Bola and Saville saw Hanley put it out for a Boro corner. McNair fizzed it in towards Saville at the back of the Norwich box but couldn’t connect.
A weak back header from Gibson saw Johnson sneak in causing Hanley and Krul to react quickly as signs of vulnerability were showing in the Canaries defence. A great Spence cross saw Gibson this time heading the danger clear for a Boro Corner on twenty-nine minutes. Tav sent it in low but it was cleared out and Placheta found himself closed down coming off Johnson for a Norwich throw. Advancing, Sorenson cut the ball back into the path of Rupp who tried an opportune long-range shot from twenty-five yards but his effort was weak.
Thirty-five minutes now elapsed and Boro were dictating the play but despite imposing themselves they couldn’t unlock the door to seriously trouble Krul and nor did they look like the had the tools to do so. Johnson was then felled by Hanley after making the most of a poor Bola ball ending in a free-kick to Boro which ended with a Howson header failing to beat Krul.
A nervy clearance from Boro after Bola had swiped at thin air had hearts in the mouth. Placheta took aim and his shot was blocked by Dael Fry. Boro then broke from defence and a ball from Tav eluded Saville but Johnson hit a great shot which was pushed out by Krul forcing Gibson to hoof it clear for a throw-in to Boro.
Five minutes remained until half time with the game evenly balanced. Buendia took advantage of a Howson slip and searched for Stieperman but Fry was sharp, read the danger and blocked to concede the first corner of the game for the visitors. Fortunately, the set-piece from the Canaries was straight out of the Boro set-piece playbook, in other words, wasted in a woeful fashion going out for a Boro throw. One added minute came up as Sorensen conceded a late corner for Boro. It was taken short with Krul punching Spence's cross out to Stiepermann who set Placheta galloping down the left but Dijksteel moved up a gear and dealt with the danger ending the run and the half.
Not a classic by any means and once more our attacking intent was scarce but Norwich fans would have been equally frustrated by their side's lack of progress against a solid Boro rearguard.
Unsurprisingly Pukki had warmed up at the interval with Hugill going off, no changes for Boro as the yellow shirts kicked off. From the start Pukki linked up with Stiepermann, the move ended up with Placheta then picking out Stiepermann in the box and another great block in from Fry deflecting out for a corner. Delivered in low, it was cleared unconvincingly with Placheta and McNair both struggling to get back onto their feet in the aftermath.
A slick Boro break with Tavernier ended with the ball going to Spence blocked by Rupp and then Gibson fouling Tav giving away a penalty in the process. In the interim, Krul delayed the kick with a faux protest to the assistant piling pressure on Tavernier. Tav stepped up, slipped, and was deemed to have inadvertently hit the ball twice and the goal was disallowed with a free-kick awarded to Norwich. A few Boro players had been slipping on the surface this afternoon, footwear choices in the after match inquest have to be questioned, meticulous detail was clearly lacking during the warm-up.
There was more action in the opening five minutes of the second half than in all of the first forty-five minutes. A Pukki break saw him almost one on one with Bettinelli but Fry once again got a toe in to deflect it out for a corner. The ball then came in for Sorenson who looped a header safely into the arms of Bettinelli as we entered the fifty-eighth minute.
Buendia then found Pukki who alarmingly had another effort deflected out for a corner which Akpom met heading clear. The game was opening out and being stretched, a minute later Buendia had another Norwich header towards Bettinelli. The arrival of Pukki was in complete contrast to the lumbering Hugill, consequently, the Canaries looked far more alert and threatening.
Boro looked to be somewhat downbeat after that penalty incident and in need of some energy and enthusiasm and quickly as Pukki was now running the show. With the game approaching sixty-five minutes Coulson and Folarin were stripped and ready to come on. Norwich had been teasing and probing as Johnson went off for Coulson and Spence off for Folarin.
Twenty-five minutes of the ninety now remained, Folarin made his mark playing in Tav who squared it to Saville with Gibson closing, finding Bola who slipped (not for the first time and not the first Boro player to do so) with Hanley blocking. As the corner came in Howson found Tav who blasted his effort showing little composure, presumably too eager to make up for his earlier error.
Unbelievably Coulson took down Aarons with a rash challenge to give away a Penalty with the Norwich player headed away from goal. Terrible decision making from the young left-back come, winger. Pukki stepped up, had the right studs on, and was never going to miss. A goal behind, Britt then came on for Akpom but the problem for Boro was creativity rather than finishing and so far there wasn’t any to the required standard. Dijksteel had to be strong into a challenge on Buendia as Norwich looked to add to their tally leaving him rolling in agony, seemingly wanting some form of retribution from the Ref towards Dijksteel who had bossed him all game.
Roberts was now being readied as the penny dropped with NW that his side now needed something special up front. Folarin had an effort come off Sorenson which dropped kindly for Krul. Norwich then removed Buendia for McLean while Roberts came on for Tavernier and just ten minutes remaining. Game changer Pukki set up McLean, coming back off Bola to Pukki resulting in Fry challenging then worryingly struggling with Bola looking equally hampered. The visitors were now looking comfortable with Boro desperate to get some organisation and shape to their attack.
Sorenson then obstructed Folarin with Boro players claiming a second yellow but the Ref seemed to see it differently with a free-kick deemed sufficient punishment. The resultant free-kick came in with Howson finding Roberts to Britt with Hanley blocking for the visitors. A low cross from Coulson was then cut out again by Hanley which Howson collected and played up to Britt but his control was less than desirable. With a minute of the ninety now remaining Farke had two Subs being prepared to eat up time with five minutes coming up on the fourth Officials board.
Placheta came off for Zimmermann with Tettey coming on for Stiepermann, Farke strategically looking to shut up shop with three minutes of added time now remaining. A Saville foul allowed another late change for the Canaries with Sorenson making way for Vrancic, eating up more seconds as time eventually petered out for Boro.
Pukki had completely changed the game after half time, turning the tide against Boro with his attacking ability, something which Boro just couldn’t offer in return. Arguably had Tavernier scored his penalty it may have been a different story had Norwich been forced to come out but once we went behind we had nothing to offer in terms of a threat.
Too many Boro players were slipping and sliding all afternoon, was that down to the individuals choice of studs, or was it the pitch being overwatered? Regardless of that, the lack of any real spark at the attacking end of the pitch was laid bare. For several games it had been masked by gallant clean sheets but now surely needs to be addressed.
MOM was Fry for all his blocks with Dijksteel a close second. The bottom line was conceding that much possession with nothing in return was inevitably going to end our unbeaten run.
Thank you, RR, a splendid effort, as usual.
Very disappointing today, though admittedly against a very good Norwich side, who I felt were the best team we have played this season.
We were a bit less solid defensively than usual, and had to deal with several panic-stricken moments in our own box. The midfield didn’t get a grip for much of the second half, with Norwich having a fine spell in which they looked threatening with every attack. Credit to Boro for almost keeping them out, but for one moment of madness from Coulson.
It’s hardly surprising that both McNair - after ludicrously being asked to play all 3 of Northern Ireland’s games - and Saville - following his family issues - both looked off the pace. It would be good if NW can rest them both against Derby, but that might be a risk too far.
Of course, it’s not at the back that we have problems. Once again today we lacked guile and were toothless in attack. Three goalless games now. I don’t think Spence and Johnson, meant to be supporting Akpom from wide, ever got close enough to him, and the midfield didn’t get up in support well enough either. It meant that on the rare occasions when crosses came in there were few bodies in the box to get on the end of them. We again created very few good chances. Our set-pieces were disappointing, as usual.
The introductions of Coulson and Folarin were a surprise - perhaps one of those instinctual things NW is usually good at - but didn’t come off, especially so in Coulson’s case. We were crying out for the trickery of Roberts or the pace of Whatmore. NW did eventually bring Roberts on, but only for a very short spell. Nonetheless, the forward did have one good run across the opposition box where he might have done better to get his shot away.
The Roberts thing begs an important question. It seems NW doesn’t like risking him in games where the opposition are thought to have good wide men or really solid midfielders because he doesn’t trust Patrick to be able to do the necessary defensive work well enough. Evidence thus far points to that conclusion. If, therefore, playing Roberts from the start reduces the overall defensive solidity of the team, which has been brilliant this season, is he then just a player we need to use only rarely and only towards the ends of games, perhaps when we need a spark or a goal? And if we only give him these cameo appearances, are we not also reducing his own effectiveness and confidence? Doesn’t he need longer on the pitch to be able to use his ability to the full? Or is he just a luxury? It’s a real conundrum. We clearly need the creativity he can provide. Can NW find a way to use his ability effectively without destroying the team’s shape?
I think we were a little bit found out today. Warnock has been playing with defensive wingers and it almost worked again but for a couple of banana skins. That said, you always got the feeling that Norwich were a step above us and it needed everything to go right for us to come out of the game with something.
As RR says, somehow Warnock needs to find a way to improve our attack without sacrificing our solidity. That's a puzzle that no one has solved in 5 years. On paper we have plenty of creative, goal-scoring players but the game isn't played on paper. I have no idea what the answer is. Perhaps we can defend our way into the playoffs and hope but it feels that if only 2/3rds of the team is working that, eventually, the team cracks and you go on a long losing run.
To keep it in perspective, at the start of the season, the current position would have seemed like a really good result. Thing is, having got this far the question becomes, how can we do better?
I doubt that Boro would have scored today if they played till midnight. I thought this was one of the most inept displays of the season except for Dael Fry. Was that because of the slippery surface? If so why didn’t the players change their footwear at the interval? I was concerned about the 9 match unbeaten run ending today no matter whom the opposition was, because goals win matches and we have the same problem season after season. I recently did the Gazette projector and had Boro adrift of the playoffs in 11th place at Christmas and would be quite content for Boro to finish somewhere in mid-table at the end of the season. Let’s set our sights a little more realistically with a top 6 finish next season and hopefully promotion the season after. Defence wise we have been excellent, but dear me our attack is still impotent. Anyway thanks to Redcar Red for another accurate account of today’s match. If only Boro showed the same accuracy in their shooting ability as RR does in his reporting there might be some hope for the future.
Thank you RR for your excellent match report.
I thought we also should have had a penna when Johnston was pulled back by his arm in the box during the first half and went to ground. Why didn’t he appeal!
OFB
Had we had extensive investment and a large strong squad and were going for the top spot in the championship then yes I would have been very disappointed. However we hadn't, don't and weren't so I was able to enjoy the football from both sides and would have been reasonably happy whatever the result - and probably ecstatic had we actually won.
Norwich show that they were better than us in nearly every department, not by much but that was enough for me to realise that we should be going for top half finish tweaking our deficiencies on the way and hoping for a top six slot if we can solve our front end problem.
That being said, to take resources from midfield and beef up the attack is a fine line and juggling act that most managers/coaches cant achieve, hence the quality of football in the Championship,
A real measure of how far we have come will be apparent when we play Derby and the other bottom feeders. 8 th place at the moment is in the paleton and we should use this period to refine the system and be poised to make our break in February march when it really counts.
A bit like the Watford game how it felt at the full time.
We should have scored from the penalty and got a draw.
But life goes on. Derby on Wednesday next.
Up the Borro!
Thanks RR for another on the spot report!
As Deleriad has said we were found out against a good Norwich side who controlled most of the second half after we had more than held our own in the first half.
Werdermouth pointed out yesterday that we have some players with pace but they lack composure and ultimately that will cost us over a full season.
Our current league position is probably representative of where we are as a team and I, like others, are struggling to see how we can improve. I suspect that with the current squad it's not possible and NW is getting as much out of them as he can. He even alluded to this in his pre match interviews when he indicated that he felt we would be doing well if we could hang onto the coat tails of the top six.
The big test after losing against a top side is can you pick up three points against those in the bottom half so Derby will be another challenge on Wednesday. CoB 😎
As I mentioned before yesterday’s match a run of 10 unbeaten league matches has often been difficult to achieve. In fact twice before the Second World War and now 10 times since Boro have lost the 10th match as follows in chronological order:-
In 1922 2nd Sep to 21st Oct Boro’s 9 match unbeaten run ended with a 0-2 defeat at Birmingham, but Boro won their next match in the Old First Division, but won their next match yet finished 18th.
Also in the 1928/29 season from 1st Dec to 19th Jan Boro’s 9 match unbeaten run ended with a 4-5 home defeat to Chelsea in the Old Second Division, but Boro drew their next match and then won 4 matches in succession and were promoted as Champions.
However I was reminiscing over the matches in my lifetime and these are the relevant matches in chronological order:-
In 1957 in the Old Second Division Boro won 6 and drew 3 of their final 9 league matches from the 9th of March to finish 6th.
Also in 1963 in the Old Second Division Boro repeated that sequence of winning 6 and drawing 3 of their final 9 league matches to finish 4th, so in both those two seasons there wasn’t the dreaded 10th match.
However in 1970 Boro’s run of 9 unbeaten league matches of 7 wins and 2 draws in the Old Second Division stretched from the 11th Oct to the 16th Dec but was ended by a surprising 0-2 Boxing Day home defeat to Carlisle, although Boro won their 11th match.
In the following season Boro again ended that 1970/71 Season with an unbeaten run of 9 matches from the 27th March although the final 8 of those matches ended in draws as Boro finished 7th in the Old Second Division.
From the 23rd of Aug 1986 Boro were undefeated in their first 9 matches again winning 6 of them although in the Old Third Division before losing 1-3 at home to Blackpool, but won their next match and were promoted in 2nd place.
In 1997 Boro were unbeaten from the 5th Nov to the 13th Dec in the Old First Division again winning 6 of them before losing 0-2 away to Manchester City but won their next two matches and were eventually promoted to the inaugural Premier League on the last day of the season.
In the 2014/15 Championship season Boro were undefeated in league matches from Boxing Day to the 18th Feb inclusive again winning 6 of them until losing the 10th match 0-1 at home to Leeds, but again won their next match but although earning a playoff place in 4th position they lost to Norwich at Wembley.
The following season Boro were undefeated in 9 matches from the 20th Nov to the 16th of Jan winning 8 of them. The unbeaten run was ended with an 0-1 away defeat in the final minutes to Bristol City. This was the only wobble though as Boro lost their next game 0-1 at home to Nottm Forest and only drew their next 3 league matches before finally beating that 10th match bogey by finishing with a run of 10 unbeaten matches from the 18th March to the end of the season, although the last 4 were drawn but enough to see Boro finish 2nd and gaining promotion on goals scored over Brighton.
Incidentally I was writing from memory yesterday and that run of 5 successive defeats in 1957 DID NOT follow an unbeaten run of 9 matches, but it did mean that Boro dropped from 5th position to 14th. Nevertheless those 8 seasons during my lifetime when Boro seemed to end 9 match undefeated runs have always stuck in my memory although I had to check the details today.
Is 10 Boro’s unlucky number then? Not necessarily because Boro have also gone on extended unbeaten runs in my lifetime above that number. Notably 24 whena 1-5 defeat to Nottm Forest followed by another 11 unbeaten matches in the 1973/74 promotion season under Jack Charlton saw Boro losing only once in a run of 36 matches winning 24 of them and drawing 11. The only season coming close to that was of course the Camsell season of 1926/27 when Boro established an unbeaten run of 21 matches winning 15 of them.
Incidentally I have just become aware that in March 1925 Boro made an offer to Tranmere Rovers for the purchase of Dixie Dean, but lost interest at the £2,000 quoted. So the £600 paid to Durham City for George Camsell must have seemed a bargain at the time.