* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Birmingham City Match-Day Thread *

r00fie1

Well-known member
Its that time again.........

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Welcome to another match-day thread on a cloudy damp day in the North East of England.
For anyone who hadnt noticed, its been melt-down time for all us fans, since Chris Wilder became the latest "permanent" Boro Manager to get the sack in the last five years.

As of now, we dont know what is going on in the corridors of The Riverside to procure the next incumbent, who will no doubt be briefed on our philosophy and where we "belong" in the football pyramid. As fans, we have all experienced and [some] partaken in the gossip, rumours, fantasy, speculation, anger, accusations, blame - game, deference, indifference - which goes alongside the sacking of a Manager. Its all about opinions. No doubt, over time, Wilder`s departure will unwind with the who (?) what (?) wherefore (?) and why (?) he left. But,he is history, like the other four Managers in the last five years!

Today is going to be unofficial National Cliche day, because we`ve heard it all before:
Its time to move on and look forward [told you so...]. Its been a dreadful start and we are baffling National Media and ourselves, how - after an exciting first seven months under Wilder - the wheel has well and truly fell off! Its been another time for change at the club, with virtually all the previous Manager`s players moving on and a fresh crop of players moved in. We still have the "old guard" of Dael Fry, Johnny Howson and Paddy McNair! Dael has seen more Managers than jobs in Redcar Job Centre, whilst Paddy has been here four years and Johnny Howson was brought in by best-forgotten Gary Monk! They are the "survivors".

Frankly, they are the players we can expect to show the rest of the team, just what wearing the Lion on the Shirt means to us and to Teesside. Its the Football club which has kept the town and the area "on the map" - through the good times and the bad. Its not only given us heart ache and heartbreak, but its given us joy and elation - put a smile on our faces and fire in our hearts [especially beating Sunderland]. Leo said yesterday that there is the Club and "....above that, there`s our fans. Without them we dont exist". His passion encapsulates the Spirit of 86 - its what we are about. Managers and players - like buses - come and go, but the club needs us more than anything or anyone else.

Despite the rotten start, our home crowds have remained above even the lowest gates under Warnock. Our away following is magnificent - as the supporters of all the other Championship Clubs and beyond, can testify. Even though we blew-up at the end of last season, the crowds at Preston and Peterborough packed out the away ends. Even the drum made an appearance at Peterborough! I dont know if it needed a ticket?!

So, we go again. We step up to the plate and face the challenge of getting into the top half of the table as quickly as possible. No ifs, buts or maybe`s. The players need to play for the badge and for their futures at our club. We want more than tepid, lacklustre performances for our hard - earned money. We know football is never predictable - certainly not this league - but winning is our aim. It s not beyond the realms of possibility that we can be in the play-offs by the end of the season, but there`s still a long way to go. Leo said yesterday that every game, including the next one is "always a tough game".

It doesnt matter who the next Manager is right now. We expect the usual holding up the shirt and telling us we are a "big club" - but we want to win and we want to win now! Tonight. If the next Manager gives us hope and results, we can sing this song,....for the Boro all night long!

Come on!
Up The Mighty Boro!
 
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Match Preview and Stats:

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Amidst the backdrop of managerial chaos, poor results and rising tensions in the fan base, Middlesbrough revealed a 90s-inspired third kit ahead of their weekend trip to Coventry. In a comically tragic twist, Boro lost that game 1-0 and now have more kits than league wins (W2, D4, L5), as one of the pre-season promotion favourites continue to sleepwalk into a relegation battle.
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First team coach Leo Percovich takes over for this encounter after the abrupt sacking of Chris Wilder, and he will hope for a strong start as Boro have picked up 90% of their Championship points at home (W2, D3, L1) this season. Perhaps throwing cold water on that confidence is the fact that Boro have now lost their last two home league H2Hs with Birmingham, and are yet to win a midweek league game this campaign (D1, L2).
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Blues boss John Eustace stated that he was proud of his team following their comeback draw against table-topping Sheffield United last time out, which extended their unbeaten league run to four games (W2, D2). The shine was somewhat taken from that result however, as the club were forced to make a statement about racist abuse directed towards Juninho Bacuna, which was especially abhorrent at the start of Black History Month.

Birmingham’s 13-point haul after 11 rounds is within a point of their returns after as many games in each of the last two seasons. Not ideal if Birmingham are looking to break a sequence of six consecutive bottom-half finishes in the Championship, although they may take confidence from the fact that the away side on the day have won each of the last four H2H clashes, as many as they did in 37 editions prior!
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Players to watch: Anfernee Dijksteel was criticised publicly in Wilder’s final interview for not following instructions during Middlesbrough’s latest defeat, yet they haven’t scored in over three hours of play since his assist for Rodrigo Muniz.
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Meanwhile, Scott Hogan scored a hat-trick in Birmingham’s last away win and also found the net in his last two visits to Teesside.

Hot stat: Both teams scored in just one of the last seven H2Hs at the Riverside Stadium.
Will not play

Fisher D.
(Injury)

Dean H.
(Injury)

Friend G.
(Injury)

Gardner G.
(Injury)

Gordon N.
(Injury)

Placheta P.
(Injury)

Questionable:

Roberts M.
(Injury)


 
Blues View

Blues visit Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night.

John Eustace's men travel north intent on continuing their unbeaten streak and extending their recent away record after they breached a previously watertight Preston North End, won at local rivals West Bromwich Albion and held league leaders Sheffield United last weekend.
Their latest point on the road came courtesy of Troy Deeney's first goal of the season, as Birmingham City became the first team this term to deny the Blades a home maximum ahead of a game at the Riverside, kick-off 7.45pm, where they have won the last two meetings with Boro.
In contrast, the midweek hosts are without a win in three matches and suffered defeat in their first outing of October, losing narrowly at previously winless Coventry City on Saturday - what proved to be Chris Wilder's last game at the helm.
Head Coach, John Eustace, thanks to the travelling supporters at Sheffield United.
Head Coach, John Eustace, thanks to the travelling supporters at Sheffield United.

Those attending are urged to enjoy the game in a safe and positive manner, recognising the impact that any anti-social behaviour will have on other spectators. The Club reiterates its zero-tolerance policy on violence, drunkenness and pyrotechnics. In particular, any individual carrying or using pyrotechnics will be arrested and also subject to possible legal action. In addition to this, anybody throwing missiles will be subject to the Club's disciplinary matrix. Supporters are also reminded that there is no place for any discrimination within football and Birmingham City will continue to push for its eradication across the game.

THE OPPOSITION:
Having taken 21 points from their last 20 matches, Middlesbrough became the eighth Championship club to change their manager this campaign when they dismissed Wilder after 11 months in charge on Monday morning.

The latest defeat to Coventry kept them inside the relegation zone and means they have not collected three points away from Teesside since the first weekend of April, with the previous away success coming courtesy of a 0-2 win in B9 - the same scoreline by which Blues won the reverse meeting at the Riverside last October.

A key figure for the visitors that day was loanee Riley McGree and the Australian, now an integral cog at Boro, is one of five players to have struck two counters this term and has featured in all 11 league fixtures.

He is joined at the top of the appearance chart by three players, including skipper Jonny Howson and Wolverhampton Wanderers man Ryan Giles. The latter, a wing-back on loan from the Black Country was one of 12 summer arrivals, the most recent of which saw them pick up free agent Massimo Luongo in early September.
Riley McGree after scoring the decisive goal for Middlesbrough against Sunderland last month.
Riley McGree after scoring the decisive goal for Middlesbrough against Sunderland last month.

LAST TIME OUT:
Blues ensured they went a month without defeat as they came from behind to earn a draw at current table-toppers Sheffield United. An even contest came to life after the interval and to outsiders when Oli McBurnie put the hosts in front, it may have been assumed that they would be assured of the victory. However, Eustace's side showed their trademark togetherness and when Deeney was picked out by Tahith Chong, the Captain fired past Wes Foderingham to level and sent the travelling Bluenoses home full of cheer.
Middlesbrough came unstuck as they fell to defeat at bottom-of-the-table Coventry on the same afternoon. A single first-half goal was the difference at the Coventry Building Society Arena as the visitors continued their feeble away form in what proved to be Wilder's final game in charge. Fankaty Dabo's ranging pass down the channel released Viktor Gyokeres and once inside the box, the Swede finished confidently beyond Zack Steffen, with the 17th-minute strike enough for the points.
Troy Deeney enjoys opening his account for the season at Bramall Lane.
Troy Deeney enjoys opening his account for the season at Bramall Lane.

https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/preview-middlesbrough-blues-4
 
Josh made his debut on loan at Bristol Rovers last night.
Good luck to him.
Hope he can come back stronger and more experienced and play a crucial part in Boro`s journey to the "Promise Land".(y)


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Boro


What's On And When?

Fanzone
Our FanZone is open from 5.30pm, serving food and drinks and providing entertainment with compere Gary Philipson.
Neil Maddison will give his thoughts on the game before kick off at around 6.35pm.
We're also joined by Team Emotive, a group of military veterans taking on one of the world’s most difficult ocean rowing challenges – the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge - to raise funds for leading military mental health charity Veterans At Ease.
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GRFZ
The Generation Red Family Zone opens at 6.30pm.
  • Creative corner - draw your favourite animal for World Animal Day and get them into the very first Riverside zoo!
  • Cornerstone interactive zone - enjoy a game of FIFA
  • Guessing games - see if you can guess the correct attendance and the time of the first goal
  • Honesty flags - wave them throughout the game and remember to hand them back for supporters to use at our next home game!
  • GRFZ flag waving pitchside - If you want your child(ren) to be involved in flag waving pitchside, please email liam.long@mfc.co.uk
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Matchday Experiences
Welcome to tonight's mascots, and our ball persons from Saltburn Athletic Under-15s.
We'll have half-time will include penalties on the pitch, and the Home and Away competition brought to you by Host & Stay.
If you want to be involved in any of our match-day experiences please email
matchdayexperience@mfc.co.uk
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[https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2022/october/05/matchday-info--boro-v-birmingham-city/]​
 
Leo .............will be in the dug-out tonight, alongside Craig Liddle and Mark Tinkler.
We all know Leo for his passion and pride as an adopted Teessider.

On Tuesday he delivered a short but rousing speech on the official Boro website:
>>>>>>>https://www.mfc.co.uk/videos/a56a86a7-ebff-4baa-aff0-6a37764293f6 [V-03:38]

There was also a really inspiring quote from Leo`s speech on MFC Twitter.
Its worth reposting.


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I really hope its put up on the big screen for tonight`s game.
None of us should be suprised if Leo is loud and proud inspiring the team and us fans tonight(y)
 
Leo .............will be in the dug-out tonight, alongside Craig Liddle and Mark Tinkler.
We all know Leo for his passion and pride as an adopted Teessider.

On Tuesday he delivered a short but rousing speech on the official Boro website:
>>>>>>>https://www.mfc.co.uk/videos/a56a86a7-ebff-4baa-aff0-6a37764293f6 [V-03:38]

There was also a really inspiring quote from Leo`s speech on MFC Twitter.
Its worth reposting.


View attachment 45477
I really hope its put up on the big screen for tonight`s game.
None of us should be suprised if Leo is loud and proud inspiring the team and us fans tonight(y)
Great content again Roofie , many thanks .
 
Expecting Howson to inspire us to victory tonight. Slightly perturbed that we have not shored things up at the back but there is a possibility that this will not be a back 3 looking at that teamsheet.
 
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