Boro are absolutely determined to defeat Preston North End this evening at the Riverside. Kick off 7pm. It would be a very rare thing could Boro make it back to back victories on our home ground but if we are serious about wanting to prolong this season's play off challenge then only a win will be good enough. Come on Boro, let's be convincing.
Preston blew us away at the back end of last year. The 3-0 defeat at Deepdale was every bit as emphatic a scoreline and performance as Boro's big win over Stoke last Saturday. The clear daylight between us and the side from the Potteries had given us renewed confidence and belief. We must use that to prevent the Lillywhite's achieving a very rare double over us and to instead take full points. That would also start to demonstrate that we are over our homesickness by the Tees.
Darnell Fisher is likely to play against old team, especially with Djed Spence having taken a knock. I wonder how many more changes we will make from our lasting starting eleven as Neil Warnock weighs up continuity of a winning side against keeping players fresh and sheltered from injury. It is a difficult balancing act, as we can see from Ashley Fletcher, who along with Marcus Tavernier will probably again be missing this evening. But will Duncan Watmore play a part tonight and surely Marvin Johnson's continued impact from the bench means he is pressing his claim to start. Also, the cool way Mendez-Laing despatched the third goal on Saturday strengthens his hand for another earlier run out.
Interesting questions but we need to be absolutely resolute in not gifting Preston the early initiative. It was a tactical readjustment that gave Boro the upper hand against Stoke but on another day the Potters might have punished us just as Bristol City did recently or indeed Preston did at the Deepdale. Talking of tactical switches could Paddy McNair come out of defence into midfield again where he was so effective in the 3-0 win.
So many questions and the kick off just an hour away. 7Pm kick off watch thru mfc.co.uk
Come On Boro and Up The Boro
Preston blew us away at the back end of last year. The 3-0 defeat at Deepdale was every bit as emphatic a scoreline and performance as Boro's big win over Stoke last Saturday. The clear daylight between us and the side from the Potteries had given us renewed confidence and belief. We must use that to prevent the Lillywhite's achieving a very rare double over us and to instead take full points. That would also start to demonstrate that we are over our homesickness by the Tees.
Darnell Fisher is likely to play against old team, especially with Djed Spence having taken a knock. I wonder how many more changes we will make from our lasting starting eleven as Neil Warnock weighs up continuity of a winning side against keeping players fresh and sheltered from injury. It is a difficult balancing act, as we can see from Ashley Fletcher, who along with Marcus Tavernier will probably again be missing this evening. But will Duncan Watmore play a part tonight and surely Marvin Johnson's continued impact from the bench means he is pressing his claim to start. Also, the cool way Mendez-Laing despatched the third goal on Saturday strengthens his hand for another earlier run out.
Interesting questions but we need to be absolutely resolute in not gifting Preston the early initiative. It was a tactical readjustment that gave Boro the upper hand against Stoke but on another day the Potters might have punished us just as Bristol City did recently or indeed Preston did at the Deepdale. Talking of tactical switches could Paddy McNair come out of defence into midfield again where he was so effective in the 3-0 win.
So many questions and the kick off just an hour away. 7Pm kick off watch thru mfc.co.uk
Come On Boro and Up The Boro
