Boro fans are hoping that the team can quickly bounce back from defeat at Sheff Wed when we play Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park today. Kick off 3pm.
Boro ended last year losing out 2-1 to reviving relegation threatened Sheff Wed now we hope to start the New Year in better shape against the team at the base of the table, Wycombe Wanderers. Yet the Chairboys are scrapping hard for every point and they ended 2020 with a superb win over Cardiff City. So, this will not be easy against the team playing at a higher level than anytime in their history and determined to make a fight of staying in the Championship.
I asked Neil Warnock about the task ahead at the zoom press conference yesterday.
Q: Do you think they will be tough opponents?
NW: Yes, they are really tough. But I don't mind that. I have so much time for Gareth (Ainsworth) and the team. They are so genuine. Every one of those players goes on and gives 100% every game. As a manager at a club, you cannot ask any more than that. So, from my personal point of view, I think it is great, me. We are going to have to be ready for it.
More long in the tooth Boro fans will remember our FA Cup encounter with the then non league Wycombe in Loakes Park. The Isthmian Leaguers held us at their old home ground of Loakes Park before we ran out narrow 1-0 winners at home.
Neil Warnock also played them in non league football with Burton Albion. I wondered if the Boro gaffer recalled that sloping pitch.
NW: We beat them in the cup on the slopy pitch. Then they moved to a new stadium (Adams Park). I think under Martin O'Neill, they beat us in the league, or in the cup. So, I have been to the new stadium. Fortunately for the press guys at the new stadium, it used to take you 2 hours to get out but there are no fans so you might be able to get out in 2 or 3 mins now. That is the good news.
Not for me. I cannot access press boxes, home or away but I wondered about the month ahead, we all know about post Xmas slumps etc.
Q: January has been a challenging month for Boro over the years. With cup games, transfer windows, there can be a lot of things that can disturb your focus if you are not careful.
NW: Yes, I am never really worried too much as a manager, myself. I am quite good in the second half of the season, me.
That is something that really encourages Boro fans, could this be the start of big times for us?
Q: And this is the start of the important part of the season isn't it?
NW: Yeah, absolutely. You don't win anything at Christmas, do you. So, you try and improve the squad if you can but you try and enjoy it and try and get the lads who have played so well for me to do even more.
That is what we have got to do, we have got to find goals from elsewhere, when we are not creating enough in other areas.
And with that the Chief Exec Neil Bausor phoned Neil and that was the end of the press conference. And it left us wondering quite what the conversation might have been, could it involve new players?
Boro ended last year losing out 2-1 to reviving relegation threatened Sheff Wed now we hope to start the New Year in better shape against the team at the base of the table, Wycombe Wanderers. Yet the Chairboys are scrapping hard for every point and they ended 2020 with a superb win over Cardiff City. So, this will not be easy against the team playing at a higher level than anytime in their history and determined to make a fight of staying in the Championship.
I asked Neil Warnock about the task ahead at the zoom press conference yesterday.
Q: Do you think they will be tough opponents?
NW: Yes, they are really tough. But I don't mind that. I have so much time for Gareth (Ainsworth) and the team. They are so genuine. Every one of those players goes on and gives 100% every game. As a manager at a club, you cannot ask any more than that. So, from my personal point of view, I think it is great, me. We are going to have to be ready for it.
More long in the tooth Boro fans will remember our FA Cup encounter with the then non league Wycombe in Loakes Park. The Isthmian Leaguers held us at their old home ground of Loakes Park before we ran out narrow 1-0 winners at home.
Neil Warnock also played them in non league football with Burton Albion. I wondered if the Boro gaffer recalled that sloping pitch.
NW: We beat them in the cup on the slopy pitch. Then they moved to a new stadium (Adams Park). I think under Martin O'Neill, they beat us in the league, or in the cup. So, I have been to the new stadium. Fortunately for the press guys at the new stadium, it used to take you 2 hours to get out but there are no fans so you might be able to get out in 2 or 3 mins now. That is the good news.
Not for me. I cannot access press boxes, home or away but I wondered about the month ahead, we all know about post Xmas slumps etc.
Q: January has been a challenging month for Boro over the years. With cup games, transfer windows, there can be a lot of things that can disturb your focus if you are not careful.
NW: Yes, I am never really worried too much as a manager, myself. I am quite good in the second half of the season, me.
That is something that really encourages Boro fans, could this be the start of big times for us?
Q: And this is the start of the important part of the season isn't it?
NW: Yeah, absolutely. You don't win anything at Christmas, do you. So, you try and improve the squad if you can but you try and enjoy it and try and get the lads who have played so well for me to do even more.
That is what we have got to do, we have got to find goals from elsewhere, when we are not creating enough in other areas.
And with that the Chief Exec Neil Bausor phoned Neil and that was the end of the press conference. And it left us wondering quite what the conversation might have been, could it involve new players?