Match Day Thread MIDDLESBROUGH v WATFORD

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MIDDLESBROUGH v WATFORD

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Monday 5th April 2021
Riverside Stadium
Kick Off 1230 BST

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Here we go again. Almost no time to allow you to refill the kettle, open a bottle of something red, or find the blood pressure medication.

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Boro have won back-to-back matches on home soil without conceding, seeing off Stoke City 3-0 and Preston North End 2-0, and are without a defeat there in three.


However, Neil Warnock's men have lost to Millwall and Bournemouth in their last two games either side of the international break, leaving them with a lot of work to do.

The 3-1 reverse at Bournemouth on Friday could prove particularly costly, with that loss seeing the gap on the top six increase to seven points.

Warnock-managed sides do not tend to do well against Watford, either, with the veteran coach losing 17 league matches against them down the years - his joint-most as a manager in the top four tiers of English football, alongside Reading.

Another defeat on Monday, combined with other results going against them, and Boro's outside promotion hopes will surely be over for another season.

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A Tom Lees own goal proved the difference as Watford edged out strugglers Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Vicarage Road on Good Friday.

It was far from a convincing victory for the Hornets in their first game back from the international break, but the three points is all that counts.

With third-placed Swansea City losing at Birmingham City later in the day, Watford are nine points clear of the Welsh side, who do still have a game in hand to play.

Brentford can move to within four points of Watford if they win their two games in hand, the first of those away to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

That points margin could come in handy as Xisco's side face Boro, Reading, Norwich City, Brentford and Swansea in five of their remaining seven games - an extremely tough run.

Our Officials

TIM ROBINSON

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Mark Dwyer and Andrew Fox
Fourth Official : Tony Harrington

ENJOY THE GAME WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD


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GOAL Huddersfield 1-0 Brentford
Lewis O'Brien (7 mins)

 

Nicked from a Boro fans forum.

FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Captain Shambles aka Brit Assombalonga began his career at Watford

Diego Fabbrini joined Boro on loan in the 2015/16 season scoring 6 goals in 26 games before being forgotten about after we signed Gaston Ramirez.

Kiki Dee performed in Middlesbrough in November 1976, after her hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," with Watford's legendary owner Reginald Dwight.

Danny Graham played for Watford whilst he wasn't playing for us at some point before he played for us again then didn't.

 

Didn't remember that - - he went to Birmingham too I think.

A tough game but I think one we can win if we attack and play well.

 

Obviously a callow youth who doesn't know that the legend that is Terry Garbett also played for both.

 

Warnock has said he won't play Asombalonga as he is leaving on a free at the end of the season.
However they now have more striker injuries so he may change his mind.

Will be happy with a draw, ecstatic with a win!

 

Happy with a draw too.....

 

Goal magazine had a picture of some football player's wife in each edition. Terry Garbett's wife was featured. That is all I remember about that publication.

 

He was a bit like other players, only really scored goals for Watford. Barry Endean was another.

 

In a funny way if we had to lose a game be better for it to be this one than against Brentford , Norwich .. or Luton!

Hopefully we won’t ofcouse.

Let’s hope Warnock is moaning post match because that means we would have won!

 

Surprised they missed out Willie Falconer and Paul Wilkinson... pretty sure they played for Boro (without checking) due to the unsavoury song being chanted all the way up to Ayresome Park on the coach and the stick in the ground. Watford won 2-1.

 

I keep thinking that we can't keep winning.

 

shhhh!

I will miss the game today sadly as with family ...BUT will I be able to not look at the score before coming home to watch the game????? I think not!!

Come on you Horns!

 

“It will be tough and we'll have to be patient. But if we do the dirty work, stick together, then our quality should shine through. We are going there to try and get the three points.” Dan Bachmann

 

Win this , puts so much pressure on the distant chasers , we have another chance on friday to do the same , sometimes these earlier games can work in your favour , seems to be happenening at the moment ......

 

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Looks good, but very cold.

 

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In these strange times, I think you should celebrate being with your family. WFC will take care of themselves.

 

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"Second half of the season has been very different for Boro and Watford. On Christmas morning, just a point separated them in fifth and sixth. Nineteen games later, there are 22 points between the sides."