After a battling performance on New Year’s Day where our Bluebirds managed to hold onto a point despite the controversial sending off of Callum Robinson, we now head into our 2nd game of 2025 with some renewed optimism, although this Saturday’s game will undoubtedly provide a sterner test as we travel north to take on promotion chasing Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. A rare picture showing Siopis in control of a ball rather than gnawing on the leg of his opposite number Who Are You? Manager Michael Carrick is now into his 3rd year in charge at the Riverside having taken over in October 2022. When Carrick joined them Boro were sat 21st in the Championship at the time, however he managed to get the side up the table to a fourth-place finish, losing in the Play-Off Semi-Finals to Coventry City. The following season, Boro finished in eighth place and reached the EFL Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2004 Boro’s key player this season continues to be Emmanuel Latte Lath, who joined from Atalanta in August 2023. Last season Latte Lath lead the line for Carrick’s side, scoring 16 times in 30 games and this season the Ivorian international has continued his fine scoring form this season netting nine times in 25 league appearances. Boro of course now ply their trade at the Riverside Stadium which, with a capacity of 33,746 makes it the fourth-largest ground in the Sky Bet Championship this season. The stadium opened in 1995 and underwent some renovations in 1998. The stadium was built to replace their former home Ayresome Park following the publication of the Taylor Report, which required all top division football stadiums to be all-seater. After the report was delivered in January 1990, Middlesbrough were unable to expand Ayresome Park outwards owing to its location in a residential area, and expanding the stadium upwards would have limited the club to a capacity of around 20,000 seats, a number deemed too small by the clubs hierarchy at the time. Boro resided at their former ground from 1903 through to 1995, witnessing some interesting times in that period, including seeing the ground used during the 1966 World Cup, as well as also seeing themselves locked out of Ayresome Park by the bailiffs at the start of the 1986-87 season due to huge debts which almost put the club out of business. Fortunately for Boro’ they were soon back at Ayresome Park after a takeover deal saved the club, with their attendances and fortunes on the pitch both improving almost immediately. Last Time Out & Form Last time out saw the Bluebirds suffer a 2-0 reverse at the CCS, despite there being very little between the 2 sides. After an uneventful first half, the Bluebirds began to take a little bit of control of the game early in the 2nd half with a flurry of chances, one of which saw captain Aaron Ramsey hit the post. But disaster struck for the Bluebirds as Boro took the lead against the run of play as centre-back Matt Clarke thudded in a header from a Finn Azaz corner. The visitors scored their second with eight minutes left as Rambo deflected Aidan Morris’ shot into his own net as City tried to chase the game. A third defeat from their first four league matches of the season kept us at the foot of the Championship table, while Boro’s climbed into the play-off spots as a result of their win. Boro come into this one with just 1 defeat in their last 6 (away at Leeds), however, their New Year’s Day win against Hull (a good result for City too) was an important one for the Smoggies as their promotion push was just starting to stutter slightly following 3 consecutive draws, a couple of which to teams that Boro would be thinking as ‘inferior’ opposition, including Plymouth (who as posted in the last match thread – EVERYONE batters). So this game will be seen by our hosts as a bit of a ‘must win’ to help maintain their grip on the play-off spot they currently hold, especially with Blackburn in 7th just a single point behind them. In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About OK, the good news, we finally have some players returning to fitness from injury. Our game v Coventry saw the return of Perry Ng and Ollie Tanner to the matchday squad as well as another outing for Joe Ralls, with both Ralls and Tanner getting some minutes after coming off the bench. With both Etete and Davies continuing to make steady progress and the transfer window now being open we could begin to see some changes in the squad. All of this good news however may be offset by a ban for Callum Robinson following his dismissal on New Years Day – rumours are an appeal is being made but with the way things have been going against us I won’t be holding my breath on him being available. Back to the team though, with 2 vastly improved performances then I can only see limited changes being made. Predicted Starting 11 Alnwick Chambers Daland Goutas Rinomhota O’Dowda Robertson Siopis Meite Ashford Willock The Odds Bods This gut went on to be one of my favourite players at the club during his time, despite a very rocky start to his Bluebird’s career. Making 68 appearances for City, he showed a real fighting spirit and zeal when playing. He left us to join our hosts Boro, for whom he turned out 55 times. Some long odds there on a City win and even the draw could be tempting for some? Match Day Melody Hopefully we won’t end up with these after the game, but will be vocally backed by a few instead!? Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Great stuff Brizzle. It’s encouraging that we are getting players fit again. Hopefully the selected players do enough to keep them on the sidelines. Having said that I don’t think we will have enough to get anything from this game. Glad to be proved wrong, of course! However when the new signings are in place we’re gonna fly up that table!
Great piece Brizzle and thank you as always. My head is telling me we're gonna get hammered but it's the same head that has been consistently wrong about most things in life. I'm sure Riza will maintain the team spirit again. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
I suppose this is the sort of game which is termed a free hit - we’re expected to lose so just go for it. Both teams have played a lot of football in a short span of time but Boro players can relax on their own patch whilst our squad are travelling the long way up there so may be a touch knackered!
"Cardiff, incredibly, were unsuccessful in their appeal against Callum Robinson's red and as a result he misses today and two more games."
Goes to show how well regarded Kanga is, that we play without a recognised striker rather than pick him up front.
Superb result. Well done Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds.
Siopis was amazing today - ran himself ragged - superb committed display and it was reflected in the team performance. Completely opposite was Colwill - that bloke needs a kick up the arse or longer spell on the bench. Saying that, I don't think he'd have got a game today if Robbo was available.
