All the posts are very similar in tone, and for a very Good reason. We have no goal scorer with the injury to Crooks, our loanee wanders about the pitch, does not look willing, or interested. In the last second of the game at Bristol with the Ref lifting the whistle to blow he was entering the box, the only thing to do as shoot, he passed!
Plato I doubt he was looking at the ref when he entered the box and possibly thought there was more time and a player in a better position, if he had shot and missed, people would have said why didn’t he pass, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Come on BORO.
Reading all the posts I don’t think that Wilder will make too many changes for the initial lineup this evening.
Changing Crooks for McGree is the only original change I think he will make and has probably had the team training in that format since Sunday.
MCGree himself has admitted that he is comfortable in any of the midfield roles and is a big unit and appears to be extremely confident at this level.
I also expect Tav to have a few more shots on goal and might even get a goal tonight.
Wilder will have analysed the goal scored against Boro by Andy Carroll whilst playing for Reading and no doubt the defence will have been well drilled over the past few days with young Josh Coburn taking the role of AC during training.
Me ?
Im still confident Of a 2. - 0 win
UTB
OFB
Just getting into the groove for another Boro match and thanks to Andy for another great preview to set the mood - I think West Brom are there for the taking at the moment and Steve Bruce teams are not famous for their goal scoring. Hopefully Boro's strikers can find their shooting boots tonight in the absence of our top scorer in Crooks - I'd probably start with Watmore and Sporar as the new boys are still not looking sharp enough. Team should be out shortly...
Team news: Well Chris Wilder has taken my advice and gone with Balogun and Connolly again - McGree replaces Crooks as expected...
Many congratulations go to Redcar Red who became a grandfather for the first time today.
OFB
Many congratulations go to Redcar Red who became a grandfather for the first time today.
OFB
Congratulations RR and especially to the parents.
Great news to start the evening with
Great news and congratulations to all the family RR. 😎
Yes, Congrats to RR on becoming a grandfather - though probably no need for the usual detailed report on all the action 😉
Big congratulations, RR. Hope all the family are doing well.
That’s tipped the balance for me. I was going for a home win tonight but I’m going for a comfortable one now!
If we score first, they could crumble given their run. Start fast, Boro.
Can't see any links for tonight's game - don't know whether it's available in the UK via MFC Live or on the red button.
Actually it's not available for streaming on MFC for me
It's been a mixture of good and poor performances by individuals - the pick for Boro are McGree, Dijksteel and Jones but Balogun (sorry Balagoon as the commentator calls him) has lost the ball every time it's reached him and should be subbed at HT. Connolly also not looking like he's getting better and Lumley could have cost us another two goals with his less than brushed up sweeper-keeper. Though the worst peformance on the pitch by far has been the ref - he's missed so many blatant fouls it's ridiculous. Poor goal to concede from a team that doesn't score.
1 down at half time.
We were well on top and looking good but referee was missing so much or bottling so much and allowed wba's physical game to rattle us.
Lumley.... less said rhe better, but not at fault for the goal.
Wilder will hopefully get their heads straight at half time and we will get back on top.
A promising start with good movement and control, but the now familiar failings soon manifested themselves.
No threats on goal, weak strikers and suicidal goalkeeping.
Balogun may as well have stayed in the dressing room. Connolly, huffing and puffing but little cutting edge. McGree very promising.
In short, Saturday's verdict repeating itself.
No excuse for Watmore and Sporar not starting the second half.
Every minute will count if we are to get back into this game
As it is the Baggies look more likely to grab a second than we are to get back.
Spot on Werder.
Lunley looking very shaky with his feet and the front two not working for us or holding the ball well enough.
Well in the game and it’s still there for us but a change needed up front, maybe two.
Brilliant from McGree and Tav and another close range finish for Len’s collection. 1-1.
Never in doubt. 😉
Comfortable enough in the end!
A good second half comeback after Wilder made those changes we asked for.
Tav was excellent at left wingback, bagging a goal and an assist but I thought Djiksteel was also superb. He didn’t put a foot wrong defensively and that turn that led to the winner was sublime. McGree impressed too once he had Tav outside him to make forward runs.
Seven home wins in a row and back into the top six. Happy days.
Another home win. All tap ins for Len's collection. No wonder we loaned Ikpeazu to Cardiff.
But why do we keep on starting with the new boys as we have Watmore and Šporar, too? I think the new boys must start on the bench.
But a win is a win. Another home win for Ken's collection. Up the Boro!
I like the look of McGree - looks like he has a killer pass in him. Tav was ace tonight too. That’s probably as well as I’ve seen Djiksteel play going forward as well.
A great win.
Well once those much needed subs were made (Balogun got ten more minutes than he deserved) it was a different Boro as they found their cutting edge. Big second half from Tav who linked up well with McGree to create the first - then Dijksteelinho (my MoM) showed some magic to make the second. Watmore is so clever and full of energy that I don't understand how either Connolly or Balogun get on he pitch ahead of him. Indeed, replacing Connolly with Peltier didn't really blunt our attack. Also a word for Fry who nullified the threat of Andy Carroll.
Another Riverside victory and back into the top six - perhaps time to consider Tav as first choice left wing-back as Taylor appears to make us too dependent on Jones - who was much better than at Bristol City.
Though we shouldn't ignore that the ref had a shocker tonight - I think he missed 5 blatant fouls against Boro and some wrong calls for throw-ins too.
Half time, doom and gloom.
Lumley made two mistakes which could have been costly - must be awful playing as a defender in front of him.
The two forwards were dire. Bologan repeatedly came into his own half to receive the ball with his back to goal and all he did was pass it back, usually to McNair. What’s the point? He’s not physically strong enough for this league.
The other forward- Connolly repeatedly fell over challenging for the ball. Enough said.
Second half was a big improvement with the arrival of Watmore and to a lesser extent Sporor. In the end they deserved to win - the longer the game went on , the more West Brom looked like a team short of confidence.
The main plus was McGree who looks a talented player making the opportunity for Tavernier to cross the ball for the first goal.
And you can’t keep young Jones quiet all night - popped up with another assist.
And Lumley made two more errors which could have been costly.
There you have it - I’ve gone in a circle!!
Finally , as a former referee who stands up for referees , I have to say that tonight’s referee was not good.
Philip of Huddersfield
Wilder and the team showed (again) that they can turn a game around. McGree looks like a real player. I wish Watmore could play 90 minutes but he really needs to start the next game.
With Tav at wing-back, McGree on the left and McNair charging forwards we actually looked to carry a threat on the left. Howson was immense; Wilderball has given him a new lease of life.
It was hard work but it will reinforce the players' belief in themselves, in Wilder and in the system. Interesting that we seem now to have a standard 3-4-3 to move to when we need to chase a game.
I don't know if Connolly will ever score again but he put a shift in and worked their defence. He got a good reception when he was subbed.
Phew.........
Whatmore made a big difference
It’s obvious to everyone that Watmore is a class player who can run a defence ragged. However, how much of this is due to him coming on fresh with, say, 35 minutes to go. If he needs managing, is he better starting and being replaced or coming on fresh to harass a tiring defence.
McGree looks like a real player.
utb
Thought we looked flat first half, particularly Jones, I feared that he may be carrying an injury. West Brom appeared to give us more space second half and the goals came. Agree with everyone about the loan players, will they play on Saturday? Both the BBC and whoscored have given the assist for Tav's goal to Whatmore, did he get a slight touch before Tav scored? The bookings are also racking up McNair and Howson are on 8 each and Jones is on 7, five games to go before the cut off.
Thought we looked flat first half, particularly Jones, I feared that he may be carrying an injury. West Brom appeared to give us more space second half and the goals came. Agree with everyone about the loan players, will they play on Saturday? Both the BBC and whoscored have given the assist for Tav's goal to Whatmore, did he get a slight touch before Tav scored? The bookings are also racking up McNair and Howson are on 8 each and Jones is on 7, five games to go before the cut off.
5 games to go before the cut off, I am sure it’s 1 game to go, i.e. 32 matches before it switches to 15 yellow in 38 matches for a 3 game ban.
Come on BORO.
exmil
just checked again and the essential information for players issued by the FA definitely states 37 games for the EFL, the 32 is for the Premier League.