It is still the case that the Manager makes statement ' Tav. is the best player at the club'. Tav. Has not started as we have racked up several home defeats, could we please have an explanation? It would be nice to know why. When he and Wing plus fletcher and spence are on the field, we seem to have the opposition in trouble with a bit of speed and goal threat.
While I'm hoping for a win at Reading, I think a draw may also be a bit useful as I'm thinking 49 points may be enough to stay up.
Looking at Barnsley's remaining fixtures, it's going to be a tall order to pick up more than three points with games against Leeds, Forest and Brentford.
Hull also have some difficult games at Wigan and Cardiff with that game against Luton at the weekend, which will mean there's a good chance of one of them picking up three points. Therefore a point tonight could put us three ahead of Hull with a better goal difference.
This also means Luton would need 5 points from their last three games to overhaul Boro and that would be two wins if we end up with 49 points - OK they may do it but it's not easy.
I think Wigan may well get at least six points from their last three games (Hull, Charlton, Fulham) - especially if Fulham opt to rest players ahead of the play-offs - which could mean they'll also finish with 49 points even with a 12-point deduction.
Charlton will be pushed to get more than three points from their games against Birmingham, Wigan and Leeds so on that basis probably won't get more than 49 points either but they currently are two goals better off than Boro or three if you like given our goals scored.
Anyway, a win this evening will be better as I'm confident 50 points will secure Championship football!
Wycombe voted against the re-start, got bumped up 5 league places and then won the play-offs....All their fans should be thanking their lucky stars.
Redcar Red .....I must have missed the article, but who has actually said that Sheff Wed, could be docked points? The investigation ongoing, is there a date for its conclusion and punishment for non compliance. Or could it be next season before the report is issued.
Read all about it! Well maybe not all about it, in fact not much but I guess thats for legal reasons as much as anything else:
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-wednesday-efl-charge-verdict-18595337
I did do a piece with more bones on it in the Clubs and Administration thread.
@werdermouth I am pleased to see your optimistic analysis Werder. We now know anything can happen and would not rule out Birmingham struggling to pick up any more points although they have two home games.
Your figure of 49 is probably key, but I have serious doubts where the Boro will pick up any at all. As I posted earlier, a miracle or an out of the blue win is needed. According to the BBC League table and last 5 results, Luton and Barnsley have only lost one game each. Most have lost 3, Huddersfield just 2, but Birmingham 4.
Hard to believe how tight it is. I also expect Wigan to easily escape after their 12 points deduction.
I think NW will set up to not lose the game. I reckon 0-0
Up to now Boro have played League matches against exactly 100 clubs and of course we’re all hoping that Wycombe Wanderers will be the 101st or we’ll be relegated, but 10 of those clubs Boro have only met twice (home and away) and apart from Loughborough Town the other 9 have all been since England won the World Cup. Can anybody name them?
Team News...
So Pears back in goal Tav and Roberts perhaps playing as a front three with Fletcher and Dijksteel maybe part of a back three with Fry and Friend and Spence and Johnson as wing-backs - Looks like Warnock is going for it!
Interesting line-up. Glad to see Roberts and Tav in the side with Fletcher making a mobile group in the attacking third. Happy to see Pears as well. Where's Shotton?
Formation is less clear. Is it a back three with Djiksteel in there, or a 4-4-1-1 with Roberts off Fletcher and Tav and Johnson wide? Or something else entirely?
Great to see Roberts in from the start. Best front player we have got.
So now Shotton has played his last game for the club!
@malcolm Yes just read that he's injured and therefore has left the club. A shame for the remainder of this season.
Didn't set the world alight but a steady player who didn't cause any bother and you felt he always gave his best. Was he worth the £4m we paid? Probably not but nowhere near the top of the list for poor value signings.
Wish him well.
Have to say I’m very surprised by that line-up, not much in midfield ( mind you if your style of play is to bypass it then it probably doesn’t matter). I fear for them today and feel a heavy defeat coming. I’d love to be proved wrong but it doesn’t augur well.
Certainly doesn't look to be a team set up to defend. Pleased to see Pears back as I felt that he was unlucky to lose the shirt. I am not convinced about Stojanovic, he punches to much, doesn't command his six yard box and has been at fault in my view for a few goals conceded recently.
Still don't know what to expect in the way of a performance and still believe Reading will come out on top after all they have struggled to win at home, so say no more! 😎
That Starting XI is almost what I'd advocated as a 3-4-3 for the previous game but now with Dijksteel instead of Shotton, who has joined the defender exodus with Ayala and Moukoudi - at this rate McNair will soon be back in central defence
Thanks Redcar Red for the Bristol City report. It took a while before I could bring myself to read it. I don't know how you manage to give such detailed reports as my memory of matches disappears in a flash. My doctor said I have a short attention span, which is probably a good thing for watching the Boro.
Werder, have you thought about putting out a really depressing preview so that after watching the regular disaster we all still feel happier than before kick off?
I went for an eye test today and the bad news was that my sight has not deteriorated. I really have seen Boro playing dreadfully.
I have not recently been opening a bottle of wine or even a can of beer for my match viewing as it has seemed a waste of a good drink. Today however I will be opening a Sauvignon Blanc before the fateful (or fatal) game. (A red wine somehow doesn't seem appropriate at this time.)
UTB
@werdermouth Yes, me too Werder. Though originally it was Ayala, then Shotton, now Djiksteel.
I would still prefer Clayton over Saville and Coulson over Johnson but it’s not a million miles away from what I think would be our best setup, if indeed it is a 3-4-3. Something tells me it won’t be.
I guess it must be 3-4-3. Asking a lot of Dijksteel who hasn't played this century. At this rate we may see Woodgate back as a player before the end of the season...
Dijksteel couldn't defend as a full-back and I was more than surprised to see him come on as a sub against Bristol. If the plan is to pay him as a centre back then that team sheet is the closest thing to a suicide note that I have seen in Boro's history.
I'll still be cheering and hoping for the best, like, but I share GHW's fear that this could be a thumping.
Reading 5 Boro 2
Well I got what I asked for Tav and Roberts starting. It’s up to them now.
@lenmasterman With Fry the only full time centre back left at the club - or at least the only one who has played more than five senior games - I’m not sure what else Warnock could have done without reverting to a back four, and that has barely worked all season.
Maybe put Howson back there again or McNair?
Instead of sitting in silence not knowing how Boro are doing you can watch it live for free on Hesgoal.com
Not expecting much tonight in terms of points. I wouldn’t be surprised if relegation went to the last game at Sheffield Wednesday. It looks as though 50 points will be enough to stay up but as anyone can beat anyone predicting the bottom 3 teams is a lottery.
Goal Difference May yet prove very important come the end of the season, I fear NW May be gambling on getting points a bit too early. Nothing wrong with flooding the midfield and going for a point with McNair and Clayton.
Could be hiding behind the sofa whilst watching today.
Royals a goal up after 33 minutes: Johnson at fault, according to Vic. On the other hand, the Latics are 5-0 against the Tigers...
[,,,] On the other hand, the Latics are 5-0 against the Tigers...
Make that 6-0! It's a rout!
Royals a goal up after 33 minutes: Johnson at fault, according to Vic.
Make that 1-1 - header from Fletcher in the 45th minute, assisted by Roberts, according to the Beeb, or Howson, according to Vic. 🙂
Half-time: 1-1. We’ve done ok. A few scary moments and a very poor goal to concede but we got a bit better as the half went on and started to get at them down the flanks.
Its not really happening for Spence down the right. I’d be tempted to look at Coulson or Nmecha - probably the former - to come on there.
I think Boro have grown into the game and while the first quarter was quite scrappy, Reading scored from a badly defended corner while Boro were down to ten men. At least Boro responded and it was a deft header from Fletcher to equalise and are now back in the game with Reading not looking too dangerous. Dijksteel has made a couple of important challenges too so overall Boro not looking in bad shape - certainly much better than Hull, who are already 7-0 down at half-time!