Launch Stat Attack On Fulham
IF YOUR glass is by inclination half full, drink up in confidence and get another round in; if it is half empty, prepare to smash it to the floor in pessimistic anguish and fear... Fulham have never won at the Riverside in the Premiership.
In fact, the statistics are so starkly stacked up in Boro's favour that even Ali Brownlee's innate Teesside doom-monger DNA must be screaming "typical Boro!" in silent alarm.
According to the incredibly detailed BBC number-crunching preview, in seven Premier League games Boro have won five and drawn two. And the Cottagers have not won on Teesside in the top flight for 60 years, since their 1-2 victory at Ayresome Park on 7 September 1949 when Johhny Spuhler netted for Boro after a ball in from Wilf Mannion.
Fulham's last win here of any sort was a 2-0 division two victory over soon to depart Malcolm Allison's floudering side on 24 March 1984 (attendance 5,415!)
Boro are chasing a fourth successive home Premier League victory over the Cottagers. We won 1-0 last year on the Goal Machine's samba powered debut with a Jeremeie Aliadiere strike; the previous season was the last day 3-1 sunshine romp after which Mark Viduka brought his sprogs onto the pitch to wave g'day and sign off a final flourish with a goal; and the one before that was a lively 3-2 with Jerel Hasselbaink, a still interested Yakubu and James Morrison on target.
The only goalless draw came in a division two clash down there in December 1924.
Fulham have never done the double over Middlesbrough in top-flight football.
Before the recent shock successive 3-1 victories at Bolton and Manchester City Fulham had not won away all season. In fact, they had suffered travel sickness worse than on a SunnyD and sweet fuelled ankle-biters social club charabanc to Scarborough and had tasted victory on the road three times in three seasons.
And if that wasn't enough, Mark Lawrenceson has tipped Boro to win. He actually got it right last week so there must be a fear that he has used up his season's quota of correct forecasts.
If ever we needed Boro to match him and get back to back wins it is in this game. We must make sure those uncanny stats continue to stretch in our favour. Victory could take Boro out of the bottom three if Tango Manager Phil Brown can kick his home town team in the teeth, and even if the ailing Mackems can get something a win over Fulham would be an almighty boost for our survival hopes.
We need Boro to play with the same energy, determination and spirit again. We need the crowd to turn up the volume again, even if theer won't be a heaving away end to bounce off. We need Tuncay to skittle stewards in celebration again. We need Marlon King to score an even later goal. And after George Boateng's timely spawl under the mighty challenge of Jezza to tee up a goal last week, we need Mark Schwarzer to play like he did last season at the Riverside and not actually save any shots. He writes kids' football books, he can surely see the fairytale potential in an old boy aiding our escape.
Come on Boro!
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Anthony Vickers
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The key to tomorrow's match is that we pick an unchanged team. Digard's availability is a bonus, but we have to hustle, harry, intimidate Fulham all over the pitch. From what I have seen of them, they play controlled, cultured football. They are a settled and composed team.We have to go against type, be physical,bully and play a high tempo game as much as we can.
As another supporter commented, my only concern is the recurring lapses of concentration shown by Wheater in recent matches. He struggled for England in their last match and Riggott might be a better bet but if not, fine, we have enough to dispose of a team who have not won at Boro since I was in nappies in Archibald Street
Fulham took the lead against us at their place due to Arca's decision to not track back and cut out crosses. Incredibly Gate took action, dropped Tuncay into the midfield and brought on an extra attacker. (now where have we seen that recently?)
Then just as we were getting into the game they are awarded the most dubious of penalties.. and that sadly was that.
Fulham are well organised and committed (unlike Citeh who they beat last week) and do try to play football but really a mediocre side bouyed by the paucity of the division. There is nothing to fear from them - as long we take the game by the scruff of the neck and moving quickly onto the jugular..
We just have to want it more. Tuncay and King to score, we win 2.1
Come on Boro.
Ps. For everyone here with a grudge against the FA - I know there's one or two - check out
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/opposite-of-work/
If we get the same drive, passion and effort as last week I will be happy. Fulham are a strong physical side but with a bit more flair than Hull so this will be a much sterner test. If we get behind them from the off and repeat the same atmosphere as last week it will be a huge boost but we need the lads to go out and give us cause for creating an atmopshere as they did last week.
Instead of worrying about our tactics and selection and whether to play one up front or two we should stick to our strengths and new found (albeit very short term) belief and let Roy Hodgson worry about us. C'mon Gareth you learned the best lesson all season last week let's have more of the same!
I think that there's an interesting 'compare and contrast' between Fulham and Boro over the last year, so I wrote it up in my pre-match Boro Banter piece.
AV - Your last two paragraphs sum up what were all hoping!
C'Mon Boro!!
Strange that you make the conection between Boatengs error last week and Schwarzer playing tomorrow. The same thought had crossed my mind.
I think we should be peppering the goal with shots from outside the box. That seems to me to be his weakness. There was a comment earlier in the week that he's weak on crosses, but I've never been of that opinion myself.
Confident of a win tomorrow, with or without a goalkeeping boob.
Good luck to all tomorrow.
Lets just be thankful Fulham did beat bolton and man city away. We didnt need another stat of Fulham not winning away all season as they go to the Riverside. Three away wins in a row? Unlikely, and I will go 2-0 Boro with Alves. What? Yes I am serious and Tuncay scoring the goals either side of half time.
Schwarzers return will be interesting, knowing our luck he will have a Port Vale-esc performance.
The Hull game was hope and a very good spirited performance but we will have to up our game against Fulham who are a much better team. We were not a complete package against Hull and im worried Fulham will punish the mistakes Jones, Wheater etc regularly make.
Id make one change tomorrow: out goes Wheater, in comes Riggott (who on an off note i think we should do everything in our power to keep next year should we go down as he would be my captain and lead us back up :) ).
Actually I wouldnt mind Johnson playing ahead of Aliadiere who is decent but doesnt do it for me on the right and his final ball delivery could be improved massively.
Another typical Boro performance? I really don't know how much more we can take. Anyway the teddy bears are all in position, the Boro t-shirts ( unwashed since we fell into the bottom 3) the flags and scarves out. Crisps in the cupboard and guess what!!! The match is on live on the comedy extra channel tonight. What a laugh.
One stat though... when was the last time we had back to back wins in the league?
(stay) Up the Boro !!!
**AV writes: The last back-to-back wins were the last two games of last season against Portsmouth and Manchester City.
It's this week's must win game and it seems all the pundits, players, staff and fans all have us down for a victory - so nothing can go wrong now!
just in case, everybody should keep their fingers crossed around a wooden lolly stick and ensure they've put their ladders back in the garage and locked any black cats in the bedroom.
At least regardless of whatever happens pro-life Gareth is here next season as resigning would set a bad example to his kids - though I'm a bit worried what example uncle Steve Gibson has given to Gareth's kids. I feel they may grow up thinking all bosses will always appreciate you, regardless of your performance - It's a tough world out their children, just watch that nice Mr Alan Sugar on TV to retain some balance.
So let's hope Skippy shows a bit of nostalgia and jumps over several of Alves' keeper shots. Meanwhile Brad is playing with a dodgy finger - though it shouldn't be a problem as I don't recall him ever catching a ball.
So come on Boro let's keep the run going...