What does a good result look like in the first leg?

[Nero]

Coventry 1 - 3 Boro.

Home game - Boro 3 - 1 Coventry.

 

[Bernieslavenschin]

I think a clean sheet might be beyond us, so I'd take a draw. I think they're scrappy enough to be dogged and difficult in the second leg if they have and advantage

Good point

 

[BoroPhil]

I'd snap your hand off for a draw now. A one-goal deficit wouldn't be terrible.

 

[Bernieslavenschin]

Anything better than a 2-0 loss .. Think we can overturn anything better than that at the Riverside .. Just depends on what Boro turns up next Sunday .. the slow tempo, lackadaisical, sloppy, non-urgent Boro we've seen often away from home? We could get beat 3 or 4 nill next Sunday .. The Sheff Utd Boro we could easily win 3-0 .. We need to cut out the slow starts and stop going a goal down before we realise we have to match the energy, tempo and urgency of the opposition.

100%

 

[FabioPorkpie]

We played a game without really tackling, and we were still the better side for large parts, following the initial 15 when they were clearly up for it.
Given they were desperate for something from the game and it was a dead rubber for us, I think we are well placed mentally to do them over on Sunday.
I fancy us for a decent win as we start to go up through the gears again, but won’t be wetting the bed with a draw.

 

[Angus]

Any that after the second leg means we go through.

Wednesday we might have to recreate the Steaua atmosphere and result.

 

[InglebyUTB]

Don’t get beat

 

[LaPennaBianca]

I was perusing the Mackem board and they seem to think we're done and that our lack of form means we're effectively discounted.

I agree it would have been nice to have won the last 3 by handsome margins, but anyone who has watched any of the games will have seen that we were playing well within ourselves - two games in a new formation.

The gamble is whether we can step it up when it matters, whereas others already are operating at close to their top levels.

I'm an optimistic at heart so think we will. But even a realist would recognise that this drop off has coincided with out date being sealed and injuries hitting the squad so there must be an element of agency to it. I.e. it is part of Carrick's strategy.

I think he has done enough for us to have faith in him, and am confident we'll see that on Sunday.

 

[Alwaysaborolad]

Draw would be ok, just don't get beat.

 

[breakthewallsdown]

And we were trying otherwise they would have beaten us.

Barely, was like a training ground exercise

 

[Ironops]

A brilliant result would be any win, a good result would be any draw, an OK result would be any 1 goal deficit, a bad result would be any two goal deficit, more than that and its curtains

 

[newyddion]

A good result for me is anything that avoids defeat. I just want us to be solid and compact because I'm confident at home we could beat them.

Alot is made of Gyorkeres but to me if you stop Hamer you stop Coventry.
For 15 minutes yesterday we didn't but after that we did and we were comfortable

I would agree with that.

 

[VestasBoro]

Without Forss/Ramsey/Howson/Fry i think a draw is a great result. Gyokeres is the best striker in the division and everytime he got the ball they looked dangerous, at home i reckon he'll have a field day against Mcnair and Lenihan so if we can keep it tight, take our chances and come away with a draw and hopefully get one or more of the injured players back for the 2nd leg i'd fancy us to kill them off.

 

[Ironops]

Without Forss/Ramsey/Howson/Fry i think a draw is a great result. Gyokeres is the best striker in the division and everytime he got the ball they looked dangerous, at home i reckon he'll have a field day against Mcnair and Lenihan so if we can keep it tight, take our chances and come away with a draw and hopefully get one or more of the injured players back for the 2nd leg i'd fancy us to kill them off.

Gyokeres is better than Akpom? I think the stats, and most impartial observers would disagree on that...

 

[TeaCider]

Gyokeres is better than Akpom? I think the stats, and most impartial observers would disagree on that...

Akpom hasn't started as a striker since Carrick was appointed in October.

 

[wilkos_perm]

A draw would be about ok I think.

That was their best 11 yesterday and they didn't really do much after a 15 minute initial spell.

We were clearly not 100% trying neither so based on yesterday's game, I'd have no problem taking a draw at their place and bringing them back here knowing they need to get a result.

A draw would absolutely be a good result, you'd take a one off home game vs Coventry to get to Wembley.

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

They looked very difficult to break down yesterday when they had every player in their own half, and we struggled to get past them.

Draw would be a good result, win would be bloody brilliant.

 

[KDG]

A draw - they will be bang up for it. We have stuttered of late, you cant deny that. I think we will have to soak up a lot of pressure on Sunday but hopefully we will get some moments.

Then under the lights at the Riverside we can beat them.

 

[indeedido]

If Ramsey, Forss and Howson play we win.
If they don’t then we need a draw down there.

We are in poor form and have lost rhythm. You don’t just turn it back on so easily.
If we have the quality playing we will have too much, but McGree and Jones don’t have the end product we are likely to need.

 

[BoroMart]

0-0 or better would be a superb result. 0-1 and we’re still in it. 0-2 or worse and we need to pull a Steau out the bag and score 3 or 4 at home to get through