Jerseybean

Without wishing to over react that was one of the most complete team performances from us in a league game (against a very good opponent) in a very long time. Well done all the players and the staff.

My first half thoughts included this: Thought we played with composure, intensity, professionalism, and desire. throughout that 45 minutes. The frustrating ‘nearly’ bit is when we get around or into their box it’s nearly, nearly, nearly, every time as the final ball has been lame either to a defender or their keeper, that is the huge area for improvement. Memheti, Bell, Roberts, have all been guilty of delivering a very weak final ball, following very enterprising and I catching approach play. The top teams have that ruthless, clinical edge in the final third that we are blatantly lacking at the moment. Second half we played just as well, however, we very much did deliver quality balls in the final third (even if the first goal came from a pass from an off side position.) Without wishing to over react that was one of the most complete team performances from us in a league game (against a very good opponent) in a very long time. Well done all the players and the staff. We even scored following a throw in, when did that last happen!? Only disappoint was not keeping a clean sheet. So, we have shown in recent weeks what a solid / capable team we can be against two premier league teams and certainly did so again tonight against a team high on confidence and likely to be in the promotion hunt at the end of the season. A very good performance and a well deserved three points. Well played you Reds!

First half thoughts. Thought we played with composure, intensity, professionalism, and desire. throughout that 45 minutes. Certainly look like a confident team knowing what they are trying to do. The frustrating ‘nearly’ bit is when we get around or into their box it’s nearly, nearly, nearly, every time as the final ball has been lame either to a defender or their keeper, that is the huge area for improvement. Memheti, Bell, Roberts, have all been guilty of delivering a very weak final ball, following very enterprising and I catching approach play. As noted above the stats illustrate this. The top teams have that ruthless, clinical edge in the final third that we are blatantly lacking at the moment. Need to be mindful that Tanner has been beaten a couple of times too easily, that has looked their main threat. Anybody got a decent stream please mine cuts out every three minutes.

Do you have a live picture or just a static one?

How did I forget Ken, remember watching him back in the day…https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/ken-wimshurst-1938-2017/

Paul Tisdale

Another who played for them and us is Richard Dryden.

It’s on Sky, 8 pm kick off. Will be 23,000 + in attendance with 3,414 in the sold out Saints away end. At the end of November we lost 1-0 at their place, we were beaten by a spectacular strike, early in the second half, from Walker-Peters. It was their first clean sheet at home of the season. At that stage of the season they were 4th and we were 12th. Highlights: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/extended-highlights-southampton-1-0-bristol-city-2/ City fan Ted Hill enjoyed himself… https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12814183/Bristol-City-fan-TRICKS-Southampton-supporters-thinking-hes-one-players-takes-selfies-signs-shirt.html LM post match: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/liam-manning-reaction/ They were relegated last season after eleven seasons in the top flight finishing bottom with 25 points. Alex Scott, was at one time a member of the Southampton Academy, how they must be kicking themselves now. Well known fans include: Craig David - Singer. Chris Packham - Wildlife TV presenter. David Frost - Legendary TV host, journalist and writer. Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister. Russell Martin was appointed manager in June, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65980277 They went through three managers last season with Ralph Hasenhuttl's replacement Nathan Jones only lasting 95 days before he was sacked in February. Spaniard Selles came in later that month, but could not haul the Saints out of the drop zone. Martin bought in four of his staff from Swansea City, including Matt Gill as his assistant manager, who was in the same role at Swansea. Gill had a long playing career that spanned eight clubs and 353 League games plus another 104 in the National League before going into coaching in 2014 as assistant manager at Tranmere, followed by positions at Norwich, Ipswich and MK Dons where he linked up with Russell Martin again after both had been team mates at Norwich in 2009-11. They appointed Phil Parsons as their chief executive, following the departure of Martin Semmens after their relegation from the Premier League. Parsons joined the club from technology company Dyson, where he spent 15 years in a number of senior leadership roles. In July they signed Republic of Ireland left-back Ryan Manning after his exit from Swansea City. He was the Saints' first signing since their relegation from the Premier League and linked up again with boss Russell Martin, who was his manager at Swansea. The 27-year-old, who was out of contract at Swansea, signed a four-year deal at St Mary's. They signed Manchester City midfielder Shea Charles for an undisclosed fee. The 19-year-old, who has won eight caps for Northern Ireland, signed a four-year deal at St Mary's. Their Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car joined French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais on loan and Newcastle signed right-back Tino Livramento in early August, in a deal worth up to £40m. The deal is worth an initial £32m and the 20-year-old Englishman signed a five-year contract. West Ham signed England international James Ward-Prowse from them in mid-August. The 28-year-old joined for an undisclosed fee (thought to be in the region of £30m) on a contract until June 2027. They sold midfielder Romeo Lavia to Chelsea for an initial £53m. They signed West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes on loan until the end of the season. The 24-year-old has made 35 appearances for the Hammers since joining from Swansea City last summer. Downes also played under Saints boss Russell Martin during his year-long spell with the Swans, scoring one goal in 39 outings for the Welsh club. They secured the loan signing of Everton defender Mason Holgate. On deadline day they signed Ross Stewart on a three-year deal from Sunderland. The Scotland striker, 27, became Saints' eighth signing of the window and followed the earlier deadline day signing of England Under-21 centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. He joined on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City. In January they signed AFC Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell on loan until the end of the season. The 29-year-old, who joined the Cherries from Blackburn Rovers in 2022, had played 11 times in the Premier League this season. They also signed winger David Brooks from Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season. Their MDT: https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/60699-bristol-city-a-tuesday-8pm/ Russell Martin has declared that they will be without injured key midfielder Flynn Downes while Scotland international forward Che Adams is a doubt. LM presser: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/liam-mannings-southampton-press-conference/ and George Tanner’s thoughts: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/tanner-previews-saints-clash/ We have only played Southampton 10 times in the last 44 years. There haven't been too many players that have represented both sides, those who have include Joe Jordan, Russell Osman and Stern John. Even with the benefit of parachute payments lots of people, including Saints fans, thought they would struggle to turn a sinking ship around. Once they recovered from losing James Ward-Prowse, their loanees started to settle and everyone got to grips with Russell Martin's possession-based approach, they have not looked back. They have a lot of quality at this level and no shortage of flair in the final third. The additions of Brooks and the return of Sulemana have made them even stronger in that area. However, an injury on Saturday to the extremely important Flynn Downes could throw a spanner in the works. Seeing as we beat them twice during their last promotion season, the only side to do so, and we lost to a worldie at their place, we might just put an end to their 25 game unbeaten run. Head-to-head record Won: 16 Lost: 26 Drawn: 7 They have been in great recent form setting a new club record having managed a 25 game unbeaten run in all competitions, this Guardian piece relates: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/09/southampton-record-unbeaten-run-russell-martin Currently they are second on 64 points. Officials Referee: Matthew Donohue Assistants: Paul Hodskinson and Matthew McGrath Fourth official: Geof Eltringham Robins Foundation is delighted to host Alright My Liver at Ashton Gate ahead of the game. ‘Alright My Liver’ is a community NHS screening service for people across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, led by Bristol and Severn Hepatitis C Operational Delivery Network in collaboration with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) and Southwest Cancer Alliance Group (SWAG). The main causes of liver disease are type 2 diabetes, obesity, viral hepatitis and alcohol excess. Liver disease increases the risk of various complications including liver cancer which can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, which can often go undiagnosed for many years before symptoms develop. City supporters are being invited to visit the Foundation’s offices in the South Stand concourse (S25/S26), following a short questionnaire will receive a FibroScan – a quick, non-invasive scan which can rule out or indicate liver cirrhosis. Fans will be in and out of the room within 15 minutes.

LM post match: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/really-proud-of-the-lads-manning/

Player ratings….https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-city/bristol-city-v-middlesbrough-championship-matty-james-4513383?page=3

….for Derby today

MT on his goal celebration…..https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1756372936884187138/vid/avc1/320x400/sAtAMUPdEvRGGgBD.mp4?tag=16

From their forum…..Or maybe, the Bristol manager with a 2 goal advantage told his players to just protect what they have, save energy, as with time going by & all the minutes they had played midweek come 80 minutes they would be on their backside, lets not forget, not only the distance they've covered over the last 4 days but 90 minutes of football, extra time & penalty loss, yet we started off as bad as we have done for a long, long time & they just came at us time & time again & without Glover our defeat would have been greater

Immediate thoughts on the final whistle. A superb win when you think of the circumstances. Really a game of two halves, we looked by far the better team for the first half and scored two well taken goals and should really have tied the game up when Sam Bell was through one on one As would be expected, Middlesbrough gave it their all in the second half and our defensive resilience held up, despite our inability to find a decent out ball which resulted in incessant pressure. A couple of firsts today, our first double of the season and our first league win of 2024. There’s lots more to reflect on, and to take from that performance. Although I’m loathed to pick out an individual I thought Rob Dickie was man of the match. To finish with the support from the traveling fans absolutely brilliant, take a huge bow and enjoy your journey home.

Tips from a pro, https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/head-chef-michelin-recommended-pub-9088495?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bristol+Live+-+Daily+Newsletter_newsletter&utm_content=&utm_term=&ruid=eda3a0ce-34ec-4a85-96cd-ae68727a6b80

Sherlocks 4.5(200) · ££ · Pub 7 Baker St Closed ⋅ Opens 11 am No takeaway·No delivery Rafferty's 4.6(83) · Pub 0 Baker St Closed ⋅ Opens 12 pm No takeaway·No delivery Twisted Lip 4.5(482) · ££ · Pub 11-13 Baker St Closed ⋅ Opens 11 am Dine-in·No takeaway·No delivery More

Boro fan on their forum has suggested heading to Baker Street. Lots of proper pubs with great choices of beer/ales apparently and wont get any bother there.

Keep warm you are likely to be needed after 30 minutes

Evening BT how are you?

Match info….https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/09/Matchday-Info--Boro-v-Bristol-City/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68192976

OS preview: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/city-men-news/preview-middlesbrough-a-2/

The MDT has a link to some others but there don’t seem to bevmany near the ground

Last season Boro finished fourth in the table but were beaten by Coventry (who were five points behind in fifth) 1-0 over two legs in the play off semi final. Guide to the Riverside: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/riverside-stadium-middlesbrough.html This fixture last season ended all square, https://youtu.be/Q4oRq2Y-N_w We played them at our place immediately after the November International break, in what was LMs first home game in charge, it finished 3-2 and for the second season in a row at home to Boro we sacrificed a two goal lead. Carrick post match: https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2023/november/25/michael-carrick-post-match--bristol-city/ Highlights: https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2023/november/26/Highlights--Bristol-City-3-Boro-2/ We lost out to them in the race to sign Aston Villa playmaker Finn Azaz, the 23-year-old signed for a fee in the region of £2.5million in early January. They also added Luke Ayling on loan https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67933232 and Luke Thomas joined on loan during the January transfer window. On deadline day Aston Villa signed Morgan Rogers from them. The transfer fee for the 21-year-old, who plays predominantly as a winger, is £8m plus add-ons which may rise to £15m. Rogers scored seven goals and made nine assists in 33 games for Boro this season. They are owned by Steve Gibson. He is a lifelong Middlesbrough fan, having attended matches with Chris Kamara at Ayresome Park as a youngster. He joined the board as the club's youngest ever director at the age of 26 while Willie Maddren was manager. He helped save the club from liquidation by forming a consortium in 1986. In 1993, he bought Scottish & Newcastle's shares in the club, and succeeded Colin Henderson as the club's chairman in 1994, owning roughly 90% of the club. Gibson saw the club leave Ayresome Park in 1995 for the Riverside Stadium, a brand new all-seater stadium. He also made money available for the purchase of big-name players. Gibson's appointment of Bryan Robson as manager in May 1994 helped raise the profile of the club and achieve three Wembley cup final appearances within 12 months during 1997 and 1998. As a result of ongoing investment in supporting Robson's successor, Steve McClaren, in 2004 the club was able to win its first trophy in 128 years, the English League Cup. His tenure as chairman has also seen the club reach the UEFA Cup final, Europe's second biggest club cup competition. Gibson has since stated that his aim for the club is to see it play more regular European football. In 2004, Gibson was given the Freedom of Middlesbrough after the club won the English League Cup. Gibson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to the economy, sport and the community on Teesside. MC’s pre-match presser: https://youtu.be/Y8F9O8bI6BA For them Riley McGree back in the squad. Marcus Forss is fit after late knock in the Sunderland game. Seny Dieng has a chance of returning, while Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath are still out. Given the extra time on Wednesday we are likely to make some changes, guessing CP and TGH will both return to the starting line up and Dire Mebude will be included in the squad. Head-to-head record Won: 29 Lost: 35 Drawn: 24 They are 8th in the form table, we are 23rd (based on last 6 league games) last Sunday they were at home to Sunderland, it finished 1-1. One of my favourites back in the day was Dickie Rooks, who played for both them and us, Alan Dicks signed him for £17,000 in June 1969. Given our recent signing of Max Bird I need to be careful not to go off on a flight of fantasy and start recalling others we’ve had with a bird connection, of course Mark Robins and Chris Crowe would both feature if I did! Back on track, others who played for both teams include, Albert Adomah, Luke Ayling, Neil Maddison, Tomas Kalas, Lee Tomlin, Gary O’Neil, Matthew Bates and Andre Bikey, Officials Referee: Sam Allison Assistants: Andrew Fox and Bhupinder Singh Gill Fourth official: Thomas Kirk Middlesborough musings A Town Steeped in Industrial History Middlesbrough has a proud industrial heritage, with its roots dating back to the 19th century. Its strategic location on the banks of the River Tees made it a thriving hub for iron and steel production, earning it the nickname “Ironopolis.” Birthplace of Captain James Cook Middlesbrough proudly claims Captain James Cook, one of history’s greatest explorers, as its native son. Cook’s voyages of discovery and his mapping of the Pacific greatly contributed to our understanding of the world. The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of Captain James Cook. Located in Stewart Park, the museum exhibits maps, artifacts, and interactive displays that bring Cook’s extraordinary voyages to life. The Iconic Transporter Bridge Middlesbrough is home to the iconic Transporter Bridge, a symbol of the town’s engineering prowess. This unique structure, built in 1911, is one of the few remaining operational transporter bridges in the world and offers breathtaking views of the Tees Valley. During the 1970s, actor Terry Scott, of Terry and June, managed to drive his car off the end of the Transporter Bridge and was only saved from the murky waters of the River Tees by the bridge’s safety net. Boro’s old Ayresome Park ground featured in the 35th edition of the Guinness Book of Records – not for football, but for being the home of the largest reported advertising hoarding, which was painted on the roof of the North Stand by sponsor Heritage Hampers. In October 2018, Michael Carrick announced that he had suffered from depression for two years following the defeat in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. Middlesbrough FC was the first football club in the world to launch its own TV channel – Boro TV. Pies Upex pies are worth tracking down, https://www.upexpies.co.uk/our-story/ Pubs Hit the bar, Bridge St E, Middlesbrough TS2 1NW, near the train station. https://thegoodpubguide.co.uk/?s=&gpg=Middlesbrough&submit=Search