Middlesbrough v Bristol City please log in to view this image Preview: Middlesbrough (A) Saturday, July 11th 2020 City march on the Riverside Stadium fresh from their midweek win over Hull City. Jamie Paterson inspired the Robins to end their winless run at ten games, with an exquisite free kick and an assist in the 2-1 win. And their fight towards as high a finish in the Sky Bet Championship as possible continues against relegation-threatened Boro on Saturday. Therefore, much like Wednesday's encounter, it's a contest between two teams still with lots to play for and a long time has passed since these sides' 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture. Middlesbrough could end the weekend in the bottom three if results don't go their way but they have a manager who is all to be familiar with success in the form of Neil Warnock. After leaving Cardiff City, Warnock went on to replace the sacked Jonathan Woodgate at the Riverside last month. He's managed 13 clubs in 40 years - some of those more than once including Crystal Palace and QPR - and has many promotions to his name, which includes reaching the Premier League four times. He's closing in on 1,500 games in management in what may be his final bow...but where have we heard that before?! Saturday's fixture is available free on Robins TV Live to Season Card holders (the stream starts one hour ahead of kick-off with all the build-up, analysis, and post-match comments). Non-Season Card holders can purchase a matchday pass at £10, and enjoy all the same benefits. Please note the match is not on Sky Sports or on the red button. MATCH DETAILS Date: Saturday, July 11th 2020 Kick-off: 3pm Competition: Sky Bet Championship Where: Riverside Stadium Officials: Darren England (referee), Paul Hodskinson and Matthew McGrath (assistants), Carl Boyeson (fourth official) HEAD TO HEAD W: 25 (31%) D: 22 L: 33 FORM - Includes pre-suspensionBristol City: WLLLL Boro: WLLWL please log in to view this image All smiles this week Club news Watch: Go behind the scenes as City Women return for pre-season training City's matchday shirts are being auctioned off this weekend in aid of the Robins Foundation Numbers game: Check out some of the key numbers behind the midweek win over Hull City Hear from Joe Morrell as the midfielder becomes our latest podcast interviewee City continue to be without the suspended Ashley Williams and Pedro Pereira continues his recovery from injury. Middlesbrough are not believed to have any new injury concerns from their trip to Millwall Word from the camp Famara Diédhiou reflects on victory over Hull City, returning to the scoresheet and the prospect of Boro... Memorable match Middlesbrough 0-1 Bristol City Tuesday, April 2nd 2019 Sky Bet Championship Riverside Stadium Scorers: Webster 31 Attendance: 21,016 please log in to view this image Adam Webster’s first-half header has sent City back into the play-offs in a well-earned win against Middlesbrough. Lee Johnson’s side pressed the Smoggies from the off and after surviving a crossbar and goalline clearance scare, Webster rose to give City a half-time advantage. Tony Pulis’ side wasted a number of chances, with Assombalonga striking the post, while Max O’Leary was in form to keep the hosts at bay and earn a clean sheet. Marlon Pack curled a shot narrowly wide as City almost squeezed a second goal but a defensive tactical switch saw Johnson hold out to take the points back to Bristol. City XI: O'Leary, Webster, Wright, Kalas, Paterson, Brownhill, Hunt, Pack, Dasilva, Weimann, Diedhiou https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/preview-middlesbrough-a/
Predicted Bristol City team (3-5-2): Bentley; Kalas, Benkovic, Baker; Hunt, Smith, Paterson, Weimann, Dasilva; Diedhiou, Afobe https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/robins-look-see-warnock-again-4316683
Dean Holden on facing Middlesbrough You know they’re [Boro] going to be battling. That’s what you expect in this division. The players have to go out there and make it happen and finish the season on a high. Dean Holden on naming an unchanged team We had to keep a little check on Nathan Baker. Obviously we lost him in the first minute the other night and he suffered severe migraines off the back of that challenge, and you can see why when you watch it back in slow motion. He’s reported really well in the last couple of days and it’s important we keep continuity. More from Holden Certainly in the first half the other night it was a performance of people getting on the ball and talking risks, and that’s what we want from them again today. We know where Middlesbrough’s threats lie, but the focus is on us turning up and making sure every player brings their best performance. They’re all feeling good about themselves after the win the other night, and lets see how we get on.
Unbelievable first half that, a joy to watch, give them freedom to do their jobs on the pitch. also get Warnock in
Wow lovely football. Clearly on the front foot-wished this happened 10 games ago. The decision to remove LJ was 100% correct.
Great win! Well done Dean and the boys! I’m puzzled though - I thought we had **** players according to RP.........??? Kamy was talking us up big time on SSN - saying Boro were far from poor but what great football we were playing. Well done LJ for buying the players (I’ll get my coat.....)
That was a very good performance indeed, I would say that we created more chances in that game than we did in the first 4 games after lockdown. We played some really good stuff throughout and scored 3 great goals all with assists from Weimann. The 2nd goal came at a very good time for us, we had been under the cosh for a while albeit Warnock inspired long ball/set piece type cosh. Hunt had missed a presentable chances and it should be 3 after Wells missed another presentable chance after Patersons great goal. Hunt missed a 2nd good chance in the 2nd half. Bentley had little to do, the defence was brilliant, if we could keep Baker fit I think he must be one of the best central defenders in this league, he is brave and his blocking is brilliant, Kalas looks as though he gives a **** again and the 2 of them could be very important for us going forward. With Vyner emerging and DaSilva amongst the best left backs in this division, the defence just needs cover, however I have always been a fan of 3 at the back and I think Moore could slot in there nicely. I owe Smith an apology, I misguidedly thought his legs had gone but boy he is getting back to his best form game by game. As I said Weimann assisted with all 3 goals and it would churlish of me to highlight his occasional wastefulness. Now we come to Paterson I repeat what I said on Wednesday night, I truly believe that we need to build a midfield around him to allow him the freedom to be excused from the physical side of the game, because it’s something that he doesn’t possess and takes away what he is best at and what we have been missing. Maybe Walsh and Morrell together could be the answer. Diedhiou played really well, but I stick by my assessment he needs coaching from an Alby Wilbrahamesque type of striker, Wells is the striker we have needed for ages and is more than just a goal scorer, he is a very good footballer. Whoever the new manager is going to be if he has access to the full squad as it stands, with a few fresh faces in midfield and upfront + cover at left back and few other positions and play to our strengths, 3 at the back, high press and quick dangerous breaks like today, I see no reason why we cannot challenge next season. On Wednesday the green shoots of breaking the shackles of most of this seasons very negative approach especially at home could be seen, today we showed how good we can be, when we believe in playing that way, the way we played up to our Carabao cup semi final, something that we have struggled to emulate and Patersons form in the last 2 games is something like it was during that run, build a midfield around him and free him to do what he does best, do not ask him to be a normal midfielder. You have to wonder where we might have been now had we been playing to our strengths with this type of freedom since January.
