v Middlesbrough (a) - 27/11/2024

[Aqualung]

Very pleased with the win but equally pleased that neither Travis or Cantwell picked up a booking which would have meant a suspension. 

Both are needed for the Leeds game imho. Cantwell had an off night tonight but Travis, who I don't really rate too highly, played very well. 

Well done also to JE. 

[bboy]

I do think us not playing at the weekend helped here. We seemed to have real energy in our defending second half. 

May bite us In the arse when the rearranged fixture comes about but definitely helped today against a boro side who looked sluggish.

[den]

Hyam wasn’t behind the ball when it was played to him, nor were there two opposition players between him and the goal line. He was offside. If If either one of those conditions had been met he’d have been onside.

Edited November 27, 2024 by den

[norwichblue]

44 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Think the odds were about 6 to 1, you'd have made a killing.

I checked SkyBet before the game. They had Boro at 4/6 and us at 7/2.

[only2garners]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

^Shocking game for the neutral but a very professional away performance from us which was fairly typical of us under Eustace. Solid and determined at the back but little or no quality in the final third.

That said we did carve out the best of what few chances there were.  Cantwell was terrible first half but was very unlucky with the goal that was ruled out (which must have been marginal at best) and then provided the assist. We need a LOT more of that from him to justify his lofty reputation.

Eustace continues to do really well with a very poor squad imo.

 

Cantwell’s “goal” was comfortably off. The replay had most of his left leg offside.

[jim mk2]

1 hour ago, wilsdenrover said:

This is what can happen when @jim mk2 stays at home.

I should do if more often. Trouble is, I like the atmosphere among the Rovers fans at away matches and it’s always interesting to visit new grounds. Luton and Oxford could be the next ones in the new year. 

[had.e.nuff]

1 hour ago, Herbie6590 said:

David Dunn said ONSIDE! 😁

it seems the linesman and ref agree with him

[roversfan99]

Excellent away result even if it relied on a goal that was well offside to get it. A typical Eustace performance, not entertaining but a side that is so well drilled and disciplined. Its a limited squad but one that knows what it is being asked to do.

Defensively we were brilliant and Pears only had to deal with routine shots. Hyam and Pickering are not 2 of our most popular players and often get at times unfair criticism but both again were excellent, Hyam seems to thrive next to the experienced Batth who was also brilliant and Pickering dealt with an inform winger with ease. Brittain isnt the best defender by any means but tonight he played his part with a very disciplined performance and the 2 midfielders again continue to perform consistently and compliment each other.

Our issues and limitations lie in attack where our lack of pace and quality lets us down. The amount of offsides we seem to get is so frustrating. Dolan came back into the team and beside a bad miss and delaying a counter attack to the point where a goal was ruled off, he otherwise offered very little and Hedges again was anonymous, I hope both move on in the summer as theyve been here for so long and repeatedly flatter to deceive. Cantwell was uncharacteristically really sloppy but sprung to life with a brilliant assist (with the help of Beck) and Ohashi struggles to offer much beside hard work and hasnt offered a goal threat for a while.

Eustace has build good foundations even if his football is not easy on the eye and its such a shame that hes working for owners keen to sap every last pound out of the club. If some of the considerable money brought in was reinvested on some pace and goal threat it could transform us, but it wont.

[Erased Citizen]

Massive credit to Pickering for keeping Doak quiet especially in the first half and a very good tactical switch from JE to bring on Beck when he threatened to get on top in the second. 

The goal is pretty obviously offside and tbh I'm shocked that it wasn't called at this level. It doesn't take anything away from the performance however, even a 0-0 would have been a good result against an in-form Boro side.

[1874]

Who did the sky highlights.. Radio Tees

No red card highlight or Dolans point blank miss

[yankfan]

2 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

David Dunn said ONSIDE! 😁

Another angle. Clearly off, but it’s only off side if it gets called. 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, only2garners said:

Cantwell’s “goal” was comfortably off. The replay had most of his left leg offside.

If you needed a replay to see it, in my book it's not "comfortably" off.

The one that was allowed looked much more clearcut. (I.e. offside)

[Upside Down]

5 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

David Dunn said ONSIDE! 😁

TBF that's not an image of the moment he strikes the ball, as you can see the ball is already on it's way from his foot.

It was a great move there from Cantwell, most players would have taken the shot but to whip it across the front of the goal was really clever.

Edit: Just seen the other angle and he's clearly offside. Not sure how the linesman missed that one but that's the first time a decision like that has gone our way for a very long time. I actually thought the officials had a decent game except for that howler. The ref didn't blow for a foul every 5 seconds and book every player he made eye contact with.

Edited November 28, 2024 by Upside Down

[AllRoverAsia]

Extended highlights, as was I when we scored.

How Ohashi's ankle didn't snap is a mystery.

 

Edited November 28, 2024 by AllRoverAsia

[Upside Down]

6 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Extended highlights, as was I when we scored.

How Ohashi's ankle didn't snap is a mystery.

 

It was a bad challenge but I thought a yellow was the right decision.

That commentary was ridiculous, I thought it was a Boro fan channel commentary when I was watching it. Oh well fuck em, the better team won.

[Paul Mani]

Fantastic away performance to completely nullify the form team in the league on a cold Wednesday night in Teeside. We were the better team, created the best chances and defended our box resolutely. The goal was off side, but well deserved. There can be no complaints from Boro, the best team won.

Positives - the keeper, defence, plus Trav and Sonny are an excellent base. Cantwell wasn’t on top form but is only player who looks like he can create anything in those front four positions. Hedges and in particular Dolan are ‘done’ for me. Hardworking but nowhere near the quality we need. The forwards, Yuki and Mak look ineffective, but honestly, we don’t create anything for them.

I’d be really tempted to give Beck a run on the left wing in front of Pickering. He did more in 20 mins than Hedges and Dolan have done for weeks. Hopefully get to see ACD soon, too.

Top marks go to the manager. Wine out of water, stuff!

Edited November 28, 2024 by Paul Mani

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Last night's goal is karma plus interest for last season

Didnt Lee Crooks score at Ewood last season when in an off side position?

[Upside Down]

14 minutes ago, dingles staying down 4ever said:

Last night's goal is karma plus interest for last season

Didnt Lee Crooks score at Ewood last season when in an off side position?

We've had plenty of them go against us for years. In fact the last time I remember us getting something like that in our favour was Paul Gallagher's handball goal against Newcastle, although I haven't paid much attention to the last 14 years for obvious reasons so I might have missed a couple there.

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

Fantastic away performance to completely nullify the form team in the league on a cold Wednesday night in Teeside. We were the better team, created the best chances and defended our box resolutely. The goal was off side, but well deserved. There can be no complaints from Boro, the best team won.

Positives - the keeper, defence, plus Trav and Sonny are an excellent base. Cantwell wasn’t on top form but is only player who looks like he can create anything in those front four positions. Hedges and in particular Dolan are ‘done’ for me. Hardworking but nowhere near the quality we need. The forwards, Yuki and Mak look ineffective, but honestly, we don’t create anything for them.

I’d be really tempted to give Beck a run on the left wing in front of Pickering. He did more in 20 mins than Hedges and Dolan have done for weeks. Hopefully get to see ACD soon, too.

Top marks go to the manager. Wine out of water, stuff!

Hedges and Dolan are both L1 players - I don't know who's got on Dolan's head about this contract he wants, but he's lucky to be playing at this level.

Even today he missed a sitter and delayed the ball to Cantwell until he'd run offside. Just basic stuff.

As for the goal - you only have to look back a few weeks at the Watford handball. Absolutely no sympathy for Boro - glad to be on the right end of a howler for once. 

[CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber]

9 hours ago, Forever Blue said:

Eustace needs to be backed in January. We’re a striker and a winger short of a team capable of staying the distance.

Can I introduce you to some wretches called Venkys.. absolutely no chance we get what we need 

[BankEnd Rover]

Cantwell is such an important player for us.

He was poor yesterday - But that little look over his shoulder, to beck, before the balls played to him on the goal is superb. 

Edited November 28, 2024 by BankEnd Rover

[wilsdenrover]

8 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

I should do if more often. Trouble is, I like the atmosphere among the Rovers fans at away matches and it’s always interesting to visit new grounds. Luton and Oxford could be the next ones in the new year. 

Interesting is one way of describing Luton 😁

I hope you enjoy each and every match you attend and the luck you bring them changes 😀

[Bbrovers2288]

I don’t feel like the dodgy offside goal was unwarranted as they should have been down to 10 in my book 

[Tugayisgod]

Has to be our best result of the season considering Boros recent form. Restricted them to very little really, and played some great stuff, especially 1st half.

Thought 2nd half we sat back a bit , whether deliberate or not, I'm not sure.

Another brilliantly worked goal again.

If Venkys can scrape a few quid together in January for a couple of signings, who knows where we could finish, and you wouldn't have said that in August.

Another game to look forward to on Saturday, a real test against probably the best side on paper in the league

COYB

Edited November 28, 2024 by Tugayisgod

[roversfan99]

4 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

Has to be our best result of the season considering Boros recent form. Restricted them to very little really, and played some great stuff, especially 1st half.

Thought 2nd half we sat back a bit , whether deliberate or not, I'm not sure.

Another brilliantly worked goal again.

If Venkys can scrape a few quid together in January for a couple of signings, who knows where we could finish, and you wouldn't have said that in August.

Another game to look forward to on Saturday, a real test against probably the best side on paper in the league

COYB

Spoiler for the question about Venkys scraping a few quid together. They wont.