Boro v Blackpool -18th September 2021

r00fie1

Well-known member
Welcome to Saturday 18th September 2021.
Its that time again.....

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Following a scintillating to-an-fro match at the City Ground on Wednesday, can we keep up the pace with a win today over strugglers Blackpool?
Here`s hoping.
Early today again, but will hit the road later...



Today`s fixtures:

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And the Championship table - before Derby get 21 points deducted [9 + 12 for Administration] Who knows for sure?

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Our most recent record against the Tangerines:

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Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups​


By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter
Great Britain
English

Middlesbrough play host to Blackpool on Saturday afternoon after ending a four-match winless streak in the Championship earlier this week.
While Boro have moved into ninth place in the standings, Blackpool remain in the relegation zone after suffering a fourth defeat in seven games.





Match preview​

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock on September 11, 2021
© Reuters
Neil Warnock will be the first to admit that his squad have under-performed this season, their midweek win over Nottingham Forest representing just their second victory.

Nevertheless, Warnock will take encouragement from the instant impact which has been made by Onel Hernandez and Andraz Sporar, two additions which could prove to be the difference between mid-table and the playoffs.

Boro still only sit in 11th position despite a favourable run of games, but Warnock will hope that the success at the City Ground can lead to a prolonged change in fortunes.

There is added motivation to put things right against their next opponents having succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in the EFL Cup first round last month.
Blackpool manager Neil Critchley on September 11, 2021
© Reuters
Neil Critchley would have been extremely encouraged by that performance, a feeling that he also felt during last weekend's shock triumph over Fulham.

Tuesday's demise at home to Huddersfield has altered the mood at Bloomfield Road, however, and the stakes have been raised ahead of their trip to the North-East.

Each of the five points collected this season have come when they were considered huge underdogs, a tag which they do not possess for this contest.

The Tangerines showed what they were capable of against Fulham, but inconsistency over the long term will almost certainly lead to a relegation battle.

Only four players have gotten on the scoresheet in the Championship, while Arsenal loanee Tyreece John-Jules has failed to net in 393 minutes in the final third.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • W
Blackpool Championship form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L

Team News​

Blackpool's Gary Madine celebrates scoring their first goal with Jerry Yates on January 23, 2021
© Reuters
On the back of his team's convincing performance in the East Midlands, Warnock will be against making any unnecessary alterations.

Paddy McNair, Marc Bola and Martin Payero may not be risked, despite improving with their respective injuries, but Isaiah Jones could come into contention for a recall.

Duncan Watmore and Uche Ikpeazu are also on standby if Warnock opts against using Hernandez and Sporar for the second time in three days.

Critchley will make changes to his Blackpool XI with Dujon Sterling or Callum Connolly potentially coming back into the team at right-back.
Gary Madine could get the nod over Jerry Yates in attack, while Kevin Stewart may feature in centre midfield.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Djiksteel, Hall, Fry, Peltier; Howson, Siliki; Tavernier, Crooks, Hernandez; Sporar

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Maxwell; Sterling, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Garbutt; Bowler, Dougall, Stewart, Anderson; Lavery, Madine



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We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Blackpool​

With a win over Fulham still fresh in the memory, it would be naive to completely rule out Blackpool winning this game. However, Boro should only get better with their new signings in the team, and we expect a hard-fought triumph for the home side.


Boro win 3-1 (y)


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Neil Critchley`s Pre - Match Comments:

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“There will be a lot of changes to their team from the cup game earlier in the season. In fact, both teams will be vastly different on Saturday.

“In some ways, that result in the cup might not help us because you know what Neil Warnock and his teams are like.

“You don’t stay in management for the period of time Neil has without being very competitive and he’s still got that competitive nature, you can see it.

“I was fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with Neil before the cup game and his enthusiasm and energy was quite uplifting.

“He was really full of energy that night and you can tell he doesn’t like losing games of football, so he’ll be looking to respond.

“Being at home, they’ll also be wanting to back up their result from beating Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.”

“I went to the game, I travelled over to Nottingham to watch it.

“I thought it was a fantastic away performance from Middlesbrough. Neil set his team up to play on the break and they had lots of pace at the top end of the pitch and limited Forest to very few chances as well, so it was a really good away performance.

“They kept a clean sheet and played on Forest’s lack of confidence a little bit, which worked for them. That’s typical of Neil and his experience of playing in different types of games and scenarios.

“He knows what to do at the right time and that was an example of that on Wednesday night.”



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From The Archive:

Boro 1 Blackpool 1

2014 / 15 Season

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Some of Blackpool Best Strikers since 2010?
Ben Burgess
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The big, bustling centre forward made 126 appearances for the Seasiders between 2006 and 2010, scoring 23 times and enjoying two promotions with the club.
He left in August 2010 to join Notts County.


DJ Campbell
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The lightning-quick striker played a pivotal role in helping the Seasiders clinch promotion to the Premier League in 2010 before scoring the goals that almost kept them there.
He initially scored 20 goals in 38 games across two loan spells before notching 14 goals in 31 appearances in the top flight after signing permanently.


Mark Cullen
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Cullen, a 2015 signing from Luton Town for £180,000, scored 21 goals during his 89 games on the Fylde coast.
His time at the club will be most fondly remembered for his hat-trick against Luton in the League Two play-off semi-finals before scoring the winner against Exeter City at the Wembley final.


Stephen Dobbie
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Initially a 2010 loan signing from Swansea, Dobbie went on to enjoy four separate spells with the Seasiders. He left with a record of 13 goals from his 50 appearances.
The 37-year-old is still playing north of the border, scoring regularly for Queen of the South.


Armand Gnanduillet
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A 2016 Gary Bowyer signing, Gnanduillet was initially brought in as backup to provide competition off the bench to the likes of Mark Cullen and Kyle Vassell.
However, the 27-year-old continues to improve season after season and now has 38 goals from 134 games during his time with the club.


Kevin Phillips
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A 2011 signing, the experienced campaigner showed his quality in front of goal by scoring 17 times in 45 appearances to help Blackpool reach the Championship play-off final in 2012.
He left to join Crystal Palace halfway through the following campaign.


Luke Varney
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Capable of playing out wide or up front, Varney was a hard-working forward that scored five times in 30 games during Blackpool's season in the Premier League.
His most memorable moment was his winner in Blackpool's 2-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield.


Kyle Vassell
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A free signing in 2016, Vassell went on to play a leading role in Blackpool's promotion from League Two during the 2016/17 campaign before helping establish the Seasiders back in the third ier the following year.
Despite an injury-hit spell at the club, Vassell still managed to score 24 goals in 71 games.


 
The New Boy:

1 goal, 50% aerial duels won: A closer look at Andraz Sporar’s display against Nottingham Forest in first Middlesbrough start​

By
Jordan Rushworth
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Neil Warnock made the decision to hand forward Andraz Sporar his first start for Middlesbrough in their 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

It was a major show of faith in the forward who arrived on the final day of the transfer window on a loan deal from Sporting CP as Boro looked to bolster their firepower.
Sporar Boro.jpg
Sporar was able to inject an extra added attacking threat for Middlesbrough in the final third against Nottingham Forest. He was able to highlight some of the qualities that he is going to bring to the table for Warnock’s side in the Championship.

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Boro have struggled to find a reliable regular goal scorer for a while now and with them having allowed Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher to leave in the summer, they needed someone one to come in and try and take on the goals scoring burden.

Neil Warnock made the decision to hand forward Andraz Sporar his first start for Middlesbrough in their 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

It was a major show of faith in the forward who arrived on the final day of the transfer window on a loan deal from Sporting CP as Boro looked to bolster their firepower.

Sporar was able to inject an extra added attacking threat for Middlesbrough in the final third against Nottingham Forest. He was able to highlight some of the qualities that he is going to bring to the table for Warnock’s side in the Championship.
Sporar shot.jpg
Boro have struggled to find a reliable regular goal scorer for a while now and with them having allowed Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher to leave in the summer, they needed someone one to come in and try and take on the goals scoring burden.

Uche Ikpeazu had been leading the line for most of Middlesbrough’s opening matches this season. The former Wycombe Wanderers forward has fired home two goals in his first six league appearances for Boro.
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However, the forward has never really been prolific throughout his career to date and he only managed to score six league goals in 31 appearances for Wycombe last term.

Middlesbrough, therefore, needed something different in the final third. Sporar was able to provide that for them at Nottingham Forest.

The 27-year-old was able to produce the all-important moment of quality for Middlesbrough inside the 24th minute. That came with him latching on to a pass from Marcus Tavernier and firing home a clinical finish.

It was not the sort of chance that Sporar would have been criticised for missing.

However, the manner in which he struck the ball beyond Ethan Hovarth in Nottingham Forest’s goal showed that he has the potential to score when presented with just half an opportunity on goal.

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Sporar’s clinical finish was his only effort on goal. That means that he struck the target with his only real chance and finished up with one goal from an expected goals tally of just 0.11.
 
Tony McMahon - "He`s one of our own"

Tony began his journey at the Boro- so here`s a segway on our former player

Just for the record:
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Tony was one of those players who was often in the shadows of "big" well - paid International imports and never really received credit for his achievements. Hes a crackin fella. There are some players whom we know well in these pictures - all looking incredibly young!
(y) :love:

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More from the Archive:

Middlesbrough v Blackpool 2012-13 REACH MILLER SMALLWOOD GOAL​


Middlesbrough stay near the top of the table (3rd I think) with a 4-2 win over Blackpool in their last game of the 2012 calender. Who could predict the imminent run of bad form that would see Boro drop down the table during the second half of the season starting with the next match on New Years Day 2013? Well, everyone probably!
 
From the Gaffa`s Mouth:

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By Leon Wobschall
Saturday, 18th September 2021, 6:00 am

Middlesbrough v Blackpool: Neil Warnock hoping for ‘spark’ from new faces

GIVEN his longevity on the managerial circuit, Neil Warnock has certainly earned the right to go with the odd hunch or two.

His decision to hand Andraz Sporar a debut from the start in Wednesday night’s game at Nottingham Forest – after telling him that he was not playing the day before – bore handsome fruit by way of the Slovenian international’s magnificent strike.

Sporar is highly likely to have played his way into a first start at the Riverside Stadium today – Warnock would be a brave manager if he did not – and given his unerring finish, it is no surprise to hear the word that the veteran boss uses to describe him.

“I told Andraz on the day before that I was not going to play him and it just shows you, really.

“Sometimes, you just get little feelings about changing things and that is what I did.

“I had a change of mind and thought: ‘Let’s get him some minutes, thinking about Saturday’s game coming up.’

“When I told him he was playing, he said: ‘Yes, I am ready.’

Sporar and several other Boro players such as Onel Hernandez, James Lea Siliki and Lee Peltier are eyeing home debuts today against a Blackpool side who beat the Teessiders 3-0 in the Carabao Cup earlier this season and have suffered just one defeat in their five visits to the Riverside.

Warnock, whose side have won one of their opening three Championship home games, losing and drawing the others, added: “I think we have been very unfortunate not to win more games (at home this season), but I think the fans have been very appreciative of the type of football we have played.

“Hopefully the new lads will give us that spark we have missed.”
 
Fry is onside for sure but I don't know what the rule is with the first 2 players who are offside diving for it.
 
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