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ALASTAIR BROWNLEE'S BRISTOL CITY v BORO MATCH PREVIEW 4-1-08
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After the New Year got off to a disappointing start with the home defeat by Everton, the FA Cup offers a distraction this Saturday from the Premier League battle for survival.
However, a trip to Bristol City, who are flying high in the Championship, is far from an easy proposition.
There is no doubt that survival in the Premier League is the main priority but a good cup run not only generates additional income for the club, but also adds excitement to the season as we can all dream about appearing at Wembley in May.
Last season we needed a replay in each round, including a tie with Bristol City, before reaching the FA Cup quarter final with Manchester United.
Football discussions often beg the question "what might have been if only.". If only we could have held on to the 2-1 lead established at the Riverside against United before George Boateng was harshly adjudged to have handled inside the area, a semi final with Watford would have been next and potentially the final.
The first task this season is to avoid a cup shock at Ashton Gate and Bristol City will certainly make life tough.
City are full of confidence after back to back wins away at Burnley and then on New Years Day beating Coventry at home. This was a result that put them into third place in the Championship, joint top with leaders West Bromwich Albion on forty-seven points.
Gary Johnson's side will also be motivated by the memory of last season's fourth round tie when at one stage they were 2-0 down to Boro at Ashton Gate only to launch a brave second half fight back that secured a Riverside replay.
Boro only went through in a dramatic penalty shoot out and City are certainly in better form than they were a year ago.
Consistency remains the main problem at the moment for Boro as the terrific win at Portsmouth was followed up by the New Year defeat inflicted by Everton at the Riverside.
Once more the fans who turned up on a damp and miserable afternoon deserve credit but in 2008 Boro must find, and soon, a solution to the problem of not winning home games.
Gareth was quite right to say that home form will define the season. Our Premier League survival depends on it.
After the match Yakubu attacked the club for, in his opinion, a lack of ambition at Boro but I, like many other fans, are probably fed up of reading remarks from yet another ex-player having a go at the club once they have left.
Let's not forget that the club paid him handsomely for pulling on a red shirt and in return received a surly start to this season culminating in an awful display at Wigan that heralded his departure.
If Yakubu was so concerned about the direction in which the Boro were heading, would his efforts not have been better placed by scoring goals and giving his manager and the fans a better chance of success?
One of the other big talking points of the week has centred around George Boateng after his agent, Barry Silkman, stated that George is in no rush to leave the Riverside but had options if Boro wanted to sell.
The speculation seemed to come after the skipper was left out of the team that lost to Everton after completing his one match suspension at Portsmouth.
Boateng has nearly completed six years in a Boro shirt and with the club battling for their Premier League status I do hope that he stays and continues to fight for his first team place.
After all he still has, at thirty-two, plenty of experience to offer to help Boro out of their current situation.
A lot of attention has been given to the club's decision to ask supporters if the home shirt should have a white band on it next season.
First of all, I think it's another step in the right direction of getting the fans back onside and follows the welcome decision to reduce prices for the club's young fans for the rest of the season.
Personally, I have voted for the white band. I remember the pride I felt supporting "Charlton's Champions" in season 1973-74 as we stormed to promotion wearing the distinctive red shirt with the white band brought in by Big Jack at the start of the campaign.
The team of Platt, Craggs, Spraggon, Boam, Maddren, Souness, Murdoch, Mills,
Foggon, Hickton and Armstrong I would rate as the best Boro team I have seen.
Just ask any member of the Sheffield Wednesday side that were humiliated 8-0 at Ayresome Park!
The white band was also present on possibly the most important date in the club's history. Not the Carling Cup final but on 23 August 1986 when Tony Mowbray led the team out to play Port Vale.
After the horrors of liquidation, the club had survived and "The Class of 86"went on to restore pride back in the Boro.
The good news is that the choice is that of the fans, so make your vote count!
After the long journey to Bristol City, and hopefully booking a place in the next round of the FA Cup, Bernie and I will be back with Simply Red on Century fm on Sunday between 11am and 1pm.
There will be all the usual features and competitions for Sunday lunch for two at the Bluebell together with a chance to win a pair of executive tickets thanks to the Hillstreet Shopping Centre to see Boro play Liverpool on January 12 and a pair of tickets from Ladbrokes to be won for the same match.
Guests will include Dean Gordon and Lee Turnbull. Lee still has his Boro shirt (white band included) from the promotion night with Wigan back in 1987!
Why not give us a call on 08450021100 or text 85102.
Up the Boro!
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