Boro vs Bristol City (A) 2-0 (Braithwaite, Assombalonga)

And we're off for the season!

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The mighty Millwall comeback has been followed up by two convincing wins in the league and a cup game to shout about for the young lads coming through, including a shoot-out victory that Sir Gareth would have been proud of.

Tony Pulis is on his way to Ashton Gate and he's even been kind enough to pick up Lee Johnson on the way. They're listening to Tony's goal music CD and are having a lovely time.

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Mr. Johnson and co. are without the services of one Aden Flint after a transfer that was mooted a lot over the last 12 months finally came to fruition. Lee had this to say just after they accepted the bid:

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One lesser known story that happened between Pulis and Johnson this summer is when Johnson very nearly turned into a Black Cat! The papers missed it out but Tony caught it happening on his Sony Ericsson.

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Fortunately, he managed to get him to snap out of it before Lee did himself some real damage.

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Lee's cheeks were still hurting for a few weeks after that. But given their jolly road trip, come the end of the day, I'm sure our true hero will be shaking hands with the Robins' boss:

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The Unbeatable Boro:

Randolph

Shotton Flint Fry Friend Downing

Howson Clayton Wing

Braithwaite

Assombalonga

Managed by Dancing Batman

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Bristol City Boy Wonders:

Mäenpää

Hunt Webster Baker Kelly

Eliasson Brownhill Pack O'Dowda

Paterson Weimann

Managed by The Trusty Companion

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Questions:

What's your expected line-up and who would you pick? Does anyone from midweek make your 11?

What's the score going to be?

How do you think Bristol City will fare this season having lost Bryan, Flint and Reid?

What do you think is Tony and Lee's favourite Goal Music song from the CD?

Jiminy jillikers!

Great thread mate!

Will likely be the same team, would have liked to see Chapman get some minutes but that injury was unfortunate. 

Think Bristol will be lower mid table fodder team if I'm honest, enjoyed watching them last season but they seem to have lost a lot without really investing. Seems to be quite a bit of unrest towards the manager on their forums as well.

2-0 Boro    Braithwaite and Flint.

Excellent opening post Wilson. You've given DS a real problem trying to get anyone to volunteer to follow that. Let's just hope we keep on winning. I'd expect the same line up as the Brum game and agree with Dan, I think we will win 2-0

What's your expected line-up and who would you pick?

Assuming everyone is fit, the same as the last league match.

Assuming everyone is fit, Lonergan for Randolph, because that guy is ******* awesome. Fletcher for Assombalonga. I don't rate Britt at all, and wish with all my heart that Bamford was still here to play number 9.

Does anyone from midweek make your 11?

See above.

What's the score going to be?

1-1.

How do you think Bristol City will fare this season having lost Bryan, Flint and Reid?

Mid-table.

Fancy our chances here. Bristol have started poorly. I'd go same 11, preferably 3 at the back.

2-0

For me, Bristol are at risk of rele.

I hope it's the same 11 as the Brum game but with it being an away game I think there'll be an exception and McNair will come in for Wing.

POW. great thread again Wilson. BAM. Boro to win 2-0. CRASH!

These threads are just getting better and better Wilson. This match is going to be interesting, does he change the formation of the last two games so as to adapt it for away fixtures? Teams will start to figure us out and play further up with wide plsayers and we are going to be severely tested. Are Bristol good enough to do it, I don't think so, one nil to the Boro, scorer who else but Flint.

Excellent again Wilson.

I hope Pulis is brave enough to carry on playing the same formation away from home. If so, I reckon we might sneak a 2-1 win here.

What's your expected line-up and who would you pick?

Same XI as last two league games, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Does anyone from midweek make your 11?

No.

What's the score going to be?

Heart says 2-1, head says 1-1.

How do you think Bristol City will fare this season having lost Bryan, Flint and Reid?

They'll struggle, will do well to get near top half.

What do you think is Tony and Lee's favourite Goal Music song from the CD?

Vengaboys - Vengabus. Classic.

great thread again, long may it continue.

just looked on the BC fans forum. it seems they have a bit on an injury crisis and only have one fit CB. looks like they will have to play a young lad. they have a thread about needing a 6ft 8in CB for one game only. they are worried coming up against the set piece giants with a kid playing CB.

i mentioned before about us becoming a bit of a 'oh no its boro this week' team. nobody wants to play us. not because we are like fulham pinging the football about. but because we are organised and dangerous from every set piece on the opposition half. we will become even more of a threat if ayala and hugill/ruddy are on the pitch to.

we can play a bit to, some canny footballers in the team, we get the right loans and we could well turn into a 3 point churning machine.

threats in every situation, on the counter, from set piece's, every ball into the box in open play, then the strikers who can finish off any half chances they get. on top of the running off the ball opening up space we seemed to have suddenly started doing in competitive games. see how preseason games mean nothing now?

In agreement with DK on this, if ever there was a time to beat BC at their gaff then this is it.

Surprising how things have seemingly gone downhill for them following high expectations voiced last season from Johnson.

Wonderful stadium and looking forward to going tomorrow

I think we will be unchanged from the Brum game and rightly so. Don't think anyone deserves to be dropped, Could be a case for starting McNair for Wing given that it could be a very tough away fixture, however that would be harsh on the young lad who also puts himself about, but it's fine balance because you don't want to put too much pressure on him so soon.

We should be capable of winning this. Bristol have had a very poor transfer window and their squad has lost some serious quality and been replaced by average players like Weimann. They've also started the season poorly with two draws in the league and knocked out of the cup. 2-1 to the Boro with Braithwaite and Britt on the scoresheet.

Fry is fit for tomorrow. Hugill and Gestede back in training next week. No news on the extend of Chapmans shoulder injury.

It is very important I believe for Boro to win this game as all the other teams play catch up with us with midweek games and we have to wait until the televised game against WBA next Friday.

Will be looking for dropped points from others over the weekend, indeed this for Boro is the most important away game of the season so far!