Middlesbrough entertain Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside tomorrow in a game that should result in nothing less than three points. Since the 5-1 win at Loftus Road back at the beginning of December, QPR have only managed two wins from 14 matches in the Championship leaving them only four points from the relegation zone.
Whilst the Hoops look to be struggling, Boro on the other hand are not far away from trouble either having only won four games since Leroy Lita grabbed a brace in West London. Despite the lack of form from Rangers I still think this game will be tighter than some fans will be expecting. Please do not expect a repeat showing from our 1-in-a-season-performance at Loftus, we know our home form is as bad as anybody’s in the bottom half of the league table.
I know it gets tiring when we hear the words ‘this is a must win game’ but it really is a MUST WIN game looking at the next few fixtures that follow this game. We face Cardiff City away from home a week tomorrow followed by a Tees-Tyne derby a week later. We need to gather momentum going into these games so more pressure will be on the players for tomorrow’s game at the Riverside. The expectant Boro crowd will not only be demanding a win but also a few goals. There is a worry though that these goals might not come any time soon.
Scott McDonald is still struggling with a recurring injury after his recent hernia operation which is keeping the former Celtic man from gaining full fitness. McDonald’s latest setback should open the door for Leroy Lita to come back into the starting line-up alongside Jeremie Aliadiere. Lita has had a mixed season so far with seven league goals from 29 appearances but has only started five matches since his double against QPR at the end of last year.
Strachan will assess the fitness of McDonald before the game tomorrow but as things stand I’m not expecting the Australian international to start leaving the Boro boss with a selection headache. My choice would be to bring Lita in for McDonald but Strachan might go for a bit of height considering the problems Dave Kitson gave the Rangers defence in the 5-1 win earlier in the season. Killen or Miller might be thrown up top to add strength and height to the Boro team, whatever the choice is made by Gordon we will be looking for the strikers to get the goals we need.
Onto my prediction for this game. After two straight defeats away from home without scoring I expect us to grab a couple of goals without reply. Three points are vital but Strachan will be looking for a more assured performance from his players.
Middlesbrough 2 Queens Park Rangers 0
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3 comments ↓
It seems we have give all our strikers a fair crack of the whip but none of them are up for the task. Fingers crossed Lita can do a job for us tomorrow but I’m looking at our midfielders for the goals these days. Still, a Boro win is on the cards, QPR are poor. Boro 1 QPR 0
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Two teams desperate for a win but also desperately low in confidence in the last third of the field. Not sure this must win game will turn out well in the end. It’s got draw written all over it. 1-1.
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The previous predictions are typical of the mood of both suppoters
and players. Its going to happen again as it did the last time the two teams met. Boro 5 QPR 1.
Make our weekend bright.
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