* The Unofficial "Official" Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers. FA Cup. [01/25] Match-Day Thread *

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member
It's that time again>>>>>

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English Football Association Challenge Cup. Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers. The Riverside Stadium. TS3 6RS. Kick Off: 12:00 hrs.

It appears we are heading towards a healthy 5-figure crowd for this very early kick-off. Today's thread is a celebration of some of Boro`s journeys in both the League Cup and the FA Cup. We won't dwell on what might have been, but there have been some nail-biting games, against some of the "Big" teams in the Premiership era, but also against lesser mortals from across the leagues. We should be proud of our history. Others [like the barcodes and the deckchairs] are envious of the amount of times we have reached quarter-finals, semi-finals and even finals of English Cup Competitions.

cup final tkt.jpegScreenshot 2025-01-10 at 14-29-46 Middlesbrough v Man Utd 1970 FA Cup 6th Round (Extended High...png
The Mighty Boro have stars of their own against United in front of 40,000 at Ayresome Park.

21st February 1970, 6th Round of the FA Cup. Stan Andersons Middlesbrough took on Manchester United, with the likes of Bobby Charlton, Brian Kidd, George Best and Paddy Crerand amongst their ranks. John Hickton scored the first, but Carlo Sartori made it 1-1. In the replay at Old Trafford, Hickton scored again, but Willie Morgan and Bobby Charlton made sure United crept through. We played United in 1971 and again in 1972 in the FA Cup, but unfortunately, Boro couldn't quite make it. Altogether, in League Cup and FA Cup, we have beaten United six times since 1894. On that occasion we lost 4-0 to Newton Heath, in front of a 5000 crowd at Bank Street, Clayton, Manchester!

In recent years, we have dumped Tottenham Hotspur out the FA Cup on a brilliant night at The Riverside, which included amongst their ranks, the likes of Son, Winks, Dier and England Captain, Harry Kane. Who can forget the eruption of noise and jubilation as Josh Coburn placed a bullet of a shot past Hugo Loris, then headed to celebrate with the fans.


Middlesbrough 1 Spurs 0. FA Cup, 5th round. March 2022.

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A bullet from the "Bedale Bomber"!
Josh Coburn screams towards Boro fans, having just knocked out Harry Kane's Spurs at The Riverside!

What about Hayden Hackney and that magic side foot past hapless Chelsea keeper Petrovic, giving Boro a 1-0 victory in the League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg [!] It was only this time last year! Wasn't it wonderful seeing Cole Palmer with his head in his hands as he missed chance after chance!


Middlesbrough 1 Chelsea 0. League Cup Semi-final 1st leg. January 2024.

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The Redcar Rock!
Hayden Hackney scores the winner in front of the South Stand against Chelsea!


Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0. October 2015. League Cup. [Boro won 3-1 on Penalties].

Aitor Karanker`s side took the fight to the Red Devils, taking the game to penalties. That night was amazing. Even Carlos De Pena was in the starting line up! Mejias, Gibson, Kalas, Stephens, Ayala, Friend, Nsue, Downing, Clayton and Kike were led by Captain Grant Leadbitter. Mejias save from Ashley Young sent United packing, after Wayne Rooney had his shot saved and Michael Carrick spooned his penalty into row Z! [ Thanks Michael! ;@)) ]

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"We've done it"! Boro beat United on penalties, which included a spooner from Michael Carrick!
Can anyone guess what Daniel Ayala is thinking?!!


Liverpool 2 Middlesbrough 2. [AET] 23rd September 2014. League Cup. [Scousers won 14–13 on penalties!].

Jordan Rossiter scored for the reds on ten minutes, but Adam Reach equalised with 27 minutes to go in the second half. The game went to extra time. Boro thought it was over-and-out when Suso scored on 109 minutes. Boro were having none of that: We were awarded a penna and Patrick Bamford slotted it past goalkeeper Mignolet in the final minute! Brendan Rogers couldn't believe it. What followed, equalled the highest number of penalties taken in an English Cup competition, to decide the outcome: an Albert Adomah miss ended the marathon penalty contest! The Boro lads were thinking of booking a bed and breakfast as the tension increased, and it seemed like the game was going to carry on past midnight!


Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1. League Cup. Semi-final, 2nd leg. February 2004.

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Bolo Zenden scores the first Boro Goal against the "invincibles" at The Riverside.

We showed the "invincible’s" what we could do, battling them all the way. This was a Gunners team which included, Parlour, Keown, Edu, Toure, Cole, Clichy, Viera and Reyes. Bolo Zenden [69 minutes] slotted the first past Graham Stack in the Arsenal goal, but Edu equalised with just 13 minutes left on the clock. In the end, it was a Reyes own-goal with five minutes to go, which sent the Mighty Boro through [3-1 on aggregate] to the League Cup Final!!!!!!

We all know what happened there !


Manchester United 1 Boro 1. FA Cup, 4th Round. February 2022.[Boro won 8-7 on penalties].

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The names of Rashford, Ronaldo, McTominay, Pogba, Sancho, just run off the tongue, as Boro were given no chance against this star-studded United side. But Boro`s heroes included: United "rejects" McNair and Crooks, ex-Sunlun patch-up Duncan Watmore, a young lad from Tooting, a Boro youngster whose brother plays in Scotland, the brilliant Sol Bamba and fans "rabble-rouser" Jonny Howson.

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Dael Fry concentrates,
before diligently placing the ball on the spot in the penalty shoot-out at Old Trafford.

Dael Fry says when he came up against Ronaldo, at first he couldn't believe it. But he thought "go on then" and his fear soon disappeared. Fry, of course, was one of the penalty takers and felt ten-feet tall at the result. Winning at Old Trafford, having taken United to penalties and defending against Ronaldo! Not many Boro lads have done that lyke!


Sol Bamba. What a lovely man. A real cheer-leader and an example to all.
He calmly placed the ball into the net and later posted.......
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So today it's Blackburn Rovers who have been in and around us for the last few months, with both of us vying for a spot in the top six. Blackburn had a "purple patch" where they couldn't stop winning, but recently that winning streak has ground to a juddering halt, as things often do in the Championship. Unfortunately, all English domestic cup competitions have become undervalued by the advent of television deals, £££ millions sloshing around the game, with agents, players, clubs and advertisers dictating silly kick-off times and ultimately undermine the greatest and oldest Association Football Cup competition in the world.

For us, and every club outside the "big" clubs, it's a chance for silverware and a chance to be proud and for players and fans to be proud of our club. See what Michael Carrick has to say next:


@r00fie1

10/01/2025
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My team guess given injuries and rests

Glover
Dijksteel…Edmundson…..Clarke…Engel
McCabe…Hackney
Forss/Hamilton……Gilbert….McGree
Burgzorg

I would personally play ELL but I hope he is at least on the bench, if he is not then it is a worry. Not sure if Forss will be in or on the bench and introduced 2nd half.
 
Michael Carrick

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An up-beat, enthused, Michael Carrick at his Media Conference
for the FA Cup game v Blackburn on Saturday.


"I really enjoy the competition. I love it for what it is, for what it can throw up, and for the different experiences and challenges that you face. So I really like it and I hope everyone approaches it in that same way".


Michael Carrick has only won the FA Cup once in his playing career, and that was in 2016. He has of course won one or two trophies and medals for Manchester United and England [!], but in spite of all that, for him, the FA Challenge Cup still holds a special place in English football. He acknowledged that when we faced Chelsea, they were a team in top form. We won well at the Riverside, but fell well short at Stamford Bridge. But that for Michael Carrick is part of the learning curve.

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"I would definitely take it seriously anyway. That's how I would take it. I have [always] got a lot of love for this competition and respect for it, so we'll definitely take it seriously."
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10,000 Teessiders watched Boro beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.


It was the cup run against the likes of Exeter, Bolton and Bradford which gave players the opportunity to savour what cup competitions are all about. No matter if it's FA or League Cup. It's a different challenge for the players and the Head Coach. It gives the opportunity for younger players and those with less experience in the senior team, to have a go. Players like Morgan Rogers were in the shop-window and were clearly being watched closely by other clubs.

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" I think we learned a lot from them games. They [were] really good experiences, not just for me, but players as well, in this type of game. It's what the cup throws up. We had a different kind of cup run last year and had some success in it, and that in itself gives you good emotions and good feelings and excitement."
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Carrick spooned his penna well over the bar into the Boro fans in the 2015 League Cup 4th Round match at Old Trafford.
Just over a year later, he retired from playing the professional game.

It's an interesting time for transfers in and out, of course, with the January Transfer Window now wide-open. Carrick is aware that there are options open to him, both in this game against Blackburn and in terms of recruitment. Whom he picks to play the game and on the bench, is no reflection on any player who may not be available on Saturday. Some players, we know, are out injured for whatever reason, whilst others in the squad will have to wait their opportunity. We saw Alex Gilbert have his opportunity against Hull and Cardiff, which will hopefully add to Carricks options.

Micha Hamilton is a case in point: Carrick highlighted that he had been at Manchester City since he was 9 [nine] years old, always lived at home and never known any other different football environment. To find yourself out of that environment, on England's North East coast, means that he will be managed and nurtured properly. Carrick has no doubt about Hamilton's ability, and hopefully he will be given the chance to shine. Who knows, he may get an opportunity against Blackburn?

As for the usual questions and speculation, Carrick maintained his professionalism and refused to respond to gossip about individual players.

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" Regardless of any individual, I think we feel that we have got a good squad. I've said it many times: it doesn't stop us from trying to improve things and tweak things, and there's always…...something we got to address and judge as we go along. So we'll have to see how it kind of unfolds over the next couple of weeks."
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Bangura, Rogers and Hackney celebrate "job done" in the 3-2 victory
over Exeter at St James Park in the pouring rain.
[foto:mfc official twitter edited]



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[fotoptus.ko.au] Will Ben Doak be in the starting eleven?

The team sheet will be interesting. Glover was in goal for that match at Exeter. It's ironic that he is the only experienced senior goalkeeper available at the moment [Unless Dieng is back in contention?]. Maybe Shea Connor may be ready to take his chance? Whatever happens, Carrick takes the competition seriously.

Come On Boro!

@r00fie1

10/01/2025​
 
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John Eustace.

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The Blackburn Manager is well respected in the game, making 393 appearances in his nineteen-year playing career, which included Stoke, Watford and Cardiff City. He also made one appearance for Boro as sub, for the final two minutes against Liverpool, back in 2003. In Management, he began his career at Kidderminster Harriers in 2016, moving on to QPR, Birmingham City and joined Blackburn in February 2024.

He did a sterling job as Head Coach at Birmingham City, after signing a contract in July 2022, but was sacked in October 2023. In a difficult environment, he took the club to 6th place in the Championship. Its highest league position in six years. After his sacking, the same season, Birmingham were relegated to the old Third Division!

So far, Eustace has won 15 and drawn 15 of his 44 games in charge at Ewood Park. There has been a big turnaround of players at Rovers since the departure of long-term Manager Tony Mowbray, and his successor, Jon Thomason. They currently occupy 7th spot in the Championship, just two places and two points behind the Boro.​

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John Eustace played one game at The Riverside, on loan from Coventry City.


Eustace on today's FA Cup Match:

We want to take the FA Cup very seriously. It's a competition that's known all around the world, and it also gives you an opportunity to play against the Premier League teams and match yourself them against them, and also bring Revenue to the football club. So it's a game we'll take serious and of course we want to go there and win.

We have to remember we're going to a really difficult opponent on Saturday. One of the top teams in the championship, and they'll, we want to do exactly the same as us.

I think the cup takes a little bit of pressure from the league campaign. That's for both sides, and I'm sure they'll look to make changes possibly as well. We all we know is that it's going to be a difficult game you know they've got a fantastic Squad of players they got a really good manager there as well.

It's going to be a difficult challenge, but one we're looking forward to. ​
 
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Middlesbrough's last FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers, was a one-nil win in February 2002 at The Riverside. An 87th minute goal from Ugo Ehiogu separated the two sides.
 
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