* The unofficial "Official" Boro v Sheffield United Match-day Thread *

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member
Its that time again>>>>
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Its easy to lose our heads when things dont appear to begin the way we would like them to.
But, as Boro fans, we want to start off on the right foot and get a win under our belt - to build some momentum and show we mean business.
After two league games - only two points separate us in 22nd spot and Sheffield United in 13th.
A win today - with the right score and other results going our way - could take us up to 8th - Just behind the Mackems(y)
As chris Wilder will explain later - it appears difficult at first to take positives from the 3-2 defeat at QPR and the 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.
But in spite of having the traditional absence of fire power up top and an incomplete team - we`ve scored 3 goals!
That might not be an earth-moving statistic, but just imagine what we can do with the incoming strikers, as soon as we get up to speed!
Its a long season and its only just begun.

The arrival of Marcus "Happy" Hoppe and Alex Mowatt this week, are a welcome development - given the anxious weeks we patiently suffered as the clock ticked down to this season`s kick - off. Today will be an important challenge for a number of players - who will have to up their game. It will also be exciting to see how the new lads fit in this afternoon: Chris wilder in his media conference, said both Mowatt and Hoppe are fit and will be included in the squad. We will see.

Championship Table

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The table does lie!

With Hull top and Norwich bottom - Coventry hovering above relegation and Sunderland in a play-off spot - we know that is not how it will end.
So lets not get down-hearted before we`ve really got down to business.
UTMB(y)
 
Last Time Out at The Riverside

28th September 2021
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A superb goal from Duncan after eight minutes, a lesson in shooting from Tav and a lesson in goalkeeping from Joe Lumley!
A fine hammered goal from Paddy McNair sealed a good match - making it only our second home win in a total of 11 games - with 5 at home!
The last home victory was against Bristol City on 14th August!
This result came off a 1-0 defeat at Reading.
Following victory, Boro moved up to 11th - Blades dropping to 12th.
Under the previous Management regime, Boro were averaging little more than a point a game:(

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Match Preview*

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Boro v Blades

With concerns over squad depth rumbling on, things finally look to be moving on the transfer front for Middlesbrough with the arrival of striker Matthew Hoppe during the week. A largely second string XI took to the field in a cup defeat against Barnsley in midweek (1-0), which was almost symptomatic of Boro’s form across the last ten Championship rounds (W2, D3, L5), a run which must improve if they are to justify their promotion credentials.

This matchup takes on extra significance for Sheffield-born Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder, who faces his former employers and boyhood club for the fourth time as an opposing manager. With a 100% losing record across the previous three encounters, don’t expect any sentiment from Wilder, whose Boro side are still seeking their first league win of 2022/23.

Fellow top-six hopefuls Sheffield United have enjoyed a better start to the campaign with a win and a loss in league action, but this could be a pivotal clash in the race for the top six if the bookies’ pre-season promotion picks are to be correct. But with the Blades having the disadvantage of a midweek cup clash against West Brom, they’ve had a day less to prepare for this clash compared to opponents Boro.

Scoring goals at the Riverside doesn’t often come easy for Sheffield United, who have lost ‘to nil’ on each of their last four visits to Teesside. However, a Sunday match could bring some good fortune, as Sheffield United boast a five-game unbeaten run of Championship games on this weekday, scoring at least twice each time (W4, D1).

Players to watch: Middlesbrough’s 2021/22 top-scorer Matt Crooks got off the mark for this season with a goal and an assist in his last league appearance and assisted in this corresponding fixture last term. As for the Blades, Iliman Ndiaye scored his team’s opener in six of his seven scoring senior appearances.

Hot stat: Wilder has won six of his last seven league encounters against sides he’s formerly managed, though the latest H2H was the only defeat in that sequence.

Will not play:

Bogle J.
(Injury)

Davies A.
(Injury)

O'Connell J.
(Injury)

Robinson J.
(Injury)

Stevens E.
(Injury)

Questionable

Basham C.
(Injury)

McBurnie O.
(Injury)

*https://www.flashscore.co.uk/match/OOKzRAm3/#/match-summary
 
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Matthew Hoppe
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Just in case you hadnt noticed - Matt Hoppe joined boro this week and received a positive response from his USA team - mate Zak Steffan:

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Plus a few from Boro Fans:
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A few more like this wouldnt go amiss!:love:
 
It's absolutely roasting out there.
Think it will almost certainly be the hottest league game in our history:unsure:
 
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