Playoff Semi-Final, 1st Leg - Coventry v Boro

Andy R · 2023-05-10T12:04:41Z

Right. This is it.After Boro concluded the regular season with a somewhat predictable draw at home to Coventry, the time has finally come for the much anticipated playoff semi-finals and, errr, Coventry again: Sunday 14th May, kick-off 12pm.Boro controlled much of the game on Bank Holiday Monday with 73% possession and almost 500 more passes than the visitors, yet didn’t create a great deal and remained a little below par overall. Coventry’s game plan was basic in keeping players behind the ball and conceding possession, then looking to pounce on any wayward passes and spring a quick and direct counter via the dangerous Viktor Gyokeres.Boro’s tempo was too slow in the first half and too many passes were misplaced but they did pick it up as the game progressed and looked the more likely to nick a winner before safety-first subs disrupted the flow.In the end, the big questions about where exactly Boro are as we head into the playoffs remain unanswered – have the injuries blunted Boro or have we been playing slightly within ourselves? We’ll surely find out on Sunday lunchtime.The Sky Blues enter the semis on the back of a seven game unbeaten run, winning three. Two of those three victories came at the CBS Arena - against strugglers Reading (2-1) and Birmingham City (2-0) - where they have averaged 1.74pts/game over the season.Mark Robins’ men are a consistent side with the sixth best home record in the division and the seventh best away record (Boro third at home, ninth away) whilst they are the division’s seventh best attack with 58 goals scored (Boro second) and fourth best defence with 46 against (Boro twelfth).It’s hard to imagine that Monday’s encounter offers too much insight into how this first leg of the playoffs will play out. We can expect both sides to remain in their customary shape of 4-2-3-1 for Boro and 3-5-2 for Coventry but surely the hosts will be keen to take an advantage into Wednesday night’s second leg and therefore playing solely on the counter might be a little too restrictive for them. Of course, if they do come out to play, that will arguably suit Boro better, so perhaps they will play a cagey game once more after all.Boro’s main defensive weakness is in managing the transition after we’ve lost the ball. All season, including pre-Carrick, we’ve struggled to keep the ball out of our net when we’re turned over. We’re an open side that struggles to get compact quickly whilst too often making non-committal, leg-dangly sort of tackles as we desperately try to get in shape. Exploiting this, along with targeting set pieces, will surely be Coventry’s game plan and there could be a case for restoring Anfernee Dijksteel at right back for his extra pace and height in dealing with long balls into the channels.Whether Carrick opts to do so may depend on whether Ramsey or Forss make an unlikely return. Certainly with the latter, the combination with Tommy Smith has been cohesive, which sadly does not appear to be the case with, alas, Smith and Jones.Regardless of who is fit to play, it is perhaps Jones who is most likely to drop out of Boro’s XI. The lightening quick wide man has plenty to offer on his day but unfortunately he remains a misfit in Carrick’s more cultured midfield, where positioning, technical ability and interplay trump raw pace and individual trickery.Even if Howson remains sidelined, there must be a temptation for Carrick to move Hackney further forward once more as he fits the description of the role more snugly than Jones and did a very good job of it for a couple of games last month. Breaking down Coventry’s back three isn’t the easiest task but with a fluid front four of McGree, Hackney, Akpom and Archer, you’d have to give Boro a better chance than most.That would, of course, mean one or both of Mowatt and Barlaser starting. Both are more physical and experienced players than Hackney but perhaps don’t quite have the same eye for a pass. Either way, if Boro are to rediscover their full attacking prowess then playing the players that best fit the roles feels like the optimum strategy and that might just mean a return to the bench for Jones, who can then use his explosive pace to maximum effect later in the game.At present, there is no clear expectation that any of the injured Fry, Howson, Ramsey or Forss will return in time so we’d all better hope that Boro’s recent dip has been more about conservation than casualties. I suspect there’s been a little of both at play but still firmly believe that Boro’s best is the benchmark for these playoffs. The bookies agree.They say you can’t win the tie in the first leg but you can lose it, so as long as it’s game on for Wednesday night, we’ll take it.Come on Boro. Please.

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Stircrazy

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May 15, 2023 11:49 am

The Times' view of the match:

https://archive.ph/vq4LG

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exmil

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Joined: 6 years ago

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May 15, 2023 12:52 pm

@jarkko I never miss a home game and I have my hotel booked since the final date came out, will enjoy the atmosphere at the Riverside with another sell out crowd.

Come on BORO.

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