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Boro v Bristol City...
 

Boro v Bristol City: Preview

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jarkko
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I think it is time to look forward to tomorrow's game already. Others can follow with comments in here. I hope Werder will approve 😊.

City have sacked their manager after four successive defeats. But they have won since then at home to Hull (good for us). So play-offs are gone with the four defeats. Especially so after losing to Cardiff.

Interestingly they have had Lee Johson as a manager for four and half years - and he was a player there before, too. Lee has done an awful lot of good work at the club in developing the pathway from the academy and fine-tuning their recruitment process. A kind of manager we could do with but also some echoes of Woodgate there with his back ground.

The Robins head for the Riverside looking for a first away win since February 1, when they won at QPR. But these runs do not mean much in the Champioship  - especially now when there are no crowds.

So very difficult to predict this one. But as a Boro fan and an optimistic one, I will go for a two nil win. But we need to be lucky. McNair will score after missing a couple of chances at Millwall and Assombalonga to score the second.

Up the Boro! 


   
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Thanks for starting us off Jarkko with the Bristol preview and as you said those four defeats after the restart have certainly spoiled both the Robin's and Lee Johnson's futures - indeed, a game before the Covid pause they had just beaten QPR to go three points clear of 7th spot and a good chance of making the play-offs and now languish 12th in mid-table, six points behind Cardiff in sixth.

OK, they just beat Hull last time out but that doesn't count for much as the Tigers have only won one of their last 16 games (I forget who it was against). Therefore, it's perhaps not a bad time to play them as they probably are getting ready for next season with the 40-year old Dean Holden in charge as interim manager. Incidentally, Holden also took over temporarily at Oldham when Lee Johnson was sacked there in 2015 but followed him to Bristol City.

Still, with only two points separating five clubs from 18th to 22nd it's still extremely tight with just four games left - obviously the wildcard is Wigan and what ultimately happens with their 12 point deduction or even the Owls potential points deduction, which is shortly about to be ruled on by an independent commission. Nevertheless, three points on Saturday should mean Neil Warnock will be confident of escaping the drop and then maybe he'll be contemplating another season in charge on Teesside.

This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by werdermouth

   
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Thanks for kicking us off Jarkko. Simple for me - setup and play more or less like we did against Millwall and we'll win. Setup and play like we did against Hull and QPR and we'll lose.

I'm going to be optimistic and predict a 2-1 win.


   
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Thanks Jarkko and Werder for the previews but please try to avoid mentioning that the opposition hasn't won or scored for several matches as my eternal pessimism instantly clicks and and I think of a Typical Boro result. At least after the win against Millwall I can now see that we have the ability to win games though it seems a long time since we put together a winning run. When the fixtures first came out I thought we had a comparatively easy start to the season and a harder finish. Appointing JW as manager soon turned that around. Cardiff and probably Sheffield Wednesday look the hardest of the remaining four so I hope the next two will see us pick up sufficient points to let me stop worrying. Wigan can do themselves and us a favour as they have to play Barnsley, Hull and Charlton.     


   
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Thanks Jarkko and Werder for your BC match preview.  

I am feeling more confident than I did following the Hull & QPR games and just hope that Millwall does not turn out to be another false dawn. I mean what could go wrong when we are facing a team without a manager who have not won away since February!

I am hoping it will be same again with regard to set up and team selection and am going for an optimistic 1-0.  It's about time that I broke my duck and got a result right for once so fingers and everything else crossed.

As much as we need the points I also want to see another performance that says we are a team and not a bunch of misfits.

CoB 😎

 


   
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Thanks to Leeds last night.

I hope they get promoted. Be nice to see our neighbours in the Premier League rather than a Midlands or Southern club.

As to Bristol City I will go for a 1 nil win to Boro.


   
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Warnock struck a much more positive tone in his press conference this morning and also his comments on Spence.

Two of the main contentions in the past fortnight or so have been the tactics and the negativity in his media commitments. Good to see quick progress in both areas.


   
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Cheers Jarkko, good starter.

Surely we're 'due' a home win? 3-1 Boro


   
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With Bristol having won only once in their last ten games and sitting second bottom of the form table for the last ten games by virtue only of a better GD from rock bottom Hull what could possibly go wrong?

This is a game that Boro need to turn up and turn on for. Its winnable and despite our spluttering form we are still in better form than Bristol who have been in alarming decline throughout 2020.

Win this and its likely that 50 points could be enough and ease the pressure on us with only three games remaining. It would also put pressure on those other struggling sides to come out and try to win their games possibly leaving them open and vulnerable at the back. With games running out, each match day that we are outside the bottom three becomes a significant psychological boost and that finishing line just a little nearer.

I think we will win as I think after Millwall Warnock now understands his squad a bit better, lets hope he sticks to the back three and wing backs formation, building confidence and momentum. I think we need to get at them from the off, keep them pegged back and struggling for us to take the advantage, 2-0 to Boro and I couldn't care less who scores. 

 

 


   
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No-Shape 0 - 2 Ship-Shape


   
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Pedro de Espana
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Thanks Werder and Jarkko for the Bristol intro.

I had us down for a draw and have stuck with that hoping to be wrong. Wrong that is, in Bristol not breaking  their poor run of form.

I would also hope that NW sticks with the same starting line up as Millwall, but would be even happier if Tav started. Not sure what the weather forecast is for tomorrow? Let’s  hope at 5 o’clock it is nice and bright and not gloomy.

Just seen GHW prediction, must think Boro are away unless he is hoping to be wrong?


   
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Chris Hunneysett
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As long as NW understands there's no need to adapt team selection or formation in this division, we'll be fine. 


   
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@ Pedro de Espana

 

“Just seen GHW prediction, must think Boro are away unless he is hoping to be wrong?”

 

I usually get flak for predicting wins thought I’d try a new tack 😉


   
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Werder and Jarkko, thank you, and I hope Redcar Red is already having a rub down with White Horse linament.

In the Exmil Challenge I've got Boro for a win, so I'll go for 2 - 0 in front of a massive crowd of probably 10. Mr Warnock pay attention,don't change the team (that's one bit of pressure off), fire them up, motivate them and turn them loose. Three points tomorrow at Sandcastle Riverside would be brilliant. Maybe even better than that. The Pilsener is chilling already and I don't want it for drowning my sorrows.

UTB,

John


   
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@john-richardson

I hope that having got the regulation selection out of his bloodstream, inherited from Woodgate I would think, can we now have our obviously better players selected as a given, it's getting boring I know but really, it should be routine to make sure that Fry (at center back) Spence, Tav ( to start) Fletcher (to be our leader of the line) as a personal wish I would like to see Wing on the pitch, but I understand that all the concentration will be on getting the three points, maybe if we are romping it.  


   
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Another result in our favour Huddersfield 0-2 Luton.  CoB make it count tomorrow. 😎😊


   
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Ken Smith
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The first 27 matches against Bristol City at home saw 21 home wins and 5 draws with only 1 defeat, all at Ayresome Park except the first one which was at the Linthorpe Road Ground. Since November 1993 though Boro have only won twice in their last 9 home matches against the Robins with 5 defeats, a surprising turnaround in this particular fixture. However I’ve chosen the 6-3 win in February 1960 as the match to review as it was the first of 9 successive home wins for Boro against City. Brian Clough scored within 6 minutes of the start and a Bill Harris penalty and a Derek McLean goal gave Boro a 3-1 interval lead. Clough went on to complete his hat-trick in the final minute whilst McLean added another. It extended Boro’s unbeaten home record to 15 matches 11 of which were won, but also kept Boro in the promotion run in. However the away form was poor and after losing their unbeaten home record to Aston Villa, Boro fell away to finish 5th. 

However Boro are now due a home win after 4 draws and 4 defeats in their last 8 matches, and this match tomorrow is probably the easiest of their remaining 4 matches, so I expect Boro to win albeit by a single goal.


   
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Selwynoz
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@kp-in-Spain,

I don’t agree that Luton winning was in our favour. I’d have rather seen them lose because now they are in reach of safety as well whereas most of us were counting on them as one of the three going down. It’s getting incredibly tight.

utb


   
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Good news is that I have been released from Quarantine and can now mix with society again, so its footy this afternoon. I think we are getting better game by game, as is the stream and commentary.

So I will go for 3 nil to the Boro.

On the Covid front, despite my age [boys end 1969], the symptoms were barely noticeable and my only fear was virus overload at the processing centre. I was given the option of a ward bed with around 20 others or solitary confinement at a converted 2 star hotel with no human contact for nearly 3 weeks. I chose the latter and although I am fit and well, I now feel a little disorientated. Footy on Wednesday did perk me up a little and I am hoping for more of the same tonight.

It took 4 tests to eventually provide a negative test, and then a further week of quarantine for my own safety, which meant I never knew if or when I was going to be released.

Anyhow the big takeaway from this  - based on the symptoms I did have, I am convinced this was my second bout of covid 19, so please take care everyone.

 

UTB

 


   
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Glad to have you match-fit again Allan! I was beginning to worry a bit as we hadn't heard from you for a few weeks but it seems you had the right blood to escape any major problems 😉

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In terms of playing the percentages with regard to Luton beating Huddersfield, it's hard to say whether it's better to have more teams below us or a couple of teams further behind us - though it depends on what Boro do today.

I think if Boro beat Bristol City today then I'm inclined to think Huddersfield losing was the better result as it could mean given their inferior goal difference they would need to win 2 of their last three games to finish above us - providing Boro picked up just one point in their last three games. Luton of course would need to win all their remaining games to overtake us in that scenario.

However should we lose today then it does mean Luton have more chance of catching us up but I guess we can worry about that if it happens!


   
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As for today's game, it's hopefully not another experimental formation or left-field team selection. While I think Boro look more comfortable with a back three and wing-backs, I'm not convinced 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 if you like) is the optimum way of getting our most influential players on the pitch.

Three midfielders who are not the most creative and a front two of Britt and Fletcher is probably limited in its attacking threat and is heavily dependent on the two wing-backs. I suspect that setup could be nullified fairly easily and for all the promise against Millwall, it was in the end only 8 attempts on goal of which the only other shot other than the goals to hit the target was a free-kick from McNair.

Personally, would prefer a 3-4-3 so that there is an option to play both Roberts and Tavernier either side of a central striker, which for me would be Fletcher - both of these players are very mobile and could press the defenders as well as linking up with the wing-backs.

A lot may depend for Warnock on how the opposition line-up as Millwall had a back three so it probably made sense to have two strikers keep them occupied - which indeed is also how Bristol City lined up against Hull so we may see the same formation from Boro. The other option would be to play someone like Tav in a more advanced attacking midfielder role behind the two strikers.

Possible line-up...

Stojanovic

Spence - Fry - Shotton - Friend - Johnson

Howson - Saville

Tavernier

Fletcher - Assombalonga


   
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Posted by: @werdermouth

Personally, would prefer a 3-4-3 so that there is an option to play both Roberts and Tavernier either side of a central striker, which for me would be Fletcher - both of these players are very mobile and could press the defenders as well as linking up with the wing-backs.

Yes, I completely agree with this. I think Coulson as the left wing back would also add further pace, energy, mobility and a bit of tenacity.

 


   
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Pedro de Espana
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As I have said before, Tav in from the start for his energy and possibility of a goal. I would swop him for McNair who does not look totally committed.

Again as much as both Coulson and Johnson are not good at defending, the latter is my preferred choice.


   
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@allan-in-bahrain.  Glad to hear your on the mend and fingers crossed that Boro provide another boost to your recovery today. 😎


   
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@allan-in-bahrain Good to read that you’re back up and running, Allan. All the best and hoping for three points for you to celebrate.


   
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Allan

Excellent news after an awful experience.  Hope your recovery continues apace and that the Boro give you a well deserved tonic this afternoon.Best wishes.


   
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Very sad news.  Jackie Charlton passed away last night.  A great and charismatic character, whose place in the history of our club will always be remembered and celebrated  RIP

This post was modified 4 years ago by lenmasterman

   
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@lenmasterman very sad 

, his first season in charge was my first real season going to most home games.

Werder, is it appropriate to have a big Jack tribute thread?


   
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So fond of Jack I  posted twice


   
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