Red Rocket 244 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 [align=center]Boro vs Blackburn Sky Bet Championship The Riverside 3:00pm[/align] Eighteen games into the season and Boro are sitting pretty on a points total of thirty two in the lofty position of third in the league. Many were left disappointed after the draw last Saturday so Boro will be keen to get back to winning ways. Match Preview Boro go into Saturday's game with only one defeat in thirteen games. They have only leaked thirteen goals all season, conceding only seven since the start of September. Performance wise it wasn't pretty against Wigan. Karanka will want to ring the changes particularly after such a lacklustre showing in the first half. Boro will need to up their game as we head into December, some tough games looming on our horizon. The squad will mostly be available for Karanka to choose from. Clayton is forced to sit this one out as he reached five yellow cards on Saturday to earn the automatic one match ban. Long term absentees Rhys Williams, Damia Abella and Mustapha Carayol are all out for the foreseeable future. Last 5 Games Wigan 1 - 1 Boro Boro 0 - 0 Bournemouth Boro 4 - 0 Norwich Rotherham 0 - 3 Boro Boro 1 - 1 Watford Predicted Team [align=center]-------------Dimi------------ Fredericks--Gibson--Ayala--Friend ----Whitehead---Leadbitter------ Bamford-------Tomlin--------Reach ----------------Kike---------------[/align] Opposition Blackburn come into Saturday's game off the back of a win against Leeds. Down to ten men they fought back from one nil down to overcome Leeds with a penalty in the eighty eigth minute. They have had a decent start to the season so far with eight wins, six draws and only four defeats. It is interesting to note that they have only kept two clean sheets all season so there is definitely opportunity for Boro to score. Blackburn 2 - 1 Leeds Brighton 1 - 1 Blackburn Millwall 2 - 2 Blackburn Blackburn 3 - 1 Reading Forest 1 - 3 Blackburn Opposition Forum - http://www.brfcc.com/mb/topic/31626-boro-v-rovers/ The Little Fella Returns Juninho is visiting the Riverside on Saturday. The prodigal son returns to watch the team that holds a special place in his heart. Boro plan on introducing him before kick off. I can already hear his song echoing around the Riverside. Let's hope that he gets to see a cracking game with Boro taking all three points Talking points. * Whitehead or Veljkovic to replace Clayton? * Can Tomlin play on the left like he did against Wigan in the second half? * Fredricks to start every game unless injured? * How would you rectify the gap between midfield and attack when we play teams that press high up the field? * Favourite memory of TLF? Link to post Share on other sites
Humpty 3,260 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Going to be a tough game this one. First and foremost we need a clean sheet. Passing needs tightening up and we need to get back to really scrapping for our lives. I felt we were 2nd to far too many 50/50's on Saturday against Wigan. Maybe we took our foot off the pedal a little, maybe Wigan upped their game. Probably a bit of both. I get the feeling Blackburn may get a point out of the game. The big question really is what to do with Kike and Bamford. We're getting to the point where we can't really leave Bamford out because he keeps scoring but we seem to function better with Kike up top. Then there's Adomah. He's always capable of turning a game himself and yet he's been a little quiet lately. I think I'd consider dropping Tomlin as he's not produced much tangible end product lately. I'd play: Dimi Fredericks Friend Ayala Gibson Whitehead Leadbitter Reach Adomah Bamford Kike Link to post Share on other sites
OldManGravz 1,350 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Who else do Blackburn have to play in goal instead of Steele? Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rocket 244 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Eastwood in goal for Blackburn, I think. Link to post Share on other sites
OldManGravz 1,350 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I'd like to think we'd walk away with all 3 points but I can imagine they might come up and play for a draw, which means an early goal might be needed to unsettle them. Eastwood in goal for Blackburn, I think. Might unsettle the back 4 with a new keeper in, that'll be a bonus Link to post Share on other sites
Humpty 3,260 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Paul Robinson Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rocket 244 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Paul Robinson According to Blackburns fans, Robinson has fallen out of favour with Bowyer. They expect Eastwood to start. Link to post Share on other sites
Humpty 3,260 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Nice to know they think Steele's going to be a big miss and they dont seem to fancy their chances either. Link to post Share on other sites
boksicdink 1,942 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 You look at our last 5 and some of the names involved...at the start of the season you would fancy all of them (apart from Rotherham) to be in or around the playoffs - 9 points from 15 available is not a bad return at all Wigan 1 - 1 Boro Boro 0 - 0 Bournemouth Boro 4 - 0 Norwich Rotherham 0 - 3 Boro Boro 1 - 1 Watford Saw my Rovers mate at the weekend and he thinks Steele is fantastic...Robinson to go in January apparently, so it will be the other guy in goal. He also thinks Gestede and Rhodes are two of best two strikers in the league (I don't know if he was saying that to wind me up - Gestede part anyway). Cairney and Marshall are ones to watch aswell apparently. Link to post Share on other sites
Dynamo Kev 1,557 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 i'd like bamford and kike upfront together for this one. when both are on the inablity to get anything from the wide men doesnt leave us totally toothless. reach seems to go pretty much every game without beating a man or actually getting in a cross without hitting the first defender, he's almost completely inaffective in the alm/winger position imo. although he is a good footballer and has a canny shot. not suited to a aml/winger. more a left midfielder. which he would be in if we played 2 cf's. he can then be involved more in buildups and keep possession, link up with the fullback better to. i think reach could play in the centre easily. i'm starting to get sick for the 4231 formation lark. poor kike is to isolated, we dont have the correct personnel to make to most effective. Link to post Share on other sites
Somerset Boro 98 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 no steele is a big blow for them, they all rate him so why isn't he in our squad???? anyway, i think this will be a 2-0 win for us, Bamford and Ayala. we need to start picking up more home wins. ps im just off to rub the lamp :D Link to post Share on other sites
Essuuaitch 330 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I really rate Cairney for them, but he was the one sent off last game ...does that mean he missses this , or is it the next one . blackburn .imo are one of the the top 10 in this div so it wont be a foregone conclusion to pick up 3 points but hopefully with home advantage (it is isnt it ) and playing to our potential i think we,ll edge it . ps good first MDT red rocket . Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rocket 244 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Thanks LM! Cairney will miss this match, just like Clayton is out for us with his five yellows. They really do seem as though Steele is going to be a big miss for them and with only two clean sheets this term, there could be a chance for Boro. I'd love to see us go 4-4-2, with Tomlin on the left and two up front. I just can't see Karanka going for that strategy. Link to post Share on other sites
Prowler 197 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Isn't Albert suspended? Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rocket 244 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 You're absolutely right Prowler. I forget about Albert's booking. Thanks for that. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts