Bournemouth v Boro 12.15 kick off

[AFCB_Mark]

Another fixture messed around for sky for your viewing pleasure. Feel for Middlesbrough based Boro fans getting up tomorrow morning to come down.

Plenty of fixtures recently between the top group of teams in the table and this is another. It'll bring back memories of 1987 for folks slightly older than me, when us and Boro contested promotion and went up together from the third tier. That included a famous 3-0 win at Dean Court for us, somehow I can't see that happening quite so comfortably again!

Full squad for Howe to pick from, some decisions to make up front between Pitman, Wilson, and Kermorgant. Tuesday was frustrating as we slipped to 3rd contriving to draw up in Cardiff.

No idea how to call this. Believe it's the highest scorers v the best defenders of the division.

 

[MagpieBee]

Boro seem to have found a way to consistently nick results against the other promotion chasing sides, so if pushed I'd go for an away win, but it is very hard to call

 

[Dazza]

Feel sorry for the Boro fans who have to get up early to get down to Bournemouth although i expect most will travel down today.As for the game 1-1 draw.

 

[Kopper]

Boro seem to have found a way to consistently nick results against the other promotion chasing sides, so if pushed I'd go for an away win, but it is very hard to call

This is my thought also.

 

[mistermagic]

Sod Man City/WBA. This looks much more interesting.

 

[JJH]

Blatant penalty - but keeper should of saved that.

 

[HarvSFC]

Bournemouth are now top.

 

[HarvSFC]

What a goal.

 

[markwwfc1992]

I don't think I've seen Harry Arter score a goal that wasn't at least 25 yards out, what a finish.

 

[Luke_1884]

Wow.

It's no wonder Bournemouth score from the spot every week when they get penalties like that. Blatent dive.

They've played really well but that's just a piss take.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Bournemouth cheating again... who'd have thought it. Shame as their a good footballing team but this pathetic simulation that seems to happen most weeks lets them down.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Our most complete and comprehensive performance all season, not only doing the attacking stuff, but for the first time in ages, we actually defended bloody well. Not a single shot or meaningful opening for Boro all game. Our full backs were sublime, Daniels keeping Adomah in his pocket and Francis did likewise.

As for the goals, first penalty looked stonewall? Obviously seen no footage only live. Wilson got in behind again and again all game and Boro never got to grips with him. Thought the keeper was going to save it but Yann put too much power on it.

Second goal from Arter was beautiful. Move looked to be breaking down with Pugh being blocked out, ball breaks to Arter and he hits an exocet into the top corner. Second wonder strike in a few days!

Third goal looked a possible dive or at least very soft. Arter was boxed in by 3 Boro players and bad little on. Unsure why the defender decided to challenge like that because there was no need but Arter gratefully took the leg and went over it. Pitman doesn't miss.

Maybe that makes up for being cheated out of two points on tuesday in the karma stakes, but it's never nice to see, if indeed Arter did dive/go down easy.

Should have scored one or two more with the chances, and kept doing the job at the back. Best defensive performance of the season so far Which is very encouraging.

 

[slaphead]

Bournemouth looked seriously impressive, can't believe it was only six years ago you were our first home game when we got back to the league and you started on -17 points.