I'm not one for this sort of thing but they haven't won at Boro for 25 years
Thought you were talking about the referee for a moment there!They are flying at the minute. 4 wins in 6 in fine form. Need to be at it from the off.
The bald lad in the middle is the one we need to keep out of the game.
Not entirely sure I agree with this. Their records when scoring first is very good. Won 10 drawn 1. However they don't score first very often. In fact there scoring first record is the third worst in the division. In a stat that should be 50/50 they are at 33%. Away from home that drops to 28%.Stoke are a decent side and excel when they get there noses in front and can then soak up pressure and hit on the counter.
We absolutely CANNOT do a Paddy Mcanir special and decide not to mark their striker for laugh like at Swansea and concede a cheap goal.
If we go behind against these, it will be like when we went behind against West Brom. A very well drillled team who know exactly how to hold onto a lead.
That’s how I see it as well.If we can't beat these tonight we don't deserve an auto spot.
Stoke are a decent side and excel when they get there noses in front and can then soak up pressure and hit on the counter.
We absolutely CANNOT do a Paddy Mcanir special and decide not to mark their striker for laugh like at Swansea and concede a cheap goal.
If we go behind against these, it will be like when we went behind against West Brom. A very well drillled team who know exactly how to hold onto a lead.
I wasn't basing my points based on the whole season, otherwise id agree with you, more their recent upturn in form.Not entirely sure I agree with this. Their records when scoring first is very good. Won 10 drawn 1. However they don't score first very often. In fact there scoring first record is the third worst in the division. In a stat that should be 50/50 they are at 33%. Away from home that drops to 28%.
They haven't played a team as good as we are at coming from behind, because there simply isn't one.
You can read stats in many ways.
If we can't beat these tonight we don't deserve an auto spot.
Whether we concede first or not we will score a few goals tonight and win comfortably.
I agree they have played better of late, blackburn still managed to break them down late on and Stoke were wobbling at the end.I wasn't basing my points based on the whole season, otherwise id agree with you, more their recent upturn in form.