Match Day Thread Middlesbrough v Swansea City

Middlesbrough v Swansea City

Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Venue - Riverside Stadium
Date - 4 December 2021
Kick off - 3.00pm

Following their disappointing 2-3 home defeat at the hands of Reading, next up for Russell Martin’s Swansea squad is a tricky looking game at Middlesbrough.

Last Saturday, former England internationals Andy Carroll and Danny Drinkwater claimed their first Reading goals as Veljko Paunovic's side won at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Jamie Paterson had put the Swans but within a minute, a mistake by Swans’ skipper Matt Grimes allowed Reading to equalise through Tom Dele-Bashiru.

Andy Carroll - looking suspiciously offside - then got free of Rhys Williams and scored just his third goal in four seasons, before Ryan Manning's fine right-footed shot made it 2-2 after half-time.

Thoughts that the Swans would then go onto to win the game were dispelled within 70 seconds as a wayward pass by Kyle Naughton allowed Drinkwater to drill home what turned out to be the winner.

As a result, Reading became just the second visiting team to win at the Swansea.com Stadium this season as Russell Martin's side lost on their own patch for the first time in eight matches.

It was a second successive away victory for Reading and, somewhat amazingly, a first anywhere against the Swans in 17 attempts.

Reading stay 21st but are now four points clear of the drop zone, while the Swans remained in ninth place.

Whilst the Swans were losing to Reading, Duncan Watmore's double sank Huddersfield to give former Blades’ boss, Chris Wilder his first win as Middlesbrough manager, albeit at the third time of asking.

Jonny Howson sent Isaiah Jones away down the right and his cross picked out Watmore unmarked to sidefoot Boro ahead.

Former Terriers midfielder Matt Crooks then played a ball in behind Town's defence for Watmore to beat goalkeeper Lee Nicholls with a fine lob.

Huddersfield rarely threatened, but pulled one back deep in stoppage time through Luke Daniels' own goal.

As a result, Boro moved up to 12th spot, 1 point and 3 places behind the Swans.

The Swans have played Boro on 50 previous occasions, winning 19, losing 20 with 11 drawn.

In the corresponding fixture last season - almost 12 months ago to the day - Boro ran out 2-1 winners, with Watmore notching a brace in that game as well:

Turning to Saturday, whilst I’m hopeful that the Swans can return to winning ways, I suspect that the Swans will return pointless to South Wales. 2-1 to Boro - hope I’m wrong

 

2-1 Swans for me.

 

1-0 us

 

I'd settle for a draw right now 2-2

 

Thanks Taff.....assume we are up for it and a win for the Swans

 

Thanks Taff. I think Martin will have focused on tightening up the defence so I think this has got the makings of an 'unSwans like' 0-0 draw.

 

Thanks,as always,Taff

Sorry but 2-1 Boro.

 

I agree, we might be so intent not to mess up that this could be a cautious performance. I'm going for a 1 - 1 draw though.

 

I have it down for a 1-1 also.

 

0-0 all over it.

 

Bennett, Bidwell, Ntcham on the bench and Obafemi returns to the squad

 

I predict that we will not get a penalty. Just a hunch, not sure where this intuition comes from

 

I’d have dropped Williams after last Saturday. Glad that Downes is starting

 

Maybe Liverpool gave us an ultimatum, play him or return him.

 

Looks that way …..

That said, it took Guehi a few games to grow into the role …. But we have conceded 3 goals in each of the last 2 games thatWilliams has played

 

1-0 down

 

No pen again. Bent ref again

 

Booked Paterson for diving ..

Even the Sky Sports commentator said there was contact …….