I don't agree Luton is a nothing game. I'm sure the Boro supportes certainly won't be thinking that. All games are important to keep the momentum in my view and I hope MC plays his best team.
On another note nice to see Barry Robson manager of Aberdeen get a result against Rangers.
It's definitely not a nothing game but this feels almost like 3 games to prepare ourselves for the play-offs. We have to balance keeping a sense of momentum and confidence with getting some of our injured back on the pitch and hoping the players who have come in continue to make an impact.
Dijksteel and Jones turned things around against Hull but whether they can maintain that for a whole game on a cold Monday in Luton is the real test. For many of our fringe players, the next three games are almost like an audition where they get a chance to prove they deserve to stay in the team for the play-offs.
Given our injury list, it's hard to know which direction Carrick will go. I have a sneaking suspicion that he will switch to three at the back if McNair is not fit. Woodgate used it during his best spell as manager and Howson did well playing CB in a three. Luton are a big, physical team and I don't see Howson playing alongside Lenihan as a CB in a 4. Alternately, I noticed that Cain Sykes and Bryant Bilongo didn't play for the U21s yesterday. Definitely a chance that if we stick with a 4 that Sykes comes in for a debut. In many ways this is a good time to blood a youngster because it's a surprisingly low-stakes match.
This also feels like a match where we'll need Crooks' height. He may not be the best at winning headers but he can go nose to nose with Luton's giants.
Have no real idea how this will play out. Luton are narrow favourites. They have been on a steadily improving upward trajectory for 3 years now while we have been flailing about with 4 managers and multiple relaunches. If they do end up beating us to the Premier league, you would have to say they have put in the hard work and earned it.
No predictions. I fear a heavy loss with us malfunctioning but I suspect that it will end up being a cagey draw. Like us, Luton have every reason to conserve their strength over their last 3 games before the play-offs.
When did we last take part in play-offs? We lost to Norwich and Howson in 2015.
But I do not think we were there already with three matces to go? So well done after where Carrick started.
Here are the dates:
Championship
Saturday, 13 May: Semi-final, first leg - 6th v 3rd (17:30 BST)
Sunday, 14 May: Semi-final, first leg - 5th v 4th (12:00 BST)
Tuesday, 16 May: Semi-final, second leg - 3rd v 6th (20:00 BST)
Wednesday, 17 May: Semi-final, first leg - 4th v 5th (20:00 BST)
Saturday, 27 May: Final (16:45 BST)
Up the Boro!
A few hours of ‘liegen schweigen’ from me about today’s match, suffice to say how gutted I am about Hartlepool’s defeat and the rain at Hove yesterday.
Thanks for the opener OFB and good to see the fog from recent bout of Covid is starting to lift - though I have a friend whose experience of long Covid finally ended a few months ago after seven months of feeling of exhaustion and night sweats - so take it easy.
As for today's game, well these pre-play-off games are starting look like play-off rehearsals with first Luton and finishing with newly top-sixed Coventry. Hard to judge how to approach these game but anyone carrying a knock should be left to recover and perhaps a few key players like Howson and Chuba should be used sparingly.
Though with the weekend results having all gone our way, there's absolutely no pressure on either Boro or Luton so both teams may as well go for it and try and put down a psychological marker.
btw Only five days ago I speculated on who Boro would fancy playing in play-offs and after the weekend it has certainly taken on a prophetic feeling with Coventry and Sunderland now in the top six...
As to who Boro would fancy playing is hard to say but better a team that has just about hung in the top six than one that breaks in and is full of confidence - could be anyone maybe even Coventry who matched our escape from the bottom back inthe early Carrick days - or god forbid Sunderland who could yet sneak in.
What it does show is that few teams looking to make the play-offs are in the kind of form that should worry Boro - so it will be interesting to see how Luton and Boro match up this evening. OK the automatics are completely reliant on Sheff Utd collapsing before the finishing line - though it won't be easy for them with home games against two teams desperate for three points to make the play-offs in West Brom and Preston - followed by a trip to Warnock's Huddersfield looking to seal their survival. Could be interesting if the Blades feel the pressure and need a result at Birmingham. I'm sure Sheff Utd fans will be hoping for a draw tonight!
Anyway, it will be interesting to see the team selection from Michael Carrick and just how he opts to cope with the defensive injury list - in theory both Dijksteel and Bola could play in a back three with Lenihan leaving Jones and Giles as wing-backs but probably not enough time on the training pitch to change the system so it could be Howson again as Boro have plenty of midfield options.
Personally, I hope Boro go all out for the win knowing that if they lose it at least gives Luton the three points to put pressure on Sheff Utd - who I'd rather face in the play-offs than Luton as they're not the team they were earlier in the season and are just about scraping results.
I think I messsed up on the last attempt to send a post so here goes again...
I was going to say that at this stage we shouldn't be concerned which teams finish where in positions 3-6 at the end of the regular-season fixture list: Boro shouldn't fear meeting any team in the play-offs but that it should be the opponents' job to be worried about Boro. But, there again, it might be better to make that point AFTER this evening's game against in-form Luton (A).
MC's shuffled the pack a bit - Barlaser, Jones & Dijksteel start, along with Bola, Crooks & Mowatt; HH & Akpom on the bench:
Is that the back three that Deleriad suggested? Could be:
————————Steffen———————
———-Dijksteel Lenihan Bola————
Jones Howson Barlaser Mowatt Giles
———————Crooks Archer————
I agree with Carrick's selections.
It's imperative that Dijksteel, Bola, Barlaser, Crooks, Mowatt and Jones are all brought up to match fitness in readiness for the play-offs, should we need them.
I would have liked to have seen Muniz join them, since we may need him as an auxiliary striker should anything befall Archer. It might have given the Brazilian the incentive he apparently needs to start performing. Still he's a sub tonight so he may well get his chance.
Is that the back three that Deleriad suggested? Could be:
————————Steffen———————
———-Dijksteel Lenihan Bola————
Jones Howson Barlaser Mowatt Giles
———————Crooks Archer————
Probably more likely that Howson will drop into defence.
I think Boro's putting Akpom on the Bench at this stage of the season is like England putting Kane on the Bench in the last group game where qualification has been assured, to protect him before the knock-out games begin. On his form this season and right now, Akpom in the Championship is the equivalent of Kane in the Premier League. (Let's see if Kane wins the Premier League Player of the Season).
Fingers crossed for Boro at Luton because it's time to trek over to the Dead Donkey...
While I did speculate on a possible back three with Dijksteel Lenihan and Bola, it would be too much work on the training pitch to change the system at this stage for a one-off. Sticking with 4-2-3-1 is my guess.
More likely that Jones and Giles are playing as wide forward players with Crooks playing behind Archer with a midfield duo of Mowatt and Barlasser - so Howson in central defence with Dijksteel and Bola as fullbacks.
Akpom likely is being protected but he also had a late night last night at the EFL Awards, as did Hackney.
First blood to Boro: Archer in the 40th minute, assisted by Crooks.
Boro looked comfortable in possession in that first half with Luton not really getting tight to the Boro players in order to break up our passing game. Overall easy on the eye without looking like Boro were going to outgun the opposition - though nice cool finish from Archer again. Can't say Luton look like a side ready for the PL - more workman-like without too much individual talent - Not worried about facing them in the Play-off final with our A side.
A first half that was largely lacking in both intensity and quality but we lead 1-0.
Boro’s changed XI settled well without looking particularly threatening, before Luton came into the game also looking a little blunt.
Thankfully we have a natural goalscorer in Archer who has an incessant hunger.
Luton will surely be very dissatisfied with their performance thus far - very little quality on the ball and none of the aggression or thrust we might have expected.
We should expect them to improve and not get comfortable.
Lockyer equalises for The Hatters in the 49th minute. 🙁
Penalty to Luton. Referee saw through his Luton eyes! A dive according to SKY and I agree
Harsh. I think there’s a reasonable chance that both Luton goals would have been ruled out by VAR if we had it in the Championship.
Penalty to Luton. Referee saw through his Luton eyes!
Conceded by Steffen in the 67th minute. 2-1 Luton...
Maddo on the Beeb's live commentary:
I don't think it's a penalty. I think Zack Steffen pulls his arm away. Someone has messaged me saying it's the worst decision they've ever seen. I've seen it again, Morris slides in, Steffen pulls out. I think it's a real harsh decision. If you look at the way he goes down, Steffen slides in and I don't think there is a touch.
A little disappointing but not the end of the world.
No surprise that we didn’t see the best of Boro tonight with such a changed team but I can’t believe that was anything like Luton’s best either.
I thought Boro were a little unfortunate tonight with both Luton goals and I’d say we were marginally the better team overall purely on the approach play.
That being said, our final ball and finishing was off but with McGree, Ramsey, Forss, Akpom and Hackney not on the field, that was perhaps to be expected.
On the plus side we’ve come through it without injuries, Jones has clearly recovered his appetite to beat his man and Jonny Howson was classy and unflustered at centre-back.
Lets hope we get some first teamers back for the playoffs.
I think there was a contact even Steffen tried to avoid it. So the penalty kick was given. Cannot argue much - Steffen was late.
Up the Boro!
Well Boro didn't deserve to lose the the match but disappointed MC didn't make more of his subs. Putting Muniz on was a mistake.
Vic's assessment:
FT: 1-2. Much changed Boro the better side but denied by a 'controversial' penalty. Some good displays by the lads who stepped in. And who played out of position. Flashes of fluid football, created chances. On another day...
Boro didn't really deserve to lose that one after a free header from a corner with shades of obstruction and a very dubious penalty - though Boro created enough chances to win the game but probably around ten fell to either Bola or a misfiring Crooks. Can't say Luton look a side that would worry our A team but we can only hope some of the injuries to McGree, Forss and Ramsey clear up and of course Akpom and Hackney were rested. At least Jones and Dijksteel have added an extra dimension down the right and Howson looks just as good in defence as midfield.
Key now is to head to the play-offs with momentum and not just relax and play it safe - can't see anyone else better than Boro if we play at our best so up to Carrick to manage to keep the players sharp and hungry!
All I'd say is that Steffen didn't bring Carlton Morris down - the Luton player wanted contact and just about engineered to brush against Steffen's shorts in the same way I'd fall over if I accidentally got hit by a T-shirt blowing in the wind on a washing line. The question is did Steffen make enough contact to bring Morris down? I'd say no so no penalty.
