Match Day Thread Middlesbrough FC v Sunderland AFC – Monday 3rd February 2025 - KO 20:00

I thought they were brilliant the first 25 minutes but seemed to burn themselves out

 

I don't recall Patterson doing anything other than the header (offside) and the goal which was a foul.

Just a throw away comment because they put us under some pressure.

 

They flashes a **** loads wide of the post too.

 

Game should of ended 5-8 to us based on that.

 

Been thinking about us starting slow in games.
Away from home most would expect the home team to be up for it, like last night, they're biggest home game of the season and were bound to give it their all which they did.
However Patto only had one real save to make and their goal was a breakaway so for all the pressure our defence coped quite well.
Once we got our foot on the ball it was game over for me, the Ref helped them with the first and we gifted them the second, Patto didn't really break sweat all night to be fair.
So is it us starting slow or other teams giving us a hard time which they're perfectly entitled to do....it isn't always about how were set up and play but more about how we cope when tested, which we did well enough to bring home the 3 points.

 

A clinical side and we would have lost that game in the first 25 I think but after that we were clearly the better side

 

Why do we start so slow? Its nearly every game

 

What do we all think re Boro's 2nd goal? At first I was blaming o9 for a hospital pass to Jobe, but on 2nd look Jobe maybe should have just knocked it back to him, rather than try and hold the player off and turn?

 

**** on all levels

 

Not a great pass from 09, Jobe not strong enough. Just a bad one all round. Thankfully fully didnt cost us, we take the points, learn from it and move on

 

Aye it’s like we haven’t worked out our plan yet them we do and start playing. If we replace Dodds we need a specialist coach who can get teams to start and end games better. They can go put their feet up for the middle bit.

 

Teams set out to be physical and press at the start of games .Most can't keep that up, its damn hard work chasing young kids around. We then get control of the game ..I'm more concerned about the end of games when we sit back .We can't defend direct pressure in the box very well.

 

Bar the first 25 mins and the 09 cock up, that was the best away performance I’ve seen in a long while, controlled it and bossed it everywhere.

 

Was a lot like Blackburn Boxing Day just thankfully we landed the sucker punch this time

 

Interesting that RLB said we went more "vertical". I think we will see a bit more direct play as the season continues. With Isidor and Mayenders pace, Mundle coming back who is no slouch we will scare the ****e out of teams on the break

 

Nowt wrong with the occasional ball over the top. I'm a big advocate of changing things up every now and then - we can be too predictable at times so I like to see a first time cross, or a ball over the top just to mix things up.

 

Well i enjoyed that trip down the A19 to smogland. Yet again I thought we started slowly but gradually worked our way into the game and from just before Neil's equaliser took control of the game. Some really good performances Neil, Jobe, apart from their 2nd equaliser similar thing happened 1st half also same 2 players onien to jobe. Roberts played well right wing le Fee that touch for the winner just wow and I thought samed when he came on broke play up well and showed he is a good acquisition. Loved the end of the game there is such a togetherness about this squad and their connection with the fans. Absolutely brilliant. Great 3 points and on we go to Saturday. Wilson cool as you like for the 2nd. Brilliant.

 

Jobe has a tendency to sometimes think he has more time than he has. He also has a tendency to want to use his strength to fend off a tackle and try to turn. I don't think he should be doing that 10 yards outside our box,although it wasn't a great ball from O9.

 

We did seem to put a few more crosses in earlier, it was good to see and as I said hopefully use the quicker ball at times in the coming games

 

What a stunning view of Wilson’s goal on that video.

Also, that Le Fee touch for the 3rd. They’ll be talking about that in 3 million years time. Sublime.

We have indeed got Le Fee