STEW'S PREVIEWS
SWANSEA CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart Flaherty; 14 Aug 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
After a tough game to open the season, it doesn't get much easier with Boro's first road trip.
Some would have you believe that Boro will only struggle with the physical, direct teams in this league and will heavily beat the teams that play football 'the right way'.
If this is true then Boro will put Swansea away.
Unfortunately, it is not that simple and this is by no means an easy game.
In fact, Boro will need to be on their game to come away with points from the home of a good footballing side.
Boro therefore find themselves in the unenviable position of an away game with pressure.
Many teams will be pleased to leave Swansea with a point but if Boro do so, the same fans who booed after the tie at home last week will look to ratchet up the pressure on the manager.
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SWANS EYE VIEW
After a disappointing loss in their first home game against newly-promoted Leicester City, Swansea will be desperate to get some points on the board and show that the departed Roberto Martinez was not the sole reason for their success last season.
According to reports, they played well for long spells last week and created many chances, only for mental weaknesses to lead to two goals being conceded and a defeat. Sound familiar?
They will view Boro as a tough game but nobody wants to lose their first home game and like Sheffield United last week, they may be more pleased with a point than we would be.
OVERVIEW
A tough road game but one Boro must win if they truly want to establish themselves as early pace setters in this league.
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Danny Coyne had a good start last week and showed stability, not that he had a lot to do. Still, he showed encouraging signs.
De Vries saved a penalty but conceded two last week and is a solid if unspectacular keeper at this level.
Edge: Boro. A good start from a man who looks to be a quality keeper.
Boro Defence v Swansea Attack
Boro looked every bit as good as we hoped at the back last week. Wheater and Huth have huge physical presence and are an excellent pair of centre-backs at this level. Sheffield United will score plenty of goals this season and they were dealt with fairly well.
Swansea usually look to play one forward and it should be either Pintado or Dobbie, who hit a mid-week brace in the Carling Cup. Both have goals in them, but a Boro backline should prove too strong for them to do much damage if all goes well elsewhere (see midfield!).
Edge: Boro. Too strong physically and should have enough nous to keep the forwards quiet and restrict space.
Midfield
Another week of concern. Yet again Boro will have superior wide players (I have a feeling that I may say this every week, maybe I will just cut and paste it!). The excellent Johnson and Mark Yeates, who had a very impressive debut, are as good as it gets outside the Premier League.
However, like last week, centre-midfield is a concern. Swansea played three central in a midfield five last week, which is something I hope Boro adjust to.
The injury bug bites again and after incorrectly predicting Arca and Walker last week, maybe that will be the pairing this week? Gary O'Neil putting off surgery to play in this game is noble but it has to be a worry with regards to him putting in a quality 90 minute shift.
If we play Arca and Walker with Tuncay as an attacking midfielder, that would be a good match up.
If we play only two central midfielders and they win the possession battle, it could be a long day, with runners creating mismatches against our defence constantly (see West Brom away last year).
Swansea will field Gower, MacDonald, and Britton. Alone none would scare you but as a three, they are capable of keeping possession and using it effectively.
Edge: Even. Boro are below average at centre midfield right now with the current injury list (I personally would love to see one signed this month), but we are far more dangerous out wide. Are Swansea good enough defensively for us not to enjoy long spells of possession ourselves? This could be a very nice game to watch.
Boro Attack v United Defence
Again, how we play will be important.
Although no end product or final ball was there for much of the Sheffield United game, many a time Boro won possession and three or four pacy runners looked to have the beating of their opposite numbers if a good ball was played.
This is an encouraging sign. We really do have sheer pace in this line-up, and the poorer defences in the league will fear us by the end of the year.
Swansea play Wales international Ashley Williams (who scored last week) and Garry Monk. Both have plenty of lower league experience but Boro will be as strong an opposition as they will face, for all our flaws. This is especially the case if we are gifted with a game from Tuncay.
Emnes and Ali will doubtless get in behind them at some point and I do not see Middlesbrough not scoring in this game.
Fans
The Welsh are usually passionate crowds and could stir up a good home advantage.
The Boro fans will again be split I think, with some optimistic support, and some jaded sections who will make their feelings known if the result is negative.
Edge: Swansea.
Prediction
DRAW: I think Boro will score, and I would desperately would love a win. However, centre mid is a concern and I feel we could spend long spells out of possession.
