Match Day Middlesbrough v Bournemouth, Saturday 29th October 15:00

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

We're going great guns at the minute. Putting together a nice little unbeaten run and I'd love to come away with something from Boro to keep that going. 4 points from this and Sunderland next week would be excellent and keep us motoring along.

Boro for their part got an excellent point from Arsenal last out, so clearly know what they're doing. although this will be a totally different game, Boro at home will presumably attack us, and that should suit us.

We've stumbled upon/built a system and selection now that makes us very creative going forward, basically sticking Jack Wilshere in a forward central role and surrounding Wilshere with pacey wingers and strikers running off him. It just opens up space all over the place. Do the opposition go and close down Wilshere and leave our pacey players in space? Or do they stand off and let Wilshere/Arter control the tempo? It builds pressure well but is also excellent on the counter. With the imperious Harry Arter and one other behind to go all the dirty work (and no little quality in addition) it's a really well balanced shape.

Yes the defence is always worth a goal against, but even that is increasingly looking more solid. Partly that's thanks to Boruc in the best form of his Bournemouth career, partly thanks to the midfield shape, and partly thanks to Simon Francis playing well at CB currently. There's always a Cook or Daniels mistake in there somewhere, but currently confidence is flying.

Whilst we're sure to be dumped back onto our arse sooner or later, right now we're a very happy camp and a joy to watch.

Sadly I can't be watching us this week as I have other commitments to attend to and can't spare the time needed to do Boro away.

 

[PDS]

Our recent record at the Riverside is full of draws, and I certainly wouldn't be devastated if we came away with another to extend this unbeaten run.

Certainly this game, and Sunderland next week are extremely winnable, and we're playing very well, but from what I saw last week Boro were very hard to break down, just as they were in the Championship.

Expect the same team from us, except I think Surman will come back in for Gosling to give us a little more in the ball; his pressing and harrying last week was superb though and exactly what we needed against Spurs.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Despite having one off the line, another off the crossbar and a clear penalty ignored, it's Boro leading at the break with a classy goal from Gaston Rameriz. Boro for their part also having a pretty clear penalty shout turned away. Stuart Attwell not having one of his better days.

 

[PDS]

Undone by some pretty poor decision making at a crucial time. We can get something from this but Boro have been tactically spot on thus far.

 

[PDS]

A frankly awful second half (and equally poor defending) makes it 2-0 and game over.

The positive is we normally react well to a poor defeat. Hoping we can put it right against Sunderland next week

 

[AFCB_Mark]

After a first half doing all the right things but getting no rub of the green, since going in at half time behind we've looked shocked / shattered since and Boro much bettee. Havent really reacted. And the second goal rubs salt in the wound. Not to be today methinks.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Really not getting anything our way today!
Now down to 10 men thanks to injury, Surman caps his poor game by doing his hamstring after we've already made 3 subs. Boro will have more chances now you'd think.