Boro v Preston 4-0 (Jones (2) Van Der Berg, Bangura)

[OldManGravz 2,446 6.4k]

Welcome to the oneBoro matchday thread for our home game against Preston! @BearSmog welcomed his new daughter into the world a few weeks ago so I've taken over his turn to give him a bit more time with his newborn. Hopefully, he'll have until at least the new year before he is needed....

The Form:

Boro returned from the international break half asleep, stumbling to a 3-2 loss at Ashton Gate. After probably edging most of the first half, yet another screamer made it's way into the top corner of Dieng's net before we conceded a penalty. A quick start after the break brought two quick goals, firstly a calamitous own goal by Vyner following Crooks header against the bar, before Crooks netted the equaliser himself 2 minutes later.
Unfortunately, Boro's joy only lasted 15 minutes before Bristol City were back in front following a set piece as we chased the win, and Boro were unable to put any points on the board at the final whistle. Boro currently sit in 12th place in the Championship on 24 points, four points behind our visitors on Tuesday, Preston.
Boro last 6 (all competitions): LWDWLW

Preston went ahead at home to Cardiff on Saturday however, after going down to 10 men in the 52nd minute, two goals in injury time led to Cardiff leaving Deepdale with all 3 points and placing them only a point behind Preston in the league. Preston's goal came from Osmajic just after the break, just 4 minutes before Robbie Brady was sent off for a second bookable offence, meaning he will definitely miss our game. Osmajic is one of three Preston players who is leading their scoring charts with 4 goals this term, alongside Will Keane and Duane Holmes.
Preston currently sit in sixth in the league, and a win would put us one point behind them. They have scored one less than us and conceded just as many, so given the rate we are letting them in recently I am expecting a high scoring game
Preston last 6 (all competitions): LWWLDD

Probable line ups:



I think Carrick is mostly set on his starting XI now, I'm not sure if Engel will be back after the knock he took on Saturday so he may be replaced with Bangura, Coburn for Latte Lath is the only unenforced change I am expecting. I'd also like to see Barlaser in for Howson as I felt both him and Hackney played better once they got an understanding, but that's not going to happen any time soon.



This seems to be the lineup the Preston fans are calling for, the majority of players were the same in every team selection although where there were a few changes in their suspected XIs I have included both players.

The View from the Otherside:

Preston fans are discussing the lineups for the upcoming game here...

Talking points:

1. Score and team predictions
2. Now that the transfer thread is underway, what positions would you like to see us target in January?
3. What or who is the best thing to come from Preston?
 

[Denzel Zanzibar 8,139 15.5k]

1.

I think we all know this will be the lineup. Bangura for Engel if the latter isn't fit. I too would replace Howson with Barlaser but like you said, Carrick won't do that. Bloody loves Howson. Probably has a poster of him on his bedroom ceiling.

Going to be a tough game but we're at home and Preston will be reeling from that ridiculous last minute equaliser and then winner from Cardiff, so we win this 2-1.

2. Definitely need another CB, RB and Striker. Don't see us loaning another GK to cover Dieng/Glover, Jamie Jones should be fine to deputise. Rumours of Steffen coming back on a short term deal are ridiculous.

3. Butter Pie, bloody delicious. There's a reason people from Preston venerate it as much as we do our sodding Parmo.

[Downsouth 8,153 39k]

Thanks for your effort @OldManGravz  will add to this later

[TeaCider24 18,300 23.4k]

Fully expecting Engel to be out for months with the way our luck has been with injuries this season.

[Rob 6,410 9.8k]

4-0 to the boro

[Barnaby 1,152 2.3k]

43 minutes ago, Rob said:

4-0 to the boro

Might not be that tight

 

[TeaCider24 18,300 23.4k]

The match is on Sky Sports Arena tomorrow, for anyone interested.

[TeaCider24 18,300 23.4k]

 

[Rob 6,410 9.8k]

22 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

The match is on Sky Sports Arena tomorrow, for anyone interested.

i heard they just picked it up when heard old man graz was taking over for this one

[TeaCider24 18,300 23.4k]

 

[Downsouth 8,153 39k]

1 hour ago, TeaCider24 said:

 

Not surprised by that after all the lad waved to come off.

Long term injury to add to our woes I wonder?

[Downsouth 8,153 39k]

Not going to be an easy game PNE always seem to have a decent performance against us and they will play a very similar way to BC so expect some far out runs from one of their attackers with a shot at goal to boot!

We have to take the lead and keep going so our midfield and attackers need to up the anti as we can not rely on our defence

[Dynamo Kev 1,817 6.4k]

if we lose this, I fully expect a full on melt down by some members. 

we just leave an open house at the back when we press forwards. To do that away from home is mental, doesn't matter what league you play in. We all used to moan at schteve for his dont lose first tactics. But Carrick should be instilling this mentality into his players, especially away from home. Broguht it back to 2-2 then still rushed forwards exposing ourselves when, in reality we never needed to. need to be smarter than this on the pitch. we were well on top and they scored against the run of play. but dear me, its always happening to us. Just sit tight in a solid shape and let izzy and greenwood etc do something. no need bomb on all of our team except fry and paddy. just giving the other team hope. 

preston will play negative and try and park the bus and hit us on the break, that what they do here recently. if we leave another open house, we'll just give them confidence. we really need to learn not to over commit. its not carrick telling us to over commit all the time surely. anyway i'm hoping the player will be still annoyed at their poor show and can quickly make ammends on tuesday night. so i'm going for a home win. 2-0. 

[TeaCider24 18,300 23.4k]

Carrick hoping for McGree to be back in training in a week or two, by the time he's fit he'll be off to the Asian Cup anyway  🙈

[RiseAgainst 4,998 4.1k]

10 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Carrick won't do that. Bloody loves Howson. Probably has a poster of him on his bedroom ceiling.

 

Why would you have a poster on your bedroom ceiling?

[thinks for a minute]

Yikes. 

As for the game, I'm struggling to muster up much enthusiasm. We often seem to come back from an IB and play gash, and Saturday - from what I've heard - was a bit of a stinker. With most of our strongest XI out, I'm not sure we can hope for much more than limping through December until we can sign some new players. I'll leave my comments on that for the transfer thread, but we're being cruelly exposed on both flanks defensively and up front. We need a LB, RB, CF and #10 - pretty much the positions we filled with loans and Chuba last season.