So looks like a return to the Reading wing-backs and Johnson keeps his place in place of Roberts - it's possible that Tav is playing behind Akpom and Johnson is right wing-back. I guess we'll discover soon what the tactical tweak is!
Bettinelli
Dijksteel - Fry - McNair
Johnson - Morsy - Howson - Saville - Bola
Tavernier
Akpom
I guess it will be a tight game and we may see the likes of Roberts, Spence or even Coulson introduced in the second half to add some pace - I also see that Britt is on the bench too so he may get 15 minutes.
I'm hoping Boro will nick this one - probably 1-0 with Tav scoring but can't rule out another solid 0-0.
Not the formation I'm expecting as I guess having Johnson in for Roberts has thrown the computer - especially with Bola playing as a defensive shield and Howson as a left wing-back 🙂
We had even less excuse for our stupidity over Bamford, as I remember he scored about 8 goals in a handful of games prior to our play off games, and was duly dropped for same. A quite dreadful Aston villa? Somehow scrambled past us minus Bamford.
Saville bags his second goal in two games to put Boro 1-0 at half-time. 😀 Is he finally starting to show why he was bought from Millwall?
@grovehillwallah. Thanks for info on streams. I had not appreciated the match was not available to overseas subscribers until I logged in and could only get audio.
Not a great match of any quality but we are battling and a great corner and goal from Saville. CoB 😎
That was a really gutsy point against a team who produced an endless stream of crosses and long throws. I can absolutely understand why NW wanted to sign Moore. He's quite a handfull. Great effort all round with the back four doing well against the Cardiff onslaught and he midfield working away like crazy. Bola seems to have really come up since his weak performances last year. Bettinelli did well and had no chance with the goal. Akpom had no service at all and hardly touched the ball and Johnson was a bit up and down. Tavernier was excellent and possibly even my MOM although he missed two very good chances one in each half. His crossing was exceptional and he so nearly laid on a goal for Spence just after he came on. Britt
5 points from those three games is not to be sneezed although it must be a bit of a worry how vulnerable we looked against a really tall team who played very basic football.
UTB
Like KP I only realised it wasn't being shown on MFC Live until the last minute - managed to get a low quality stream for the first half and found a better one for the second after a laptop restart to speed it up.
Anyway, a scrappy game low on quality in slippery conditions with a fair few long balls and a lot of misplaced passes. Still, Boro looked fairly comfortable in what looked like a 4-5-1 formation to start with. With goal-machine George getting another from a good header from a dangerous corner from Tav it looked like Boro may sneak another win but after Cardiff went with two big lads up front they made more chances and Boro's defence was at full stretch at times.
I suppose their equaliser could have been avoided as they had three unopposed touches in the box but if you'd offered a point before the game we'd have probably taken it. Now six games unbeaten with two games against bottom six sides to come - the table is looking very tight with just two points separating 14th from 6th so may be a good time to win a couple 🙂
The main difference seems to be NW. He seems to have got them playing with a sense of togetherness, and that is the difference between getting points easily and lots of hard luck stories. So well done to him.
@werdermouth. Nice précis of today's game with a more detailed report to come from RR no doubt.
Never mind the quality I am happy with the point albeit we now need a couple of home wins to build on a promising start.
Still concerned at our lack of ability to score from open play which could come back to bite us but take the point and enjoy the unbeaten run. 😎
Dael Fry was imperious MOM by a country mile. Everyone else were also worth a mention in dispatches.
We were undone by a corner that should have been defended better, but we should be happy with a draw.
Just seen the game tonight is being shown here in Oz on BeIn. Might be good for others to check their local providers.
Thanks for the info, so instead of Riverside Live, I was able to see match live on TV yesterday.
Personally I don't think the play was as good as at Bristol, perhaps both teams were getting tired. Certainly Morsy was not as good as before. But we sertaily matched the home side and earned a good point away from home.
Up the Boro!