Middlesborough v Blackburn Rovers, Sat, 08 Dec 2018, KO 15:00

[Thorisgodpoo]

Middlesborough are pretty high up on the table. Rovers don't have a spectacular record away from home (3-3-4) so far, but notable win against Stoke City. No Bennett, might see the same come out from the win last weekend?

[Gibbon]

Krestrels ftw!

*Watch the gibbons ambush a delivery truck full of underwear.

[mcteeth]

Slap your Nordic bakeware

[mcteeth]

I feel quite confident about tomorrow, I know they're 4th in the table but I just don't think Boro have too much to be worried about. It's just very Pulis, they don't concede many but don't many either and have drawn a lot as have we.

Probably the biggest issue is that we've tended to not cope overly well with teams that want to be big, aggressive and physical which I'm sure will no doubt be the case tomorrow. But if we can get going and cause them some problems could hopefully see a positive result.

[Darth Rover]

The general expectation for this game would be for a Middlesboro win. So far this season Villa, Derby, Stoke, Leeds and West Brom have failed to live up to that expectation. Let us hope we can add Boro to that list. The other list of Bristol City, Sheffield United, Swansea City, PNE and Wigan is the list of forget and move on. There is another list and that is the list of opponents in December and that is too scary to print.

[stillgrowling]

Same starting eleven as last week with Lenihan on the bench. Travis must be perplexed why he's not even on the bench - imo a far more aggressive and attacking player than Evans.

[stillgrowling]

Middlesbrough down to ten men, then Mulgrew cracks a brilliant free kick. 1-0 Rovers

[mcteeth]

Great stuff and right decision to send off Besic. Rovers have controlled things against 10 men extremely well and Evans probably should have made it 0-2.

[mcteeth]

Boro have used all 3 subs now.

[WacoRover]

I would hate to lose points to a 10-man side. Ugh

[Thorisgodpoo]

Talk about a dropped 2 points. Glad we got the draw but it just feels like an opportunity lost. Boro go down to 10-men early and all we can do is get 1 goal? I think that kind of tells us what we need, a much more dynamic midfielder. Just felt like they were playing for possession and hoping to wait out the game. Honestly pretty disappointed.

[yankfan]

Going into the match, if have been happy with the point. After going up a goal and a man I'd expect 3. Feels like a dropped 2 points now

[Darth Rover]

I would have settled for a point before the game so i am happy with that. Good to know we can perform at promotion hopefuls grounds and talk about why we should have won but didnt. With the fixture list Rovers have in December its an optimistic view to have.

[yankfan]

The next 4 matches present a challenge. But I reckon that if this team desires to be in the hunt for promotion it's this streatch will make it a reality. Get through the end of the month within 6 points of the playoffs and I fancy our chances, and would hope to bring in a few pieces in January to make the push. Drop 12 to 15 points off the pace and we should be looking for next year or beyond in the window.

[mcteeth]

Can’t complain. Would have happily taken a point before kick off. I agree with Mowbray that they’re a hard team to play against with 10 men. They concede very few goals as it is and going a man down meant they’d keep men behind the ball.

If I’m honest I also agree with Pulis I thought the red was a little harsh. Within the laws of the game you can justify it but with 2 defenders coming across and the keeper rushing out made it seem less clear cut.

We created some further opportunities Reed and Evans could have done better and got their rebounds on target and Dack very unlucky hitting the post after a lovely move. Little we could do about their goal but a fantastic strike so fair play.

It’s strange we seem to have performed at our best this season against the better sides in the league.