We’re going up - keep the faith

[Milltown1882]

Lots of toys out of the pram on all platforms tonight. 7 from 9 over Christmas against Watford, Sheff U and Boro is fantastic.

We’ll go up, we’ll make additions on January.

Stop the moaning about Parker, did he make Brownhill miss from 6 yards?

Well in the mix, one of the best defences in football across the world at the moment on games to goals conceded.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Bring on Stoke.

[billyhamilton82]

Sadly we seem to have a reactive fan base currently and usually not in a positive light.

I suppose it shows how far we have come in a short space of time for people to complain about a 0-0 at Borough.

Tiredness is a big factor in this run of games and we looked leggy at timers tonight.

Parker has got his tactics spot on in the last few games, tonight with a bit of luck, we would be talking about another win.

We didn't get beat and kept a clean sheet away from home and within touching distance of the top two.

Now if we had a similar result to Sunderland or Rovers tonight you would have something to moan about.

Fully agree with the OP, get behind the manager and the lads and lets get to the top of the league together.

Negativity does nothing to help the cause in any shape or form.

[hoosier-daddy]

Lots of toys out of the pram on all platforms tonight. 7 from 9 over Christmas against Watford, Sheff U and Boro is fantastic.

We’ll go up, we’ll make additions on January.

Stop the moaning about Parker, did he make Brownhill miss from 6 yards?

Well in the mix, one of the best defences in football across the world at the moment on games to goals conceded.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Bring on Stoke.

I've blocked so many posters on here that I miss out on all the crying unless people quote them. See my thread on 4 points. So many positives.

[ksrclaret]

I think Parker has done brilliantly to tweak things slightly into more of a 442 shape. We look a lot more cohesive and a bit more fluid going forwards. We weren't at our best tonight but we're unbelievably solid.

I still think we'll need to add to the forward line if we're going to win promotion though. We're still missing that touch of something different.

[Vegas Claret]

Did enough to win tonight, be reet. Need to beat Stoke though

[Jimmymaccer]

It’s a bloody tough league………not always the highest quality, but relentless ………

If yer up there it’s because you deserve to be…….

UTC!

[Spijed]

Aside from Leeds, is there any other side that looks more likely to get promoted than us?

[billyhamilton82]

Aside from Leeds, is there any other side that looks more likely to get promoted than us?

When a team as good as Borough at this level, play a low block at home against us tells its own story.

[Let'sChaseTheDragon]

Solid as. Add that forward and we're on our way

[LoveCurryPies]

Aside from Leeds, is there any other side that looks more likely to get promoted than us?

Sheffield.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Aside from Leeds, is there any other side that looks more likely to get promoted than us?

No.

But squad value would suggest that anyway.

Even if we give Parker a 9/10 so far, which I do, it doesn’t make it rude to ask him why it isn’t 10. In fact, it may make him raise his game further if done constructively.

[Wo Didi]

Sheffield.

Got beat 3-1 at Preston today really can't see them troubling the top six.

[agreenwood]

I’ve seen a lost of comments like this tonight, but can’t actually find much panic or overreaction.

[Darnhill Claret]

Probably the first time in a long time the substitutions didn't have the desired effect. Probably thought he needed to rotate some tired legs, but it worked how it usually does in a preseason friendly. Lost what rhythm we had just got going.

[Quicknick]

Burnley 1st, Leeds 2nd.

[Woodleyclaret]

Leeds 3rd loosing at Wembley has a better ring to it.

[Quicknick]

Leeds 3rd loosing at Wembley has a better ring to it.

It does rather. As long as it's not to Blackburn.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Said it for a couple of months, if we can sign a couple of top attacking players we will win this league at a canter

[Guller Bull]

Absolutely will get us up.

Stats are superb and defensively we are imperious (best in Europe, we are third in the table what do folk expect etc etc)

But it’s not for me! The guy is doing his job and he will get us promoted but it’s poor to watch. I can probably count on my ten fingers how many times I have got excited and yelped in excitement this season.

We have had a run of games recently where there have been some great moments and felt “ok that’s more like it” but they are rare and especially in a team that is going for promotion surprisingly few.

So to recap - do I think we will get promotion- yes, never doubted it.
Do I want him sacked? - hell no, he’s doing his job and doing it well.

It ain’t no white knuckle ride though is it?

Onwards and upwards

[BabylonClaret]

When a team as good as Borough at this level, play a low block at home against us tells its own story.

This.

[Spijed]

After yesterday's results I think the most likely teams to get automatic promotion are Leeds and ourselves.

Sheff United are unlikey to see Souttar play for them again as he's on loan From Leicester and Hamar is a walking yellow card so will miss a few games through suspension in the second half of the season. Plus Wilder is starting to make a lot of excuses regarding injuries which never bodes well.

Sunderland are now falling away a bit and are unlikely to be consistent enough in the remaining games to put a winning run together.

That just leaves the other teams in and around the play-offs who seem to win a few but then lose a few.

[Andreshotboots]

It may not be the best league in terms of standard this season, but every game is as tough as ever.

Rovers for example, rested one or 2 with Leeds and ourselves on the horizon and suffered a home defeat to lowly Hull.

Every point is hard earned, and I view last night's as exactly that..

[Colburn_Claret]

The usual suspects with the negativity, I'm surprised people bother taking any notice of them to be honest.
It's impossible to win every game, in the history of football no professional club has done it.
Boro fans were very complimentary, thought that they got lucky, and believe we're a shoe in for automatic with Leeds.
No genuine fans could find fault with our overall Xmas, whilst the rest of the league look on with envy.

[billyhamilton82]

When the fixtures came out it was obvious that December and January were going to be our toughest set of fixtures even without the improvement of Sunderland and their challenge at the top taken into account.

I said that if we were still in touch with the top 2 after the Leeds game, then we will go up automatically.

December

Middlesbrough...H...D...1–1
Derby County...H...D...0–0
Norwich City...A...W...2–1
Watford...H...W...2–1
Sheffield United...A...W...2–0
Middlesbrough...A...D...0–0

Played...6...Won...3...Draw...3...Lost...0...PTS...12

We are over half way through and averaged 2 points per game in December which is automatic promotion form and 3 points off top and 1 point behind second.

Another tough month awaits.

January

Rovers...A...
Sunderland...H...
Plymouth...A...
Leeds...H...

[Elizabeth]

We might be going up

[JR1882]

Given the transfer window, injuries etc it’s remarkable we are where we are and it’s started to click too. Past the halfway point and by the weekend we will have played the entire top half away from home too apart from Watford & Swansea.

[Spijed]

We are just one point behind where we need to be to guarantee promotion, so we are pretty much on track.

[Guller Bull]

Given the transfer window, injuries etc it’s remarkable we are where we are and it’s started to click too. Past the halfway point and by the weekend we will have played the entire top half away from home too apart from Watford & Swansea.

Its a long and winding track! Shut your eyes and enjoy the ride.

[dsr]

Its a long and winding track! Shut your eyes and enjoy the ride.

I wish you'd advised me to close my eyes before watching today's game!

[Guller Bull]

I wish you'd advised me to close my eyes before watching today's game!

I actually did nod off today during that. Fire was warm, had a few beers and for a few blissful moments I managed to shut it out!

It was definitely a no yelp game. Not one single moment of yelpiness.

[Goalposts]

To be fair I’m not sure I expected us to be top 3 at this stage of the season with the fire sale at the beginning of the year and also the meanest defence in football league history.. so foundational we are solid , but at times it isnt half dull. Players are giving their all ( what their capable of) so no issues their either.. it feels like were only a couple of pieces missing , but at times it is just so bloody uninventive , and a tad robotic.. but well see

[billyhamilton82]

To be fair I’m not sure I expected us to be top 3 at this stage of the season with the fire sale at the beginning of the year and also the meanest defence in football league history.. so foundational we are solid , but at times it isnt half dull. Players are giving their all ( what their capable of) so no issues their either.. it feels like were only a couple of pieces missing , but at times it is just so bloody uninventive , and a tad robotic.. but well see

Fully agree we really need to get rid of Tresor and bring in a replacement for more creativity to unlock defences, possibly Whittaker?

We also definitely need a striker as there is something wrong if Jay Rod is still starting games.

After the run of fixtures in such a short space of time its unsurprising we have struggled, especially as we had to change the team after we had found the magic formula.

Some of the lads are running on empty and added to the fact Stoke's tails were up after beating Sunderland and appointing Robins as manager.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Robins had some input with the Stoke team today.

Hopefully we can raise our levels for the game at Deadwood.

We are still on track especially after Leeds drew and Sheff Utd Sunderland are playing each other.