The League of 4

[Hound]

Considering Boro’s position, form and Tony Pulis, something would have to go very very badly wrong for us to lose more than 2-0

If they go 1 up they’ll be desperate to hang on, not throw people forward trying to score 4 or 5. Likewise we’ll not be throwing men forward to try to get a point at 1 or 2 down

Very much suspect it would be a case of us settling for a 1-0 defeat and then settling for a 1-0 win

[NewCorkSeth]

Think you've hit the nail on the head there Hound.

[windermereROYAL]

Considering Boro’s position, form and Tony Pulis, something would have to go very very badly wrong for us to lose more than 2-0

If they go 1 up they’ll be desperate to hang on, not throw people forward trying to score 4 or 5. Likewise we’ll not be throwing men forward to try to get a point at 1 or 2 down

Very much suspect it would be a case of us settling for a 1-0 defeat and then settling for a 1-0 win

Scored 2 goals at home 4 times and 3 goals once in 22 home games.

[From Despair To Where?]

Considering Boro’s position, form and Tony Pulis, something would have to go very very badly wrong for us to lose more than 2-0

If they go 1 up they’ll be desperate to hang on, not throw people forward trying to score 4 or 5. Likewise we’ll not be throwing men forward to try to get a point at 1 or 2 down

Very much suspect it would be a case of us settling for a 1-0 defeat and then settling for a 1-0 win

Scored 2 goals at home 4 times and 3 goals once in 22 home games.

There's only been 37 goals scored at The Riverside in the league this season.

[Hound]

and they managed 3 shots on goal (1 on target) in their last game

Still we do need to be professional. Looking at the table, they could do with a GD boost actually as they are 5 behind Derby, but on the same points. So despite what I said, a 4 or 5-0 win, however unlikely, would actually do them an awful lot of good

Not that Rotherham are winning both of their games anyway

[Snowball]

Am I alone in thinking the Boro game is very winnable? And that Birmingham are likely to be on the beach now?

Also wouldn't it be funny if Birmingham finished 19th for the 3rd year in a row.

Oh yeah 6pts is absolutely attainable over the last 2 games, my post was simply a comment on how we think we'll set up as Gomes was clear that we aren't safe yet in his mind. Whatever happens there, I'd expect a much more attacking performance v Brum on the last day.

Six points and my ridiculed prediction of 52 turns out to be right?

Never happen!

[LUX]

Considering Boro’s position, form and Tony Pulis, something would have to go very very badly wrong for us to lose more than 2-0

If they go 1 up they’ll be desperate to hang on, not throw people forward trying to score 4 or 5. Likewise we’ll not be throwing men forward to try to get a point at 1 or 2 down

Very much suspect it would be a case of us settling for a 1-0 defeat and then settling for a 1-0 win

Sounds great , I’m trying to persuade my son to go ( he lives in Durham)

[John Smith]

Considering Boro’s position, form and Tony Pulis, something would have to go very very badly wrong for us to lose more than 2-0

If they go 1 up they’ll be desperate to hang on, not throw people forward trying to score 4 or 5. Likewise we’ll not be throwing men forward to try to get a point at 1 or 2 down

Very much suspect it would be a case of us settling for a 1-0 defeat and then settling for a 1-0 win

Scored 2 goals at home 4 times and 3 goals once in 22 home games.

There's only been 37 goals scored at The Riverside in the league this season.

We will win the game on Saturday, absolutely nailed on.

[paddy20]

Oh yeah 6pts is absolutely attainable over the last 2 games, my post was simply a comment on how we think we'll set up as Gomes was clear that we aren't safe yet in his mind. Whatever happens there, I'd expect a much more attacking performance v Brum on the last day.

We could just as easily lose 4-0 on Saturday with no forwards to speak of and Mdboro fighting for play offs. WBA will field a weakened team as they are already secure. Rotheram will be battling for survival still and could nick it by one or two goals. That leaves a 7 goal difference going into last game

Not "just as easily". 4-0 is an extreme scoreline paddy. Dont be dramatic.

You are fair less disappointed if you look on the negative side!

[Denver Royal]

We have proven very tough to beat on the road this year, it is winning that has been elusive. Only 10 teams have lost less than us on the road. Only Stoke have drawn more than our 11.
If we can turn 4 or 5 of those draws in to wins next season and continue our improved home form, we should have a decent year next year.

Yep, we haven't won a game 1-0 all season, home or away, and successful teams tend to have a few of those. Even Norwich, who are easily the highest scoring team in the Champ this season, have 8 of them.

[URZZZZ]

Side point but how many times have we been losing at half time? Or as a matter of fact concede in the first half. As far as I can remember, with the exception of Brentford and Wigan, in 2019, we've only conceded either 0 goals at half time or 3

[Stranded]

Side point but how many times have we been losing at half time? Or as a matter of fact concede in the first half. As far as I can remember, with the exception of Brentford and Wigan, in 2019, we've only conceded either 0 goals at half time or 3

1st Half Record

W 14 D21 L9 Pts 63

Away from home, we've only been losing 4 times at half time this season.

If we've been winning at half time, we tend to get a result. Only lost 2/14 when winning at the break - won 7.

If we're losing at HT, you might as well head home - only managed 1 draw from the 9 times we've been behind at the break.

[URZZZZ]

Side point but how many times have we been losing at half time? Or as a matter of fact concede in the first half. As far as I can remember, with the exception of Brentford and Wigan, in 2019, we've only conceded either 0 goals at half time or 3

1st Half Record

W 14 D21 L9 Pts 63

Away from home, we've only been losing 4 times at half time this season.

If we've been winning at half time, we tend to get a result. Only lost 2/14 when winning at the break - won 7.

If we're losing at HT, you might as well head home - only managed 1 draw from the 9 times we've been behind at the break.

Thanks, quite interesting to see, could it be a case of fatigue or do the opposition step it up an extra gear? Certainly seemed more of a problem at the beginning of the season, but then again since Gomes has taken over, we've only won three second halfs, and considering one was against 9 men the second 45 needs sorting out

[Snowflake Royal]

The Clement concentration factor must be big. And certainly can't be fatigue as we conceded so many goals within 10 minutes of the restart.

[Stranded]

The Clement concentration factor must be big. And certainly can't be fatigue as we conceded so many goals within 10 minutes of the restart.

Minutes 46-60 have been our worst spell all season comfortably - although we have only seen a positive GD for one 15 minute spell all season:

Goals For and Against

First Half

0-15m 8-10
16-30m 9-5
31-45m 7-9

2nd Half

46-60m 3-12
61-75m 7-10
76-90m 14-18

Interesting* to see that 29% of all goals in our games this season have come in the last 15mins.

Under Gomes, the 46-60min mark has vastly improved - we've only scored once but only let in 3 in his 21 games. Compared to 9 times under Clement (0 under Marshall).

[Snowball]

The Clement concentration factor must be big. And certainly can't be fatigue as we conceded so many goals within 10 minutes of the restart.

Minutes 46-60 have been our worst spell all season comfortably - although we have only seen a positive GD for one 15 minute spell all season:

Goals For and Against

First Half

0-15m 8-10
16-30m 9-5
31-45m 7-9

2nd Half

46-60m 3-12
61-75m 7-10
76-90m 14-18

Interesting* to see that 29% of all goals in our games this season have come in the last 15mins.

Under Gomes, the 46-60min mark has vastly improved - we've only scored once but only let in 3 in his 21 games. Compared to 9 times under Clement (0 under Marshall).

I presume the above is for all league games(three managers)?

Do you have Gomes-only?

[Hound]

It is interesting - as shown in the stats, that last 20 mins or so (obvs that 76-90 includes injury time) had so many major moments this year. Usually late equalisers against us under PC, and a number of huge late winners under Gomes

I'm guessing the records of PC and Gomes are reasonably similar up until the last 15?

[Snowball]

Eyeballing, it's been "obvious" that we tend to drop back in the last 20, hanging on to what we've got.

One player actually said we did, not necessarily to orders but due to lack of confidence

Yet a few times when we've fallen behind late, we've flipped, driven forward, and scored.

i suspect it is a mental thing, one which might disappear if we go on a good winning run.

[Nameless]

Eyeballing, it's been "obvious" that we tend to drop back in the last 20, hanging on to what we've got.

One player actually said we did, not necessarily to orders but due to lack of confidence

Yet a few times when we've fallen behind late, we've flipped, driven forward, and scored.

i suspect it is a mental thing, one which might disappear if we go on a good winning run.

Gomes has specifically talked about it too.
His take was it is definitely not a 'tactic'. He said it is mostly confidence but it is also the players wanting to try and make sure they keep what they have got (ie the lead) and he understands why they might try and do that rather than push on and try and extend the lead (and hence make it safer).
I think it needs the attacking players to be confident that they can trust the defending players and don't need to drop back and 'help' them. Of course in some cases this is an internal dialogue - does Rinmahota trust his ability to get forward from a defensive position and then get back from an attacking one, he's not distrusting his colleagues, he's questioning his own ability to cover all areas of the pitch.

[Snowball]

Yep

We may (arguably) "have a good defence" (though the stats don't say we do)
but we are not good overall at "playing defensively" if that makes sense.

I think we do better when we take the game to the opposition.
We just have to cut out the horrible passes in midfield, that give
our opponents a good chance on the break.


It would be interesting to see how we have conceded goals this season/under Gomes


How many corners, set-piece goals, goals from sweeping moves, wing-play, through-balls...?

From fallible memory, I think we have conceded a fair few from outright mistakes