Middlesbrough to the slaughter!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

Was there structure? If so all is well

We might have been lacking a bit of cohesion though.

I see the problem Tango. No cohesion and the structure falls apart

[Harry Genshaw]

Just back. Awful game, poor performance against poor opposition but a delicious 3 pts.

Great to see Craig Davies' first touch into space then his 2nd to tw*t it goalwards. A striker prepared to have a go. Whod a thought it?

Missed Spearing big time. Alonso was as bad as at anytime in the Prem - dont know what was up with him today. LCY & Eagles both good. Eaves showed some nice touches and a determined attiutde when he came on.

Pleased to report that the retard at the back of North lower who booed when Butterfield came on got a shed load of abuse from folk around him. sadly, it didnt sound like he was on his own

[DJBlu]

Pratley was the difference today.

What a performance!

I loved the collective sigh when Sordell grabbed the ball. Well taken penalty.

3 points, back into 6th.

Lets hope we can stay there.

[Montreal Wanderer]

it's just a play on words of a Churchill speech, I think.

And he knows because he connected it a couple of weeks back.

[Athers]

Sordell would be liked if he just put the right sort of effort in, it's like he thinks he's Jimmy Greaves - swanning around trying to save energy for when a chance comes along. At least once Craig Davies ran past him to close down the defenders!

Tom Eaves came on and you could feel everyone willing him on to do well, good times.

[SmokinFrazier]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

But the consensus was we were good against Leicester and not so good today. Difference being Leicester are a better side than Boro?

[CAPSLOCK]

FULL OF SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET

[Athers]

Mowbray saying no contact on the pen? Looked definite to me at the time

[CAPSLOCK]

Sonebody who has seen it on Sky reckons it wasn't

It was though cos I saw Nemo score it

[bwfcdan94]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

So what do you think we should do at Cardiff then?

[SmokinFrazier]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

But the consensus was we were good against Leicester and not so good today. Difference being Leicester are a better side than Boro?

Apparently we played much better when we went 4-4-2 against Leicester. That's when we started dominating them, and to be fair, I don't think Boro are much different to them. I think the two mistakes were to play Butterfield and to start with Vela instead of either Davies or Sordell.

I don't mind Freedman mixing things up, I just think he got it wrong with the changes he made. I wouldn't be optimistic if Butterfield started at Cardiff and Davies was our lone striker either, just because I think we play better with what we saw today. It might not be pretty at times but it is more effective.

[Bijou Bob]

Back in, dog walked and fire made up so.......

I thought in the first half we bossed possession and our central midfield partnership was outstanding. We moved the ball well and there was some great interchange play up front. They had obviously come to play on the break and Ameobi looked like he was about to be a handful. But for two fabulous saves from their keeper, we would have been two up in the first ten minutes.

Second half we played deeper and invited them on, something that always makes me nervous. Poor defending from Ricketts cost us a goal and even against ten men (what on earth was Woodgate thinking??!!) we didn't look convincing, gifting them three chances to get an equaliser.

At the moment we are playing reasonably well and continuing to ride our luck. Is that enough to win play off semi finals and a final? IMHO no, it isn't and I suspect we'll fall at the final hurdle. Will that be a disaster? Ask Wolves and Blackburn if they'd like to swop seasons.

I was disgusted at the reception Butterfield got. Yes he was shite on Tuesday night and cost us dear, but his reception was hardly likely to inspire a good performance.

Final comment: J Spearing was behind us and he kicked every ball, celebrated the goals like he'd scored them and all the players acknowledged him after scoring. Contrast that with the glaring absence of SKD.

[SmokinFrazier]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

So what do you think we should do at Cardiff then?

Bogdan
Ricketts - Knight - Dawson - Alonso
CYL - Medo - Pratley - Eagles
Eaves - Davies

I'd start Eaves because of the added pressure he applies onto their defence, and then bring Sordell on late.

[AbrahM]

I didn't even see what the pen was for and no one appealed. Medo was fantastic and won so many tackles, Pratley worked very hard and played well as usual, still thought we missed Spearing at times. Sordell is very lazy but a well taken pen. I don't think we miss Ngog I think Cravies is decent and can actually shoot.

Booing of Butterfield was stupid even if he's not good enough. Lee played his best game for a while too. Alonso very bad defensively.

[RobbieSavagesLeg]

I'm looking forward to Smokin' coming on to tell us where Freedman got it wrong today. Not that I'm saying he didn't drop any bollocks, just enjoy hearing it from someone that knows.

He didn't start Butterfield or play 4-5-1, so we won. He's learning from his mistakes...the same mistakes I commented on

Freedman got it wrong against Leicester and we lost. He went with what I said we should have done against Leicester today, and we won. Am I supposed to have been proven wrong or something?

As long as we win, I'm happy. I just don't think Freedman got it right against Leicester but who cares? Everyone makes mistakes at times but at least he learnt from that.

So what do you think we should do at Cardiff then?

Bogdan
Ricketts - Knight - Dawson - Alonso
CYL - Medo - Pratley - Eagles
Eaves - Davies

I'd start Eaves because of the added pressure he applies onto their defence, and then bring Sordell on late.

Away at Cardiff?

We'll get tumpetered.

[LeverEnd]

big fan of your sig, LE

Are so LE is the mysterious Bolton and Rangers fan who has been bringing flags with no surrender and a Rangers logo to Bolton games (going by the last two words of his signature).

I can assure you that I'm not. I don't do flagwavings or nationalist propaganda, just support my team.

Mrkint, it just occurred to me one day when listening to iron maiden! I've have also heard of that churchill fellow.

[bobo the clown]

Final comment: J Spearing was behind us and he kicked every ball, celebrated the goals like he'd scored them and all the players acknowledged him after scoring. Contrast that with the glaring absence of SKD.

100% this.

You know, 10 years service deserves respect .... but that's both ways and the huge strop he's showing now is pathetic and shows lack of respect to those who've supported ... and paid .... him for a very long time.

[Bijou Bob]

Meanwhile, here's what we could have won.....

CONFERENCE LATEST
BBC Hereford & Worcester at Kidderminster v Stockport: "It is 25 minutes since play was suspended. Within a minute of Kidderminster scoring some Stockport fans came over the fence and Lee Vaughan (Kidderminster player) was apparently punched. There are a number of police officers heading into the Stockport end to the ground. Hopefully the police can now restore some kind of order. It is a desperately sad sight."

[clapton is god]

Thought we missed Spearing and N'gog today.

Fortunate 3 points, not complaining......although did roll my eyes when Marvin stepped up to take the pen.

Oh and I hate "Here Comes the Hotstepper".

Spearing was in a box behind me today in the east stand. It was him that Eagles was running and gesticulating to when he scored.

As for Marvin, well the second that the referee pointed to the spot Marvin grabbed the ball. No one else was taking that penalty!