Well here we go again, with a new season dawning on upon us. Since joining the ranks of the professional leagues back in 1899 this will be our 99th league season.
Our performances on the 1st day have a symmetrical look about them.
Worryingly our record since moving to The Riverside has been poor. In fact in 7 attempts in the Premier League we have never won the opening game when it has been played at home. Our only win was back in the 97/98 season when a forward line consisting of Fabrizio Ravanelli, Paul Merson and Mikkel Beck! scraped a last gasp 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic.
With regards to this years 1st day opponents Spurs, this will be 5th time we have played them on the opening day. Perhaps not many fans can remember the 1st time back in 1951/52, when a winning goal from Harry Bell earned us a 2-1 win.
Skip forward 24 years to 1975, and an away trip to White Hart Lane saw us go down 1-0. Revenge came in 1979 when a resurgent Boro side thumped Spurs 3-1 on their own patch with goals from Armstrong, Burns and Bosco Jankovic.
The disastrous 81/82 season, which ultimately saw us relegated, started badly when a Boro team which included new signings Otto, Bolton and Baxter saw us badly beaten 3-1 at Ayresome Park. Heine Otto scoring a debut goal.
Perhaps after the Man City 8-1 game we can produce our opening performance back in 1958 v Brighton. A certain B Clough notched 5 as we recorded our biggest ever victory 9-0!
Other Boro hat tricks on the 1st day were Benny Yorston back in 1934 when we went to Elland Road and beat Leeds 4-2. The other time was the never to be forgotten 3-3 draw with Liverpool back in 96 when a certain White Feather opened his account.
For those pessimists looking for some hope, lets hope we can notch a win as when we have done this 1st day up, we have never gone down. Theres a happy thought for you!
Β The last time we won any fixture away was in 2000/01 when new signings Joe Job and Alen Boksic (2) saw us win 3-1 at Coventry. So how about when we’re at home on the first day? Heres a few results from seasons past at home:
07/08 Blackburn 1-2
05/06 Liverpool 0-0
04/05 Newcastle 2-2
01/02 Arsenal 0-4
99/00 Bradford City 0-1
98/99 Leeds Utd 0-0
97/98 Charlton 2-1!!
96/97 Liverpool 3-3
94/95 Burnley 2-0
91/92 Millwall 1-0
90/91 West Ham 0-0
89/90 Wolves 4-2
87/88 Millwall 1-1
86/87 Post Vale 2-2
81/82 Spurs 1-3
78/79 Coventry 1-2
77/78 Liverpool 1-1
76/77 Coventry 1-0
Not the greatest of starters are we at home? Since Big Jack took over in 1973 we have played 18 games at home on the 1st day.
Won 5
Drawn 8
Lost 5Β
This time Im going for a 3-1 win with Brad Jones getting a hat trick.