STEW'S PREVIEWS
BRISTOL CITY vs MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart Flaherty; 28 Aug 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
MASSIVE game! I know some fans and journalists get into the habit of saying that every week, however if you read back I am sure you will see I felt Scunthorpe and Doncaster were both games we should have won if we had any intention of promotion. That said, Scunthorpe and Doncaster are NOT promotion contenders themselves, Bristol City may well be. They are a solid club who are used to performing well at this level, so seeing them in the playoff spots come May would be a surprise to nobody.
Any kind of result in Bristol would be a massive boost to a promotion bid as many teams will lose there. We are in the early pace setters in 2nd place but it is a fragile position, shown by the fact that Bristol City themselves are 10th yet a win here would level them on points with us.
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Aside from the difficulty, this game will come at the end of the transfer window. On September 1st a new chapter will begin after this early season and we will know who we have. Huth has gone, we will see immediately if he will be missed in this tough test.
The more expected Tuncay departure will hopefully be sustained as in all honesty our biggest attacking threat is Adam Johnson (anyone remember Watford's dip in form after his loan ended?).
Who else will go? and will a win here show us to be a contender so that players may just be swayed to stay and make a promotion run? Will a win here show intent that will help recruit transfer targets? I believe these small things can make big differences in players minds, especially if it is a close decision as to where they will move. The excellent Anthony Vickers wrote the following article on the transfer window;
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2009/08/18/boro-face-anxious-wait-as-transfer-deadline-looms-84229-24467706/
Also lastly, what was the Forest defeat? Was it a one-off defeat to the better team on the day? Or did it send the message that as soon as one or two back-ups come in we are not contenders? Forest have not started well after all. This game will show us that because at minimum we play without Huth and we will see how quickly we get over that. I personally feel he is phenomenal and his replacement has a big hole to fill, being well and truly thrown in at the deep end when it comes to this division.
If we struggle in this game and Huth is missed, we will have an agonizing few days hoping the team is not weakened further before the window shuts on September 1st. Just who is going to Bristol that will not face Ipswich?
ROBINS EYE VIEW
Like us they will see this as a game against a fellow promotion contender, unlike us they are at home and I imagine will be very disappointed with a defeat that would see them slide out of the top 10. They absolutely will not fear Boro.
Anyone who doubts that should bear in mind recent Cup games when we were a Premier League side. In 2007 a very strong Boro side including Schwarzer, Woodgate, Cattermole, Downing, and Yakubu were taken to a replay before scraping through at the Riverside on penalties, the winning kick hit by Adam Johnson (omen? I hope so!). In 2008 Boro fell behind before coming through for a hard fought 2-1 win.
OVERVIEW
This match will give us a good look at where we are. A win will have us as big promotion contenders, a draw or defeat will drag us into the crowd and the fight will go on. If we pull it off, this will be the biggest psychological boost of the season to date. The excitement will not end at the final whistle as the last few days of the transfer window will also massively impact our season. Exciting, nerve racking, and massively important times right now!
Goalkeepers
Coyne is doing well and it is an encouraging sign that he seems to be more settled than a keeper with only a month at the club would usually be. Bristol City recently lost Adrian Basso, we know only too well the effect losing a quality starting keeper can have.
Edge. Boro. Coyne is money (sorry).
Boro Defence vs Bristol City Attack
Well let's see. Do Boro have depth along the back four and cover in all positions (let's face it had he not been sold Huth would have got injured at some point anyway), or did we have a good run with the best four and things will be tougher now? Questions like this are debated by fans all over, but the fact is they get answered on the pitch and we will all see. Pogatetz, Riggott, and Hines are all potential replacements. Hopefully they are good enough to be promotion standard but unfortunately none are as good as Huth.
For City the pacey Nicky Maynard has netted 3 goals already and will test the Boro backline, he is partnered by England Youth International Danny Haynes.
Edge. City. Boro remain strong but a clean sheet on the road here may be a big ask for the line's first game without the man who was captain. Think we will concede one.
Midfield
I will hold my hands up to being proved wrong in a good way by Boro in the Midfield department so far. We have seen some solid displays in the engine room and long may it continue. Gary O'Neill has been dominant and hopefully he plays most games when all is said and done. Rhys Williams has also been a pleasant surprise and put in a good performance with a solid display against quality opposition in Sheffield United on opening day.
The wingers are magnificent and we have a consistent game breaking threat on both flanks.
City field a decent unit and the best midfielder on the pitch may well play for them. Paul Hartley has Champions League experience with Celtic and won every domestic honour in Scotland while playing for them.
Edge. Even. A tough day on the road for Boro but we may just have enough steel to battle them to a stalemate.
Boro Attack v Bristol City Defence
In 6 feet 2 Wales International Lewin Nyatanga and 6 feet 5 Jamie McCombe Bristol City have a pair of bog old units who make it very difficult to put the ball in the net, Neil Warnock may say that even if you do it still won't help you beat them! Some of you may remember McCombe scoring at the Riverside in the previously mentioned cup ties.
Boro look to have signed a good player in Lita and have many options to go up with him, all of whom are lightning quick. Reports suggest City struggled with the pace of Freddie Sears when playing Palace, this is a good news for Boro who will likely score, I feel we will need to!
Fans
Not the biggest crowd but lively and hostile enough to create a homefield advantage and make this difficult for the Boro.
Edge. City.
Verdict
DRAW. I would be pleased with this. I would not find it stunning if we were to lose but our pace in attack, as well as momentum in the league could grab us a valuable point.
