Middlesbrough to the slaughter!

[LeverEnd]

SKD was in a suit outside the front entrance at 2.40 having pics taken with kids, so he was certainly there doing his ambassador bit. Crying shame if he's given up on training due to a sulk though. And it does appear that way. Ngog wandered past me with his arm in a sling as well, dressed more casually than Kev for those who are interested in these things!

[bobo the clown]

What's more, as someone ont' wireless pointed out, he ... a left footed plaeyer ... took the penalty with his right !!

[mrkint]

how many consecutive wins is that at home now? I've literally lost count. And I mean literally.

[CrazyHorse]

I think it's eight.

[bobo the clown]

I think it's eight.

'tis indeed. ... & today's goal against was the first in seven.

[CrazyHorse]

When was the last time we won 8 home games on the bounce? Someone get Worthy on the phone; he'll know.

[89bwfc89]

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!

Love the bit in bold.

I REALLY want Dougie to sign Spearing.

[Annoyed Grunt]

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!

Love the bit in bold.

I REALLY want Dougie to sign Spearing.

Yep, would love him here permanently.....

[LeverEnd]

Funny game today, looked great for half an hour but didn't get the early goals this time that our play deserved. In the end we can count ourselves lucky, mis-hit cross and a dodgy pen. The booing of Butterfield was an embarrassment. Only a complete moron boos his own players, especially at this point on the run we're on. What do the other players think when they hear that? Dicks.
Chungy was sponsors MoM, didn't think he was that good, but certainly back to his best or close.
As for the players, my view as follows...

Boggers 7 solid, not much to do, couldn't be faulted for the goal
Ricketts 6,
Alonso 5 Both fullbacks struggled against their pace on the flanks, Alonso uncharacteristically poor in possession too.
Dawson 7 did Ok in his last home game, let dyer get ahead for the goal though
Knight 7 defended well, looks confident
Medo 8 classy player, esp 1st half
Pratley, 8 heavily involved, great battler
chungy 7 did ok, played better on tues I thought. Went down easily for the pen but benefit of doubt and all that (one-eyed fan bias)
eagles 7 played well, crossing poor at times (Get in!)
Davies 6 threatened but didn't really look like scoring
Sordell 5 plays in fits and starts, poor on the whole but good pen

[Beefheart]

It's probably been said but I haven't read through the thread, but what on earth is the logic of booing a sub that is coming on? How is that remotely going to help our chances of winning at a crucial point of a crucial game.

[Bijou Bob]

When was the last time we won 8 home games on the bounce? Someone get Worthy on the phone; he'll know.

We were 12 unbeaten in 1991 apparently.

[Bruce Rioja]

Missed Spearing big time.

Really? I was delighted with Medo and Pratley in a two today. Case for either as MotM, for me though, Medo shaded it. I was fecking delighted at how well midfield did without Spearing today. In fact, it was one of the afternoon's high points.

[LeverEnd]

Agreed. Struggled at full back and up front but not in the middle.Missed him more ontues i thought, even though that was a better performance in many ways.

[Bruce Rioja]

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.

I'm not up to speed on the goss', but can you let me have a link to summat in which he's throwing a strop, Bobo? I'll be proper disappointed if you can.

[Bijou Bob]

Missed Spearing big time.

Really? I was delighted with Medo and Pratley in a two today. Case for either as MotM, for me though, Medo shaded it. I was fecking delighted at how well midfield did without Spearing today. In fact, it was one of the afternoon's high points.

I concur Bruce, I thought they were the best central pairing we've had for a good long while. I thought Medo was exceptional even when he stayed deeper in the second half. Pratley isn't a holding midfielder for me, but the sheer effort he puts in and the way he works for the team has really won me over.

[Bruce Rioja]

Dawson 7 did Ok in his last home game, let dyer get ahead for the goal though
Knight 7 defended well, looks confident

Dyer was Knight's man. It was 3 on 3 in the middle as the ball was crossed (after Ricketts was licked for pace by their No 8 again for the cross) Knight, absolutely inexplicably, runs off of Dyer (his man) and into this no-man's land towards the right hand side of our six yard box. The ball sails over his useless jump, as you might expect. Dawson leaves his man to try and cover Knight's Sunday League player type mistake but can't get there in time. As such, one of the shortest players in the league scores an almost free header.

Thanks Zat, you utterly clueless pile of absolute calamity. It's every single fecking game!

[Bijou Bob]

A tad harsh for me this time Brucey, I thought he had a fairly solid game today and led the back line well.

The goal was down to Ricketts. It's not rocket science, shepherd the man outside and stop the cross from coming in. He did neither. His lack of confidence at the moment is worrying, particularly when you consider that his only replacement, to quote someone behind me "makes Cid look like a world beater".

[boltonboris]

Medo is ace. Absolute class act.

[BWFC_Insane]

Didn't think we were at our best, but what a fecking result. Dug it out.

As above midfield two were the stars, Medo and Pratley absolutely top top performances today.

We were knackered in the last 20 minutes, mentally and physically I suspect. If Boro had kept 11 men on I'd not have fancied us too much in holding out. Holden will be welcome for the last 20 minutes of see games if nothing else.

Craig Davies worked hard and is a bit of a menace, but that's about it. Sordell, well, lets just say its a good job he scored the penalty cos there isn't much else good about what he did today. Second half he did up his workrate to an extent. His touch is shocking though. What's worse is his dithering on the ball. Coyle really did get mugged in that deal.

We missed NGog big style.

I thought Lee worked hard but was actually ineffective bar winning his penalty. Try crossing the ball for a change.

Alonso showed us all why him leaving is no big deal. Can't defend for toffee. He'd be ripped apart in the premiership on a weekly basis. Lets be fair, Sammy Ameobi beat him at ease today.

Ricketts had the quickest player I've seen for a while up against him today. He struggled. I think he was just too far off him for the goal but then it was a super cross.

Eagles was excellent. And it's why I think he's probably more likely to make an impact than lee. Eagles drove us forward almost single handedly at times whereas Lee flitted around the edges of the game.

Knight was shaky, Dawson sound.

Overall to be where we are now considering the position only two months ago is remarkable.

I'm scared of what would happen in the play offs were we to get there. I think it would be painful.

But we may as well try and find out.

Long way to go yet.

Oh and those fans who booed when Butterfield was brought on, please don't come back. You really aren't welcome. Players were knackered and we were struggling to keep a hold on the game. Butterfield went to double up with Ricketts. It was entirely sensible. But booing a decision when we've just won 8 on the trot at home. Fecking appalling. Complete and utter thick wankers every last one of them. Feck off and don't ever come back.

[LeverEnd]

Dawson 7 did Ok in his last home game, let dyer get ahead for the goal though
Knight 7 defended well, looks confident

Dyer was Knight's man. It was 3 on 3 in the middle as the ball was crossed (after Ricketts was licked for pace by their No 8 again for the cross) Knight, absolutely inexplicably, runs off of Dyer (his man) and into this no-man's land towards the right hand side of our six yard box. The ball sails over his useless jump, as you might expect. Dawson leaves his man to try and cover Knight's Sunday League player type mistake but can't get there in time. As such, one of the shortest players in the league scores an almost free header.

Thanks Zat, you utterly clueless pile of absolute calamity. It's every single fecking game!

Quite possibly should've been Zat's man, need to watch it back but just remember from the other end of the ground seeing Dawson go in with him.
More importantly I thought at the time that it was a very good goal, so not looking to slag anyone off. Not the biggest fan of Knight but calamitous is taking it a bit far, especially when he's played a big part in a very good run and some excellent defensive team performances. He'll always have a mistake in him but credit where it's due he did ok today and we won.