What do we hope for tomorrow?
I will settle for a good performance (certainly an improvement on Wednesday) and a victory by any margin.
At least it would give some significance to the last game at Preston and the 5,000 plus Boro supporters.
I am expecting a draw tomorrow and wouldn’t be surprised if Boro won at Preston which , most likely, will not be enough.
Whatever happens it’s been an eventful season mainly with the Cup performances.
Final thought- I was impressed tonight by the attacking Sheffield midfielder - Berge
Philip of Huddersfield
Well I'm hoping for at least a two-goal victory tomorrow so that if Luton do lose at Fulham on Monday then they will have the pressure of needing a win on the last day if Boro beat Preston. Though a 4-0 Boro win would be even better as that would mean Sheff Utd would have to then beat Fulham on the last day as any Boro win at Preston means a draw would leave the Blades with a worse goal difference.
To my mind a win for us tomorrow puts both Luton and Sheffield under pressure; we having nothing to lose as opposed to them and we have everything to gain. CoB 😎
Well that was a bummer to wake up to. I really thought that QPR might do us a favour and it’s even more annoying to see that they were up at half time.
I understand what people above are saying but it would still be a surprise to me to see Luton drop any points against Reading. So, we just have to win and hope that Fulham are interested in going out in style with at least a draw against Sheffield Utd.
it’s all a bit of a long shot now but I’m hoping for a positive performance against Stoke and a good win by at least two goals. That would keep the entertainment going.Of course, @werdermouth, four goals would be even better so let’s agree on three.
UTB
Thanks for the starter OFB. After Sheffield Utd's win it looks like we need at least a 3 - 0 win so that if Sheffield "only" manage a draw against Fulham (though it would be nice if they lost) we would "only" need a two goal win against Preston. QPR scoring first did for a while raise my hopes but the final result confirmed my view that any optimism with regard to Boro is asking for a let down. I will head back to the Riverside still tired after the midweek travelling but at least there is still some importance to the match. I hope the crowd is bigger than that we had against Cardiff and that we play well enough to get a good atmosphere though I am expecting a harder game.
I expect Fry to replace Bamba but think Crooks will be on the bench. He did seem to combine well with Jones earlier in the season but this had faded a bit more recently. We definitely need Jones to get back to running at defenders and putting in dangerous crosses again and Tav and Bola to do the action down the left. I can't guess who Wilder will choose as strikers. It may be too much to start with Watmore again but will he put in Connolly instead after the reception he got on Wednesday? (I have never booed a Boro player no matter what I thought of their performances.) Sporar and Balogun also haven't looked capable of getting the goals we need and we would be asking Coburn to show the intensity he showed as a sub against Tottenham for the whole match against Stoke. (Perhaps it wouldn't be so strange to try Crooks as a striker.)
At least after a Saturday afternoon match I can take my time with the evening meal and if necessary drown my sorrows in more than one glass of Rioja.
It’s evident now that Boro need not only wins but plenty of goals or a helping hand from Fulham and possibly Reading too. A draw tomorrow and it’s “good night Vienna” for Boro.
Remiss of me not to have said thank you to OFB for the "we won against Cardiff" version of a Stoke opener. Always informative and readable, but I have wondered what the alternative opener looked like that you had prepared in reserve...
Like most of us as it seems, I was beginning to believe the gods were smiling on us for a short while yesterday evening. It was not to be and so to a large degree the pressure is off Boro today. I wonder could the fact that it is now so unlikely we can finish in 6th that typical Boro will show up and put 4 or more past Stoke? Or is that me overdosing on foam?
Even if we did, I cannot see Reading winning at Luton next week and I also think The Blades will win at home to Fulham.
I am in the camp that would like to see Tav at wing back with both Crooks and McGree starting. Up front I really don't think it matters who. Fantasy land here, Connolly to start and bag a hat trick, with Crooks bringing our total to 4 for the day.
Have to go. Nurse is calling me back in to my room ...
Thank you for your last Headliner of the season OFB. Well done and appreciation for your hard work and time in pulling them all together.
I think the fans deserve a performance today after all the recent poor results. Will we get one, very doubtful. Stoke will be no pushover and could end the season this afternoon.
I certainly hope that CW and the Recruitement Team have a good idea who we need to upgrade on to achieve next seasons goal of the top six from the start. They will certainly have to do better than they have this season.w
Not yet quite the time to write a post mortem on Boro’s failure to reach the Premier League this season, but not far off. To be frank the current 4 clubs in this morning’s Championship table deserve to be there. Ever since the defeat at home to Hull City I’ve always thought that Boro were the outsiders, and even if they had reached the playoffs couldn’t see their winning promotion this season. So congratulations to Nottm Forest for their marvellous recovery from such a disastrous start to the season and their wisdom of changing their manager so quickly. Perhaps if Chris Wilder had been Boro’s manager for a full season things might have turned out differently.
In my opinion the Championship will be a stronger league next season, and especially if as I suspect will include one of my favourite clubs Everton, Norwich and a resurgent Stoke City. I very much doubt that I myself will see Boro in the Premier League again if only due to my advancing health problems, but it’s always been a pleasure supporting them for all those years since the Second World War. No regrets even in defeats as I’ve been so lucky to see so many wonderful players in my lifetime not only playing for Boro, but from opposing clubs too, and that goes for cricketers, golfers and Rugby League players too.
After last night's game, I've had a change of heart and now think, like Philip and KP, that getting three points today is of paramount importance, whilst risking the 3 points by chasing the goals would be absolute folly.
Sheff Utd are too far ahead of us now on goal difference, and all that matters is ensuring that the season does not end for us today, and that the pressure remains on Sheff U to get something from the Fulham game.
I'm still haunted by one of the worst decisions ever made by Karanka in the equivalent penultimate game of the 2014/15 season. Everyone on here will remember it.
With only 10 men and losing 3-1 at Fulham, we somehow managed to haul ourselves off the canvas by scoring 2 late goals and secure the point that would have extended our chance of automatic promotion until the final game of the season.
Inexplicably Karanka waved Dimi up the field for a corner in added on time, allowing McCormack to end a counter-attack by walking the ball into our net and winning the game 4-3.
Taking all the pressure off our rivals for the final game of the season.
We mustn't make the same mistake today by chasing goals before the points are in the bag.
Incidentally there is poetic justice in United having a 4 goal advantage over us. Our 4-1 defeat at their hands opened up a 6 goal difference that we have never been able to make up. In a way it's a gap for which must take most of the responsibility.
A great morning’s play at Headingley where Yorkshire have scored 160 more runs from 31 overs with unfortunately Harry Brook being caught behind 6 runs short of a double century to lead Kent by 195 runs with 4 wickets remaining. However with showers forecast for tomorrow the match may well end in a draw.
If only Boro can produce a similar exhilarating display this afternoon that may put added pressure on Sheffield United and Reading before next Sunday’s final matches.
Team News: Looks like Chris Wilder has taken the Diasboro advice and brought back Crooks in place of Bola, Fry comes in for Bamba and Peltier replaces McNair, who's not even in the squad. It's the experience of Watmore and Sporar to start up top to fire Boro towards that elusive sixth spot.
Good team news as far as I’m concerned.
Come on Boro.
For those in need of an unofficial link...
as usual keep closing the pop-up windows and tabs
Well so far so good. Job half done. Some of our best passing and interplay for some weeks.
Tav and Riley looking a good combination down the left and Crooks is beginning to look his old self.
Dale is easing his way back in and apart from one lapse looking solid, as is Peltier.
Same again second half please and no typical Boro. 😎
Job definitely done: a brace for the returning Yellow Card King (which takes him into double figures for the season) & an OG: 3-1. 🙂
So will that last second goal scored by Stoke prove to be the goal that stops Boro going into playoffs ?
OFB
Well Boro put in the performance they needed and won comfortably against Stoke to take it to the last game - though whether that third minute injury time header against the post and then conceding a goal will ultimately prove decisive time will tell. A three-goal win at Preston will now be needed if Sheff Utd manage a draw against Fulham or Luton lose on Monday and draw next weekend.
Still, that was a much better performance with Crooks back to goal-scoring best and Tav and McGree inter-playing well down the left. Jones it seems was hampered by his back but at least benefited from some better service in midfield.
Boro in with a shout of a top six finish but only just but it at least gives us momentum going to Preston - the other will be nervously looking over their shoulders and the pressure is on them.
Could another goalkeeping mistake cost us again? Daniels fumbles a shot at goal and Powell follows it up to bundle it home.
Enjoyed that.
Shame about the late goal conceded with Daniels at fault I think, though you’d have to say he’s been quite a step up from Lumley overall.
The return of a refreshed Crooks made a big difference, as did shifting Tav to left wingback as many of us on here thought it would. The midfield was well balanced and dangerous despite having long spells without the ball.
I thought Sporar and Watmore just did enough to be the most convincing partnership up front, albeit from Hobson’s choice.
Howson was excellent in the first half but faded as did others. I thought Peltier was Mr Reliable again - a real unsung hero whenever called upon.
So on we go, still in the hunt. Pressure back on Luton and Sheffield Utd.
Vic's assessment:
Good display. Great balance in midfield, Dijksteel/Crooks/Jones axis restored down the right and Tav & McGree starting to form a good unit on the right. Three (!) goals and two from set-plays. Late slip only blot. Same again next week we're in the mix.
He described Crooks's second goal as a "collector's piece" because it came from a corner. 🙂
Hard today. Lot of good displays, individuals and units.
*** Howson: sparked the game with 1st half assist & 'goal'. Dynamic.
** Crooks: hard to argue with two goals on his return
* Tav: endless energy, press, passing & tracking back.
According to the Echo, Paddy was ruled out through illness:
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20106397.paddy-mcnair-ruled-illness-boro-make-four-changes/
Ok , it was a bit disappointing to concede a goal so late in the game but the players and CW deserve a lot of credit in getting to the final game and still mathematically in with a shout for 6 th place.
I expect Sheffield to beat Fulham on the grounds that they have momentum, Fulham have ‘gone off the boil’ recently and will not fancy a full blooded final game.
The locals here in Huddersfield are certainly on a high with today’s win at Coventry and their League position. They’ll be no pushover in the playoffs.
Forest look capable of nicking the automatic playoff position which would be an amazing achievement from where they were around Christmas.
Philip of Huddersfield
Apparently Jones was sick today as well as Paddy but he still played.
OFB
Why do I feel that today’s win now feels like a kick in the teeth? All Boro had to do was to keep a clean sheet in the final minute. Winning at Preston now by 3 clear goals looks far more difficult than winning by 2. Though as long as the Blades don’t score against Fulham a 2 goal win by any score for Boro should suffice. My reading of the regulations is that if the goals scored and conceded are the same by both teams Boro will finish a place above the Blades as they will have won one more match than the Blades unless the rules have altered to aggregate scores between the 2 teams, in which case Boro will lose out 3-4 over the two matches played against each other. However another 3-1 win will suffice as long as the Blades don’t score.
The goals, as seen by Sky (all two minutes' worth!):
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12602793/middlesborough-3-1-stoke
CW apparently proud of his work with Boro this season:
And three Boro players who impressed, according to The 72:
https://the72.co.uk/271894/3-middlesbrough-players-who-impressed-in-the-3-1-win-over-stoke-city/
Well next Saturday is going to be tense, as has been said that last minute goal may prove decisive, can see us winning and just missing out. As I’ve said it’s just a shame we don’t have a half decent striker, it’s the hope that kills you…..
Gazette ratings
Luke Daniels - 7
Will be disappointed with the late Stoke goal in a season where goal difference could matter. One good save though and comfortable otherwise.
Anfernee Dijksteel - 7
Solid at the back and attacked well as the right became more affective on Crooks' return.
Dael Fry - 8
Brilliant on his return from injury. Composed with everything he did and organised things at the back in a solid display.
Lee Peltier - 7
Never lets you down. He has limitations but he never tries to make up for them with anything silly. He just sticks to his strengths and was superb defensively again.
Isaiah Jones - 7
He's liveliest performance for some time. He thrived thanks to the link with Crooks.
Jonny Howson - 9
Captain fantastic. Absolutely brilliant again. Set up the first goal with positive play and took a brilliant set-piece leading to the second.
Matt Crooks - 9
Excellent on his return. Linked really well with Jones to make Boro's right a threat again and came up trumps with two important goals.
Riley McGree - 7
Linked well with Tavernier on the left hand side, was positive and always wanting to be on the ball.
Marcus Tavernier - 8
Another brilliant display starting from left wing-back this time. He added attacking impetus to Boro's left flank and was full of energy throughout.
Andraz Sporar - 7
Best performance in some time now. Was hungry, chased things down, wanted the ball and had some lovely touches. The intent from both up top helped set the tempo for Boro.
Duncan Watmore - 8
Set the tempo up top for Boro with a monumental effort. He chased everything down, wanted the ball at all times and looked to be positive and make things happen.
Substitutions
Marc Bola (For Sporar, 75') - 7 - Positive when coming on.
Josh Coburn (For Watmore, 82') - 7 - Really positive in driving Boro looking for a fourth.
Sol Bamba (For Jones, 89') - 7 - Hopefully not his final goodbye.
Just as an aside there was only one season when in the days of goal averages separating clubs on equal points that promotion would give a different outcome in deciding promotion today.
This occurred in the 1926/27, the season that George Camsell scored 59 goals for Boro. It didn’t affect Boro of course but the runners-up were Portsmouth who scored 87 goals against 49 conceded, whilst Manchester City scored 108 goals against 61 conceded. Goal average was determined by dividing goals scored by goals conceded, so Pompey’s average was 1.7755 whilst City’s was 1.7705 thus Pompey were said to have been promoted by 1.005 of a goal. When under today’s regulations City’s goal difference was +47 and 9 goals better than Pompey’s +38. Now today’s regulations of course favours the team scoring the most goals when points and goals differences are equal.