Home to Middlesbrough match day thread

[RedinSpain]

Superb block by Williams

[ProfitInMyPocket]

Boro slowly adapting to us towards the end of the half, we may need to make a few tweaks as we look open, if we carry on as we are, we could be in trouble.

Seen us play better and worse so can't complain with the application so far, their forwards look dangerous and we need to be switched on, COYR.

[ExiledAjax]

We're very loose. I guess you could call it fluid if being generous, but it seems to me as though loose is the word.

[Garland-sweden]

So far so good. Last minutes nervy but we hang on. Ref not good. COYR 

[cityexile]

Not anywhere near as bad as I feared in truth. Not unlike the first half v Swansea, not a lot in it but we are capable of scoring very decent goals. Awfully long time to go, but hopefully we can continue to frustrate them and nick another.

[Alessandro]

It’s not vintage stuff, but it’s a tenacious, committed first half performance with solid resolute defending.

Our goal coming from Semenyo’s strength again, laying off brilliantly for Weimann’s powerful finish.

Boro neat and tidy, especially around the box. Despite a series of corners at end of half, their best chance coming from a loose Massengo back pass, leaving Connelly 1 on 1 with Bentley but he couldn’t round him. 
 

Has the feeling of a game where a little Wilder half time team talk and tactical tweak will see them causing us more problems in the second half…

Williams a terrier (please don’t get a second booking) and Klose clearing many a high ball well.

Scott having another quiet game for me - Bell with one or two runs but loose in possession too often, but doing OK. Jay fairly quiet, Martin winning a few headers that weren’t anticipated by those around him.

Hopefully Semenyo will have a few chances on the break in the second half.

Edited February 19, 2022 by Alessandro

[Partridge is a robin]

Not sure if its even a factor but anyone know if we're playing with or against the wind in the second half?

[Ivorguy]

If only our matches were 45 mins long

[MarcusX]

9 minutes ago, Tafkarmlf said:

We're gunna end with a red. 

What was Scott booked for?? 

Grabbed the winger as he was making a run off the ball I think.

Williams on a yellow worries me as he likes a tackle too much, and playing where he is making last ditch tackles.

Pretty good first half. Great start (after a shaky couple of minutes). Boro growing into it, targeting Bents / putting it on the goal at corners but we’ve defended solidly

We look threatening going forward but final ball/key pass is lacking too often

[GTFABM]

Anyone get a photo of the 8 in the dolman?

[BCFC Rich]

Still bypassing midfield a few too many times. Hopeful balls forward instead of steady build up. Happy with the score, defending has been pretty good, and Bell is doing well (particularly given the position), but not been great on the entertainment end. 

[MarcusX]

1 minute ago, Redwood Robin said:

Not sure if its even a factor but anyone know if we're playing with or against the wind in the second half?

Looked like it was slinging the ball into Bentley at those corners

[bexhill reds]

We need another Joe Williams-type in midfield at the minute, HNM not looking as effective as he has been. Worried about this ref, seems to find fouls where no one else can. Not sure we can withhold this much pressure without conceding though

[ExiledAjax]

One note. Brownhill's bagged one for Burnley.

[swanker]

1 minute ago, Tafkarmlf said:

Interesting half

Both teams not really doing the do, prety drab goal aside. 

Boro no shooting boots, but still causing havoc. 

Sam Bell, Williams, Klose Semenyo having awesome games 

Funny how we see thing differently. I’ve really enjoyed the first half and have been pretty impressed with city. We’ve got some very young players and we’re going toe to toe with a team that are on a good run. 

[Spike]

Great first half until the last 10 mins or so which has made me realise maybe why we struggle so much, we're great at counter attacking so obviously at our first opportunity we go bounding up to counter in attempt to get a goal but that means we tend to make our attacks swift and short which prevents our opposition from feeling pressured. The last ten minutes of that half showed us what we're missing, the ability to hold the ball in the oppositions final third and create pressure as well as win the ball back higher up the pitch. 
I think Pearson needs to add another dimension to our game which is the ability to take the ball up on the counter but keep the ball in the final third and make the opposition uncomfortable, as much as we look dangerous at times I don't feel Middlesbrough feel pressured when we attack, it's a quick panic and it either materialises or dissipates at which point we instantly forced into panic mode as they push onto us in numbers.

What I've mentioned also explains why we concede so much, I'd be interesting to see the stats of how much time we spend in our own final third without possession. I think our defenders probably come under more pressure per game than some teams may come under in 2-3. Once we have that confidence to play the ball around outside of our own half and keep the opposition on the back foot I think we'd see our defending improve a lot too as the defence wouldn't be under pressure for such long periods of play.

[old_eastender]

2 minutes ago, Redwood Robin said:

Not sure if its even a factor but anyone know if we're playing with or against the wind in the second half?

I think wind will be mainly at our backs second half, seeing how corner flags were bending towards South Stand.

[swanker]

1 minute ago, ExiledAjax said:

One note. Brownhill's bagged one for Burnley.

His first in the premiership?

[ExiledAjax]

Just now, swanker said:

His first in the premiership?

I believe so.

[bexhill reds]

1 minute ago, Spike said:

Great first half until the last 10 mins or so which has made me realise maybe why we struggle so much, we're great at counter attacking so obviously at our first opportunity we go bounding up to counter in attempt to get a goal but that means we tend to make our attacks swift and short which prevents our opposition from feeling pressured. The last ten minutes of that half showed us what we're missing, the ability to hold the ball in the oppositions final third and create pressure as well as win the ball back higher up the pitch. 
I think Pearson needs to add another dimension to our game which is the ability to take the ball up on the counter but keep the ball in the final third and make the opposition uncomfortable, as much as we look dangerous at times I don't feel Middlesbrough feel pressured when we attack, it's a quick panic and it either materialises or dissipates at which point we instantly forced into panic mode as they push onto us in numbers.

What I've mentioned also explains why we concede so much, I'd be interesting to see the stats of how much time we spend in our own final third without possession. I think our defenders probably come under more pressure per game than some teams may come under in 2-3. Once we have that confidence to play the ball around outside of our own half and keep the opposition on the back foot I think we'd see our defending improve a lot too as the defence wouldn't be under pressure for such long periods of play.

Good point, half our problem is not necessarily the quality of the defenders, but the amount of defending we have to do…

[pongo88]

Good defensive display but City need to be much stronger in midfield. Boro have had too much of the ball and there is too much play in and around City’s penalty area 

[brad blit]

Strange game to comment on, one moment of brilliance but we havnt really created many other chances. Boro look dangerous when they break the lines but then final ball is lacking. But we are going toe to toe against one of form teams in division so it’s a good start. However we’ve said this numerous times and lost so many points from being infront! I don’t see this game ending 1-0……. 

[Son of Fred]

5 minutes ago, Alessandro said:

It’s not vintage stuff, but it’s a tenacious, committed first half performance with solid resolute defending.

Our goal coming from Semenyo’s strength again, laying off brilliantly for Weimann’s powerful finish.

Boro neat and tidy, especially around the box. Despite a series of corners at end of half, their best chance coming from a loose Massengo back pass, leaving Connelly 1 on 1 with Bentley but he couldn’t round him. 
 

Has the feeling of a game where a little Wilder half time team talk and tactical tweak will see them causing us more problems in the second half…

Williams a terrier (please don’t get a second booking) and Klose clearing many a high ball well.

Scott having another quiet game for me - Bell with one or two runs but loose in possession too often, but doing OK. Jay fairly quiet, Martin winning a few headers that weren’t anticipated by those around him.

Hopefully Semenyo will have a few chances on the break in the second half.

I wouldn't want to wait too long to swap Pring on for Dasilva....

[Dan Robin]

Decent first half, with a great goal, some good counterattack and pretty solid defending (helped by Bentley).

Boro's pressure will probably continue in the second half, so we'll need cohesion and a little bit of luck if we want to get something from this game.

[Son of Fred]

2 minutes ago, brad blit said:

I don’t see this game ending 1-0……

Unlikely!..

We'll need to score again to get the three points here.

[Ivorguy]

Please not another set of dropped points after holding the lead for the best part of a half

Two more goals required before I can relax

[Malago]

Both Scott and Han look leggy.  Surprised if they last the 90.

[Alan Dicks]

Gonna get battered this half, can we hang on?

[Slippin cider]

Just now, Alan Dicks said:

Gonna get battered this half, can we hang on?

You just know they’ve had a roasting from CW at half time 

[old_eastender]

Wake up City, poor start to 2nd half