Boro v Luton
Saturday 5/3/22
K.O. 3.0 P.M.
So, if everyone has calmed down now after the cup excitement this week, we turn (As Neil Maddison reminded us on Radio Tees after the game) to the bread and butter of the league.
A must win game against the form team of the Championship. The Boro welcome the “hatters” Luton Town F.C. to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. This is a game that for Boro to try and get back into a playoff position there needs to be, no slow start, no sloppiness at the back and no goalkeeping errors.
We “Fez”a team that narrowly lost 2-3 against a Chelsea team on Wednesday in the FA Cup and are “brimming”with confidence.
Boro might have our own “Bowler”back in defence as wing back and Paddy fit enough to “cap”another “beret” good performance.
Howson our “Capotain” (look it up!) will hopefully have recovered from his tremendous all action performance the other evening to once again pull the strings in midfield.
Tavernier whose confidence and performances have grown game by game, with enthusiastic encouragement from his manager has lost his “dunces cap” and will surely let the Riverside crowd put on their “party hats”at the end of the game.
Our star wingback (who must not be mentioned by name!) will once again have his “Pith helmet” on whilst dancing around the opposing defenders.
Presumably Lumley will not be wearing a “Santa Hat”and gifting any goals away and his shot stopping display the other evening, will prove to now be the norm and will keep another clean sheet.
Dael Fry, who’s performances show that he is no “slouch hatted player” may find that he will be included in the next England squad announced and get used to rubbing shoulders again with Captain Kane.
“Rooster Coburn” our bullet shot striker may also get another cameo appearance on Saturday to put on his “Stetson cowboy hat” and fire us to victory on Saturday.
Boro’s “wizard hatted” manager doesn’t like to make too many changes to his team and providing Crooks, Howson and Paddy are all fit to play I presume he will start with an unchanged team on Saturday. If the cap fits wear it !
There “mitre” however, be some changes on the subs bench though as McGree and Connolly are now fit to play some part in the game on Saturday.
Turning to our opponents Luton Town, make no mistake this is not going to be an easy game on the coming Saturday at the Riverside. Luton are sixth in the Championship table currently and they are aiming for a place in the play-offs.
Against Chelsea on Wednesday evening, a much-changed Town side got off to the best possible start. Manager Nathan Jones altering five of his squad from the 1-0 win over Derby County on Saturday, Dan Potts coming in as captain, whilst there were starts for Luke Berry, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Peter Kioso and Admiral Muskwe.
Reece Burke glanced his header into the net from Luke Berry's corner with just two minutes on the clock to send Kenilworth Road into a state of frenzy. Luton were then hit by an injury to keeper Jed Steer who appeared to suffer a serious Achilles problem, with Harry Isted on for just a third appearance. He was beaten by on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul on 27 minutes after Gabe Osho's mistake, before producing wonderful saves from the goalscorer, plus Kenedy and Romelu Lukaku.
Harry Cornick made it 2-1 to Luton against the club he supports before the break, but Chelsea's quality eventually showed in the second period, Timo Werner and Lukaku on target in the final 22 minutes to win it for Chelsea
Luton Town’s 30-year-old defender Kai Naismith who joined them in the January transfer window at the beginning of 2021 has a contract that finishes in the summer and is interesting WBA and Boro apparently among others. In their three-man defensive system. He is a regular starter and has been playing exceptionally well for the Hatters this season. He has scored one goal and provided six assists in 32 games so far in the league.
So Diasborians a must win game, get your thinking caps on and let’s have your forecasts please 🙏
Me?
I’m rummaging around for foam hands and although I usually wear a dunces cap when it comes to forecasts (see my predictions!) I’m going for a 2 -0 win for Boro !
OFB
Hats off to you, OFB. The 2-0 Boro win you suggest would certainly cap off a fine week.
There will surely be some tired legs after Tuesday evening and I wonder if there will be changes for this game.
Any kind of win will do.
Thanks for starting all us mad hatters in here off for the Luton game OFB, definitely you get a feather in your cap for getting that one out at just the drop of a hat after the Spurs game.
I'll go along with your 2-0 prediction for this one. I reckon that despite us having had an extra 30 minutes on Tuesday, I think the extra day to recover plus the psychological boost of a(nother) convincing victory against Premiership opposition will work in our favour. Luton will be a little demoralised and feel the exertion of their tussle with Chelsea more than us.
So top Hats to Boro and Luton away home in their Boaters with their Tails between their legs
To continue the hat theme, I will predict a Šporar hat-trick and a 3-2 win for the mighty Boro on Saturday. I just wonder how OFB missed the most obvious one ....
In the Exmill Challenge , I noticed that the points tally for Boro were increased aften the Spurs win. I hope Powmill-Naemore will be correct ith his 65 pts total. I really do 😇.
BTW. I do see Bola playing at left centre back. He is a natural defender and can add competition to McNair - but also Taylor.
Up the Boro!
Well you truly pulled that opener out of the hat OFB!
Well done on an amusing, informative and well crafted top hat piece.
I would like to see Bola in for Taylor as the only change, injuries and fatigue excepted. Good to hear that McGree and Connolly will be available.
This is really a tough one to call and it could be the Hatters have fresher legs given a number of their usual starters were rested last night.
I am with Andy on this one in that any sort of win will do; anything less will detract from Tuesday’s result and put a big dent in our top six aspirations. CoB 😎
Ok Jarkko
When was the last time you saw a boro player score a hat trick ?
Just saying like !
OFB
🤣🤣🤣. It sounded so good.
And no, I cannot remember the last time. Perhaps Bamford versus Leeds? Up the Boro!
The Hatters are sixth in the Championship having won five of their past six league games.
With 13 games remaining in the campaign, Luton, who were a non-league club eight seasons ago, are in the final play-off spot - one point clear of Sheffield United in seventh.
Town were last in the top flight two decades ago when they were relegated on the final day of the 1991-92 season.
Quite a rollercoaster time! Up the Boro!
Boro v Cardiff rearranged for Tuesday 26 April 19:45 kickoff.
Come on BORO.
OFB thanks for the amusing opener.
Come on BORO.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2022
With just 24 hours to go I have received 12 correct entries, come on guys don’t miss tomorrow’s deadline of 1900 hrs.
Come on BORO.
Thanks OFB. By way of Titfer Tat I predict a 2-1 win but would be delighted with your 2-0 score in a game whuch we must win.
And Exmil, I have tried to do the Challenge (part 1) and hope there are no errors in my submission.
Jarkko has (AGAIN!!) been sniffing those foam hands. A Boro hat-trick would be so wonderful. As rare as a unicorn....
EXMIL - I wondered when I was looking at the various games: where two teams in the list play each other. What if someone predicted, say QPR to beat Sheff U but when it gets to predicting the Sheff U matches, put that game down as a Win for Sheff U? In other words, the predictions were inconsistent with each other.
I suppose that could be because (1) human error in not realising after predicting a QPR win for that fixture, later going on to predict a Sheff U win or (2) not being sure either way and therefore backing "both horses" by way of insurance in the hope that if one prediction is wrong the other will be correct...!
Boro play Chelsea
OFB was going to like your message not sure like is the best expression, at least we are at home
Another sell out at the Rivers.
Come on BORO.
What a game that will be. The Lighthouse up against Lukaku?
EXMIL - I wondered when I was looking at the various games: where two teams in the list play each other. What if someone predicted, say QPR to beat Sheff U but when it gets to predicting the Sheff U matches, put that game down as a Win for Sheff U? In other words, the predictions were inconsistent with each other.
I suppose that could be because (1) human error in not realising after predicting a QPR win for that fixture, later going on to predict a Sheff U win or (2) not being sure either way and therefore backing "both horses" by way of insurance in the hope that if one prediction is wrong the other will be correct...!
I have rejected nearly 50% and had them corrected as I check every entry fixture by fixture and found a lot of errors when two of the ten play each other but all sorted now, that’s why I ask people not to leave it to the last minute.
Come on BORO.
So Boro v Chelsea in the cup. What a match this is going to be. Bad blood for years between us and them. Think the whole of the country will be supporting Middlesbrough. Bring it on.
You heard it first here. The only clubs Boro have beaten at home in the FA Cup of those remaining in this year’s competition are Southampton 1-0 in 1936, Nottm Forest 6-2 in 1947, Manchester City 1-0 in 1972 and 2-1 in 1992, Everton 3-2 in 1978 and 3-0 in 2002, and CHELSEA in 2-1 in 1993 (Ayresome Park).
Thanks for the Headliner OFB, made me chuckle too.
Well that was a great draw against Chelsea at home with another full house and probably guaranteed to be on the TV.
Unfortuanately we need to get past Luton first and I have it down for a draw, given the law of averages.
Then FA Cup apart we have four away matches on the trot. Can we improve our away form or will we fall away from the play off places. There are now so many teams that have all played the same number of games and all within a couple of points.
So where will we be come Fulham at home? I think the three games a week, as Mr Pulis calls it, will be the undoing of our top six aspirations.
Nice to here from you Ken.
Thanks for a good starter OFB. Luton put in quite a performance against Chelsea. That was the first time I have taken notice of them this season and they have the players to cause our defence a lot of problems. This is a must win match to keep our challenge going to the end of the season as the other teams around us keep picking up points and only WBA have really slipped away.
The quarter final draw against Chelsea was the one I didn't want and I will have to think about whether or not to go. In 1998 I went to Wembley by train via Euston. After the match I was on the Underground heading back to Euston and even though Chelsea had won a group of their "supporters" made their way through the train looking for Boro supporters. I was glad I had taken off my Boro scarf. I expect trouble before and after the match and would not want to be on a train or at a hotel with them.
Thanks for the intro OFB.
Hopefully this will not be an after the Lord Mayor's show performance as it is really a must win as Forest play Sheff United tonight. Interesting that Luton were able to make 5 changes and still give Chelsea a scare. I don't think we could make that many changes and stay competitive against a Premier League side.
It looks unlikely that the Chelsea game will be on the Friday as Chelsea have a Champions League game, at Lille, on the Wednesday. So will be either Saturday or Sunday
You heard it first here. The only clubs Boro have beaten at home in the FA Cup of those remaining in this year’s competition are Southampton 1-0 in 1936, Nottm Forest 6-2 in 1947, Manchester City 1-0 in 1972 and 2-1 in 1992, Everton 3-2 in 1978 and 3-0 in 2002, and CHELSEA in 2-1 in 1993 (Ayresome Park).
Hello, Ken. Nice to hear from you again.
I hope we can repeat the 2-1 win over Chelsea, but I was hoping for an easier tie to be frank. But it's a home tie anyway. My favourite was Everton at the Riverside.
We need luck against the big boys, too. I hope we can do it again, but it will be tough. It will be cracking game, no doubt about it, but can we really get through?
We will be respected and we are not under the radar anymore. The expectations might be too high on Teesside, too.
Well, let's concentrate on Saturday’s match first. The bread and butter of the Championship as the Luton manager said. Up the Boro!
I think that we should make the decision to play our best team every match, no passengers, no resting players. As I see it, the kid should be our striker as we have no other. Our keeper stayed on or near his goal line against Spurs and it showed, so let's keep it that way. We need to involve Sol Bamber more, he is a leader and a tonic, when he is on the pitch we look more organised. I believe promotion starts now, which means no defeats, and I believe we are Good enough. But we must play the kid, do not die wondering!
Because of progressive health issues I haven’t got the time or inclination to add much to the research of Boro’s history or statistics. From a selfish perspective I’d rather Boro win the FA Cup, a tournament they’ve never won, than gain promotion to the Premier League as that can wait for next season. A win against Chelsea and a possible Semifinal against Palace or Everton could be on the cards. Then a final against Man City of Southampton would be perfect rather than Liverpool. After all City lost to Wigan 9 years ago in the final and are susceptible to the odd surprise defeat and won’t find it easy to win away to the Saints with no replays this season in the FA Cup, so Boro will have no better chance of winning the tournament than this season even against the scousers in the final if I can stay alive to see it even if only on television.
Of course it's only football, but he symbolism of Boro as talented underdogs facing the might of a Chelski team financed by dirty Russian sports-washing money is one that the whole country can get behind.
As a public act of solidarity I'd like to see Boro supporters turn out en masse in yellow and blue and the lads to play in Ukranian shirts.
What more fitting representative could there be in the world of football of the values at stake in Ukraine than the Boro, a locally-based and locally owned second- tier club who play by the rules taking on a team assembled at huge cost with dirty money stolen from the Russian people by a kleptocratic mate of Putin's.
The whole of western Europe will be cheering us on.
That’s a cracking idea Len.
Love that idea Len.
OFB, do we have any particular line of contact at the club that we can pass on that suggestion?