As Boro took on West Brom at the bottom of league a lot of people thought, oh no we never do well against teams like this but Derby entered my mind, anyone else? No? Yeah who am I kidding West Brom are in a different league (literally).
An optimistic slant would be to predict a sneaky 1-0 win but do we really have it in us to do that? Clearly not, as disaster has now struck to the Boro as we now face crisis point and lie in the bottom 3.
As said in the preview James Morrison would be missing to play against his former club but Mowbray who probably is well clued up to Boro’s traditions played 2 ex players in Chris Brunt and Jonathan Greening. This little omen seemed to dawn upon us within the space of 4 minutes as a deflected Chris Brunt shot squeezed past Turnbull. Well Southgate’s comeback kings have it all to do now.
An attempt for an equalizer nearly occurred through ‘Alfie’ Alves as his header looped and clipped the cross bar. He had another 3 chances including a dribble through two Brummie defenders only for his shot to hit Carson’s legs.
Afterwards some pretty shocking defending led to Arsenal loanee Jay Simpson sprinted down the middle of our defence only for his inexperience to lead to a Turnbull save. Phew (for now).
Second half began and it took 10 minutes before West Brom netted their second, this time through a tag-teamed goal in Koren and Fortune, as Korens shot deflected off Fortune to wrong foot Turnbull and trickled into the net. No way back? Aye it looked that way didn’t it, but Boro kept pressing to find a spark in their game to at least get something. We’re no good at catching the game now the personnel and the tactics have changed so as a unit we had to keep fighting.
Didier Digard ended a good performance sent off, unfortunate as a rush of blood to the head as he raised both feet to Valero. Stupid really under our circumstances and he now picks up a 3 game ban and misses crucial games such as Blackburn at the end of the month.
West Brom well and truly finished us, this time Koren made sure it was his goal, as a cross field ball from Brunt nicely landed on a plate for Koren to slip past Turnbull.
When Boro brought on Bates I heard the word ‘damage limitation’ now for the love of god you wouldn’t have expected to hear that against West Brom would you?
It’s desperate times and it calls for desperate measures, but what can we do? Sack the manager? Considering the only gate he is showing us is the Championship? What can we do buy players? No money. Can we motivate the players? No because a couple of them want out but for crying out loud man earn your wages! It’s what your there for? If it helps Gareth I’ll play for you for free, 20 year old quick right winger and I’m on the cheap and I’m local so I’ll put my bollocks into it and that’ll fit in with this fantastic transfer policy we’ve got won’t it? Please if you can’t even fill the allocated 18 please give B17 admin a call and we’ll talk!
Not meaning to blow my own trumpet there, as I’m sure there are many of us who want to feel they can do something but what? We turn up with an increased attendance from last season and get what? Mediocrity at it’s very very very very best. It’s time to act as currently maybe not in league position but we are the worst team in the league…Get it sorted.
MarkA