Bristol City vs Middlesbrough

Ashton Gate Stadium

Saturday, 20th December

KO: 15:00

Not on Sky, get those dodgy sticks out (call Big Baz if you need yours reprogrammed, he's a mate of Dodgy Daves, you know him, he's Sheila's son...he's on Facebook)

Where was I?

Oh yeah...4 WINS OUT OF 4.

Who would have thought it, DZ going on such a run? Sorry, but you'll all have to put up with my songs for a bit longer, as a red hot Boro travel to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City...

Hang on. Where was that?

Ashton Gate?

Oh no.

Boro do NOT have a great history at Bristol City's ground in recent years, and the last time we won there was the 1-0 win in October 2020. Behind closed doors. During COVID.

You have to go back to 2018 for the last time we won there with fans in attendance, when we won 2-0.

It's almost as if we, as Boro supporters need a bit of a lift before we go there, something to fire the team up...

An uplifting song, you say? In the style of a musical? Well I never!

Lyrics (Copyright Denzel Zanzibar, as always)

[Verse 1]

It's always tough at Ashton Gate

Red shirts

Loud ground

A long day

Every cross

Every break

Feels like it just slips away

We’ve seen leads fade in the rain

Long trips home

Same old pain

 

[Pre-chorus]

But there’s a fire on Teesside now

Different voice

Different sound

You can feel it in the crowd

Hellberg's turned it right around

 

[Chorus]

'Cos under Kim Hellberg

We won't fade

We'll stand tall at Ashton Gate

Boro hearts

We won’t break

As long as we make no mistakes

New belief in red and white

Under Kim Hellberg

We don’t hide

We play bold

We press high

This is our time

So enjoy the ride..

 

[Verse 2]

Passing sharp

Heads held high

Every tackle

Every slide

No more waiting for the fall

We want 3 points

We want it all

Can this game be broken through?

Feels like something we can do

 

[Chorus]

'Cos under Kim Hellberg

We won't fade

We'll stand tall at Ashton Gate

Boro hearts

We won’t break

As long as we make no mistakes

New belief in red and white

Under Kim Hellberg

We don’t hide

We play bold

We press high

This is our time

So enjoy the ride..

Hellball!

Hellball!

Hellball!

 

Right. If that doesn't fire the team up (not that they're aware of these songs, but if they are - you're welcome guys) then I don't know what will.

We have an interloper on the forum! @Jerseybean (just kidding about the interloper bit, everyone is welcome here) does the MDT's over at the fantastically named "One Team in Bristol" forum.

No thread up as of writing, so come on JB, get your finger out!

Bristol City are in strange form, and after threatening the top 2 merely weeks ago (at least it only feels like weeks ago!) find themselves in 11th place (which is still only 4 points off the playoffs, showing just how mad this league is.)

A draw and a loss at home to Leicester City and Millwall respectively show they can be gotten at, but they're a decent team who play some very good football. Unlikely to deploy a low block against us, I can see this being a very open and entertaining game, and a high scoring draw wouldn't surprise me.

Good things to come from Bristol

Stephen Merchant & Lee Evans

Massive Attack

Banksy (rumoured, controversial)

People willing to tip statues of slave traders into canals

Bad things to come from Bristol

Edward Colston (Slave trader and Tory)

Justin Lee Collins

 

Talking Points

Starting lineup/formation?

Score prediction?

Will I be doing the Blackburn MDT or does the run end here?

 

Okay that's me done, please talk about the game now 

More importantly can Hellberg make it 5 from 5 in terms of wins?

Dreaded curse of Ashton Gate and all things Bristol City if our run is coming to an end here is our graveyard!😌

4-0 to the boro

1 minute ago, Rob said:

4-0 to the boro

Naturally

2 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Bristol City vs Middlesbrough

Ashton Gate Stadium

Saturday, 20th December

KO: 15:00

Not on Sky, get those dodgy sticks out (call Big Baz if you need yours reprogrammed, he's a mate of Dodgy Daves, you know him, he's Sheila's son...he's on Facebook)

Where was I?

Oh yeah...4 WINS OUT OF 4.

Who would have thought it, DZ going on such a run? Sorry, but you'll all have to put up with my songs for a bit longer, as a red hot Boro travel to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City...

Hang on. Where was that?

Ashton Gate?

Oh no.

Boro do NOT have a great history at Bristol City's ground in recent years, and the last time we won there was the 1-0 win in October 2020. Behind closed doors. During COVID.

You have to go back to 2018 for the last time we won there with fans in attendance, when we won 2-0.

It's almost as if we, as Boro supporters need a bit of a lift before we go there, something to fire the team up...

An uplifting song, you say? In the style of a musical? Well I never!

Lyrics (Copyright Denzel Zanzibar, as always)

[Verse 1]

It's always tough at Ashton Gate

Red shirts

Loud ground

A long day

Every cross

Every break

Feels like it just slips away

We’ve seen leads fade in the rain

Long trips home

Same old pain

 

[Pre-chorus]

But there’s a fire on Teesside now

Different voice

Different sound

You can feel it in the crowd

Hellberg's turned it right around

 

[Chorus]

'Cos under Kim Hellberg

We won't fade

We'll stand tall at Ashton Gate

Boro hearts

We won’t break

As long as we make no mistakes

New belief in red and white

Under Kim Hellberg

We don’t hide

We play bold

We press high

This is our time

So enjoy the ride..

 

[Verse 2]

Passing sharp

Heads held high

Every tackle

Every slide

No more waiting for the fall

We want 3 points

We want it all

Can this game be broken through?

Feels like something we can do

 

[Chorus]

'Cos under Kim Hellberg

We won't fade

We'll stand tall at Ashton Gate

Boro hearts

We won’t break

As long as we make no mistakes

New belief in red and white

Under Kim Hellberg

We don’t hide

We play bold

We press high

This is our time

So enjoy the ride..

Hellball!

Hellball!

Hellball!

 

Right. If that doesn't fire the team up (not that they're aware of these songs, but if they are - you're welcome guys) then I don't know what will.

We have an interloper on the forum! @Jerseybean (just kidding about the interloper bit, everyone is welcome here) does the MDT's over at the fantastically named "One Team in Bristol" forum.

No thread up as of writing, so come on JB, get your finger out!

Bristol City are in strange form, and after threatening the top 2 merely weeks ago (at least it only feels like weeks ago!) find themselves in 11th place (which is still only 4 points off the playoffs, showing just how mad this league is.)

A draw and a loss at home to Leicester City and Millwall respectively show they can be gotten at, but they're a decent team who play some very good football. Unlikely to deploy a low block against us, I can see this being a very open and entertaining game, and a high scoring draw wouldn't surprise me.

Good things to come from Bristol

Stephen Merchant & Lee Evans

Massive Attack

Banksy (rumoured, controversial)

People willing to tip statues of slave traders into canals

Bad things to come from Bristol

Edward Colston (Slave trader and Tory)

Justin Lee Collins

 

Talking Points

Starting lineup/formation?

Score prediction?

Will I be doing the Blackburn MDT or does the run end here?

 

Okay that's me done, please talk about the game now 

Terrific OP once again DZ and boy I really do want to see you author your 6th on the spin keeping OMG waiting for as long as possible

Full week on the training ground. Bangura and Gilbert rested. Strelec, Conway and Whittaker on fire. What could go wrong.

I've tried to think of a line up, but it's so hard with Hellberg being so clever. Will ponder more.

3-2 Boro will Riis scoring for them. Whittaker, Conway and Strelec for us.

@Denzel Zanzibarthe songwriter is back 👏 That one is superb 👌 Well done.

I think we will win 2-1 Whittaker and Strelec with the goals

 

Looks like a full contingent now, barring Lenihan.

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by TeaCider24

15 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

 

Looks like a full contingent now, barring Lenihan.

And Morris 

Long live Kim Hellberg. Long live Denzel!

I was bang on with last weeks prediction. Hard to fear any side atm, with a week on the training ground. Comfortable Boro win.

3-1 win again. Strelec, Conway, hackney

If you look at the way we dismantled the last "open" side we played (Hull City) then it could be another great win. The only concern would be that Struber has more games to analyse to find a way to counter Hellball.

Still, I can't see past a 4-0 win for the Boro.

If we win at Ashton Gate, then I'll start to fully believe! 

Sounds like Bristol City like basketball games... Could suit us.

Normally, given Boro's history down in "Brizzle" I would be approaching this game with real trepidation.

We know they are having a decent season, but we have also beaten Hull and QPR recently, in fairly convincing fashion - both teams also enjoying good runs at the moment. So, for once, I fancy our chances of getting something.

Don't expect it to be easy, of course. Its a long away day for Boro and the Robins will no doubt be wanting to prove a point.

But I'm hoping, now that Hellberg has had some quality time with the squad, a chance to assess the lads and impart his own ideas to them, that he'll have a game plan to deal with whatever the home side throws at us. A full week to rest & prepare should also help.

Prediction: Bristol City 1 - 2 Middlesbrough

DZ gets to do at least one more MTD and song. If this keeps up much longer he'll be able to release a full album! 😁

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by AnglianRed

Starting lineup/formation?

I'd imagine an unchanged XI. Away from home against a team willing to go toe to toe with us, I reckon you stick with the added stability of Targett and Browne over Bangura and Gilbert. Only possible change for me is Fry in for Ayling if he's back fit and in contention.

Score prediction?

Definitely think both teams to score, I'll go 2-1. Don't reckon they'll roll over like some of the other teams have, but I do think we're catching them at a good time and we'll end up having too much for them. That being said, don't think a draw would be a bad result at all for us as we have three very winnable games coming up.

Will I be doing the Blackburn MDT or does the run end here?

We're keeping it going until we have a full album!