Can Boro make it three out of three? After two convincing scorelines at home we travel to the New Den to take on the revived Lions of the New Den. Can we win to keep in contention for a play off finish? I asked manager Neil Warnock a few questions at today's press conference as we all look forward to Saturday's clash with Millwall.
Millwall without the home fans has been a happy hunting ground for Boro a repeat of last summer's victory might see gaining further ground on the play off places. That would be nice to put the pressure on the teams immediately ahead through the international break. Yet the south London side are performing well, only two places below us. Neil Warnock paid tribute to manager Gary Rowett for such progress made without their partizan home crowd.
At today's press conference Warnock heaped praise on defender Grant Hall, something he continued in his first answer below. He also showed the difficulties in walking the tightrope balancing act between retaining a winning side and avoiding injury through overplaying..
Q: You must be delighted the way the midfield and defence are scoring, the goals are coming from around the team?
NW: Yes, we needed it. We needed goals from everywhere and its nice to see a few others chipping in. From a manager's point of view you can't just rely on one or two players, you've got to get 5 or 6 chipping in with goals. We do look a bit of a threat now at the minute from different areas. So, lets hope we can continue that in the nine games.
Q: We are now a real threat from set-pieces aren't we?
NW: I think just having Grant around. Not only is he a threat but he also takes their major player away from the defensive situations. So, that gives us a little bit more opportunities as well. So, it is all the way around . It is lovely to have people that can score goals from set-pieces etc. I watched the game last night and goals from long throws and goals from corner kicks. Yes, there was some bad marking but it is nice to contribute like that and hopefully we can continue on that mode.
Q: With the five subs it is very much a squad game now isn't it. People can be critical when a player doesn't make the starting eleven but are you thinking/planning over the whole 90 minutes?
NW: Yes. It will be difficult tomorrow because some lads are playing really well and yet this is the third game in seven days so I have to make decisions.
We have just had a disagreement, me, Kevin and Ronnie about tomorrow's team. We discussed it yesterday and today they have got one or two other things and I am going to rush back upstairs before our meeting with the players to decide. Because it is a difficult one. We don't want to put anyone in jeopardy when we have got an international break and then 8 games left but we want to win the game, so we have just got to get a happy medium really. We have got to pick the best side that we think can win the game.
Millwall without the home fans has been a happy hunting ground for Boro a repeat of last summer's victory might see gaining further ground on the play off places. That would be nice to put the pressure on the teams immediately ahead through the international break. Yet the south London side are performing well, only two places below us. Neil Warnock paid tribute to manager Gary Rowett for such progress made without their partizan home crowd.
At today's press conference Warnock heaped praise on defender Grant Hall, something he continued in his first answer below. He also showed the difficulties in walking the tightrope balancing act between retaining a winning side and avoiding injury through overplaying..
Q: You must be delighted the way the midfield and defence are scoring, the goals are coming from around the team?
NW: Yes, we needed it. We needed goals from everywhere and its nice to see a few others chipping in. From a manager's point of view you can't just rely on one or two players, you've got to get 5 or 6 chipping in with goals. We do look a bit of a threat now at the minute from different areas. So, lets hope we can continue that in the nine games.
Q: We are now a real threat from set-pieces aren't we?
NW: I think just having Grant around. Not only is he a threat but he also takes their major player away from the defensive situations. So, that gives us a little bit more opportunities as well. So, it is all the way around . It is lovely to have people that can score goals from set-pieces etc. I watched the game last night and goals from long throws and goals from corner kicks. Yes, there was some bad marking but it is nice to contribute like that and hopefully we can continue on that mode.
Q: With the five subs it is very much a squad game now isn't it. People can be critical when a player doesn't make the starting eleven but are you thinking/planning over the whole 90 minutes?
NW: Yes. It will be difficult tomorrow because some lads are playing really well and yet this is the third game in seven days so I have to make decisions.
We have just had a disagreement, me, Kevin and Ronnie about tomorrow's team. We discussed it yesterday and today they have got one or two other things and I am going to rush back upstairs before our meeting with the players to decide. Because it is a difficult one. We don't want to put anyone in jeopardy when we have got an international break and then 8 games left but we want to win the game, so we have just got to get a happy medium really. We have got to pick the best side that we think can win the game.
