Birmingham Vs Middlesbrough *****Official Match Thread*****

[Driver8]

It is true though.

So is the opposite.

 

[Seagulls over Essex]

It might be just me, but I found that analysis on Sky completely vacuous - "that point Middlesbrough won tonight puts additional pressure on Brighton for Monday" argument is completely unfounded. It's always going to come down to the last game of the season, irrespective of what happens on Monday.

So the argument that "this is the most important point of Middlesborough's season" that they were spouting is patently false. If anything, this was the most meaningless point that Middlesborough have won all season. They would be in much the same position if they lost tonight.

If we lose or draw to Derby, then they only need draw with us on the 7th for promotion - otherwise nothing less than a win will do. And yet the only way the Sky pundits spun it was "Middlesbrough just have to win against Brighton and they're in the Premier League" - as if we're just going to roll over! As [MENTION=33253]JC Footy Genius[/MENTION] points out, we've only lost twice away all season.

Sky and their pundits are always biased to the home team for some reason.

 

[Berty23]

Middlesbrough have now drawn their last three matches. They should have sewn the title up by now.

Yup. Boro were a couple of mins of injury time away from being as good As up. Since thAt slip up they have failed to beat Ipswich and brum. Remember that the teams we have hammered have been "on their holidays" according to people not at the match.

It would be amazing to beat Derby and Burnley to lose.

 

[Berty23]

Sky and their pundits are always biased to the home team for some reason.

Holloway also said that Brighton will try to grind out another win. In what way have we been grinding results?

I am not sure I could handle failing now.

 

[warmleyseagull]

It might be just me, but I found that analysis on Sky completely vacuous - "that point Middlesbrough won tonight puts additional pressure on Brighton for Monday" argument is completely unfounded. It's always going to come down to the last game of the season, irrespective of what happens on Monday.

So the argument that "this is the most important point of Middlesborough's season" that they were spouting is patently false. If anything, this was the most meaningless point that Middlesborough have won all season. They would be in much the same position if they lost tonight.

If we lose or draw to Derby, then they only need draw with us on the 7th for promotion - otherwise nothing less than a win will do. And yet the only way the Sky pundits spun it was "Middlesbrough just have to win against Brighton and they're in the Premier League" - as if we're just going to roll over! As [MENTION=33253]JC Footy Genius[/MENTION] points out, we've only lost twice away all season.

I think this is great, exactly what we want because it piles on pressure on them and takes it away from us. We don't want the media into our little secret: we are actually the best team of the three at the present. We know that, and would much prefer we keep it that way. Once Ollie et al. start on making us favourites I start to get worried.

Yes, it is a little patronising to 'little Brighton' who might just spoil the pundits' all season's confident prediction that Boro would be promoted, but,hey, I would prefer that to being the favourite who has splashed the cash and might fall at the line.

 

[Triggaaar]

Sure, but I still think it makes a psychological difference in the back of your mind, the difference between we need to catch up, vs, we need to hold our position.

I just can't see that. When they're on the pitch they'll be thinking about whether or not they need to win the game - whether they need to score or just need to see the game out. Nothing else.

The only other thing that could really play with their mind is if Burnley lose on Monday and the players hear Burnley are doing badly against Charlton - suddenly Brighton and Middlesbrough could be thinking a draw isn't so bad after all.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Birmingham fans still have a soft spot for Chris

[tweet]726160996000256000[/tweet]

 

[warmleyseagull]

Holloway also said that Brighton will try to grind out another win. In what way have we been grinding results?

18 games won by a single goal?

 

[warmleyseagull]

Sky and their pundits are always biased to the home team for some reason.

Didn't seem very Brum biased tonight? The problem for all of them is that they have more or less taken as a given that Boro would be promoted since August, and are rather reluctant to admit they might just be wrong.

 

[Clampet]

Never been happier to lose a £50 bet !!!

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

I had £50 on Middlesbrough but when they went 2.1 they went deep. I layed against it and made £13 and put it on the draw. Got £77 profit.

 

[Triggaaar]

I am not sure I could handle failing now.

Things would get broken.

 

[warmleyseagull]

One thing a draw does is make winning margin against Derby less important as we can end with same points as Boro only by drawing twice; would really need a 6-0 job to worry Burnley on GD or GS.

 

[Seagulls over Essex]

How? Would mean we need to beat Derby 6-0 or something?

Unlikely I know, but for example:

Burnley lose 2-0 to QPR and beat Charlton 1-0. = 90 points, GD 32, 68 scored.
We beat Derby 3-0 and lost to Boro 1-0, = 90 points, GD 32, 73 scored.

 

[moggy]

A burnley win on Monday now promotes them regardless

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

64 pages and counting for a non-Albion fixture. Whoever said we weren't a big club?

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Birmingham fans still have a soft spot for Chris

[tweet]726160996000256000[/tweet]

He is the most popular man in football isn't he?!

 

[dangull]

If, when we play Derby, and its level with 20 mins to go, it must be the case to throw everything for the win. goalkeeper up for corners as well.

 

[samtheseagull]

A burnley win on Monday now promotes them regardless

no it doesnt

 

[sparkie]

HOOPS was EXCELLENT.



NO complaints.

 

[nwgull]

One thing a draw does is make winning margin against Derby less important as we can end with same points as Boro only by drawing twice; would really need a 6-0 job to worry Burnley on GD or GS.

Burnley are unlikely to lose, and if they do it'll be by one goal. If they do lose and we were to have beaten beat Derby 3-0, Burnley would have to beat Charlton by 2 ( assuming we only lost by 1 at Boro). Lots of unlikely results; I'd be happy with a streaky 1-0 win against Derby.