Championship thread 25/26! (30 Viewers)

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 24, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I expected Boro to bag 6 points from these two games, we could certainly also drop points at home where we’re not expecting to.

Tomorrow is our hardest remaining fixture but I agree with you-if we won it and then beat Stoke, it would almost put Boro out of reach. But such is this league that really any combination of results from the two games wouldn’t shock me.

I read an article earlier today that basically said we had the ‘hardest’ remaining fixtures out of Boro, Ipswich and ourselves. What the article didn’t look into was the breakdown of opponents by home/away record.

Boro’s advantage over us and Ipswich is their away form. They have by far the most difficult run of away games and Ipswich have the easiest, frankly they should win all of their remaining away games bar Southampton and Norwich.

We’re middle of the road, some tough games home and away.

Sheff U and Swansea are our toughest away games remaining and frankly, two games we need to be winning if we want promotion this year.

Brighton Sky Blue · Feb 24, 2026

Mucca Mad Boys said:
I read an article earlier today that basically said we had the ‘hardest’ remaining fixtures out of Boro, Ipswich and ourselves. What the article didn’t look into was the breakdown of opponents by home/away record.

Boro’s advantage over us and Ipswich is their away form. They have by far the most difficult run of away games and Ipswich have the easiest, frankly they should win all of their remaining away games bar Southampton and Norwich.

We’re middle of the road, some tough games home and away.

Sheff U and Swansea are our toughest away games remaining and frankly, two games we need to be winning if we want promotion this year.

I have us down to lose tomorrow, at Swansea and Watford. Backing us to win at Hull/Blackburn/Bristol C. Though if Watford’s slump continues I might revise that.

At home I think we actually have a challenging set of fixtures by and large. I can see us dropping points there but hopefully we pick up more results on the road to compensate.

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 24, 2026

Ipad Boro said:
Aye, it's a wobble for us like.

To give Leicester credit (though I know you guys don't like doing that often) they seemed to have turned a Rowett led corner, a lot of their fans were saying it's the best they've seen them play for months now. More of the same when they play Ipswich would be the natural succession and one I'd obviously welcome (and you I suspect)

Still, that's nowt new, most sides we face are either bang in form or perform out of their boots against us. Hull, Derby, Pompey, Watford, Yourselves, Leicester, Brum next etc. Even Oxford, but Oxford only seem to do anything decent against top 4 sides
We're used to sides performing better against us than other games, the difference when we're in form is we overcome this.

Tbh we're looking tired more than anything. It's like we're adapting to sides sussing our quick passing by slowing the game down instead and the players aren't quite used to it yet. Also think Hellberg made a mistake with the CB selection; Fry would have been perfect against yourselves and the "new Leicester" tonight and Ayling better against Oxford, who threatened less, but he selected them the other way round for whatever reason. Still maintain he's a good manager as his record speaks for itself, but he's certainly not infallible.

Hey ho, life goes on. The wobble will end at some point, then another run of wins would be nice as per.

To be perfectly honest, both of our clubs are performing at a much higher level than we’d have expected in pre-season.

All the underlying data this season has Cov and Ipswich as the top 2 teams in the division. If Boro do in fact finish in the playoffs, I’d back you to win it because you’re strong home and away. Although I’ll be watching what happens when you play Wrexham on the final day, it could be a repeat of 22/23 that sets up a playoff berth. At this point, I’d back Wrexham to beat Ipswich in the playoffs.

covcity4life · Feb 24, 2026

One of the priorities dropped pts so can't grumble too much but I am worried about Ipswich.

SKYBLUES90 · Feb 24, 2026

Ipad Boro said:
Aye, it's a wobble for us like.

To give Leicester credit (though I know you guys don't like doing that often) they seemed to have turned a Rowett led corner, a lot of their fans were saying it's the best they've seen them play for months now. More of the same when they play Ipswich would be the natural succession and one I'd obviously welcome (and you I suspect)

Still, that's nowt new, most sides we face are either bang in form or perform out of their boots against us. Hull, Derby, Pompey, Watford, Blades, Yourselves, Leicester, Brum next etc. Even Oxford, but Oxford only seem to do anything decent against top 4 sides
We're used to sides performing better against us than other games, the difference when we're in form is we overcome this.

Tbh we're looking tired more than anything. It's like we're adapting to sides sussing our quick passing by slowing the game down instead and the players aren't quite used to it yet. Also think Hellberg made a mistake with the CB selection; Fry would have been perfect against yourselves and the "new Leicester" tonight and Ayling better against Oxford, who threatened less, but he selected them the other way round for whatever reason. Still maintain he's a good manager as his record speaks for itself, but he's certainly not infallible.

Hey ho, life goes on. The wobble will end at some point, then another run of wins would be nice as per.

You were bang in form having won 6 on the spin before playing us…

robbiethemole · Feb 24, 2026

Hahahah poor old Boro, fancy calling us 'bottlers' three weeks ago and yet here we are, they've played 3 games with massive possesion stats and only got 2 points and 2 goals. the old Manager of the Month curse is alive and kicking and Hellball just looks like a newer version of Carrickball, mind you, with Ayling, Conway and mardy arse Hackney, how could it be any different.

Ipad Boro · Feb 24, 2026

SKYBLUES90 said:
You were bang in form having won 6 on the spin before playing us…

Indeed. Then we went off the boil, just as we played you, not forgetting to refer to my point about you "performing out of your boots" against us. Your two games against us were the highest level you'd performed at by far, compared to every single one of the 14 games in between.

Plus the inevitable double jinx of playing you and that Manager of the Month award meaning we were doomed from kick-off off of course.

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 24, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I have us down to lose tomorrow, at Swansea and Watford. Backing us to win at Hull/Blackburn/Bristol C. Though if Watford’s slump continues I might revise that.

At home I think we actually have a challenging set of fixtures by and large. I can see us dropping points there but hopefully we pick up more results on the road to compensate.

We have challenging games at home but under Lampard our record has been flawless. In the league, we’ve lost 3 games at home? Burnley, Leeds and Ipswich, 5 in all competitions.

Despite Derby, Wrexham, Southampton, PNE being tough matches we’ve got to main that fortress status and get 4-5 wins from the remaining 7 at home. Likewise, we need about 3 wins from the away games.

We can ‘afford’ to lose 2-4 games for the rest of the season and we’ve already beaten 9 of our remaining 13 opponents.

If we win tomorrow, I’ll convinced we’ve 100% got over the mid-season slump we faced away from home.

DT-R · Feb 24, 2026

Ccfcisparks said:
boro away at Blues next is another tough game

Cant believe im saying this but..... Come on the bin bag boys!

Sent from my SM-S711B using Tapatalk

robbiethemole · Feb 24, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I have us down to lose tomorrow, at Swansea and Watford. Backing us to win at Hull/Blackburn/Bristol C. Though if Watford’s slump continues I might revise that.

At home I think we actually have a challenging set of fixtures by and large. I can see us dropping points there but hopefully we pick up more results on the road to compensate.

Why Swansea?? we beat them last year and they don't look like world beaters this, don't be so pessimistic, look on Boro's board, the Samaritans will be on suicide watch 24 tonight.

SafeAsMilk · Feb 24, 2026

Boros form has dipped since they started sucking their own cocks hasn’t it

sc1940 · Feb 24, 2026

robbiethemole said:
Why Swansea?? we beat them last year and they don't look like world beaters this, don't be so pessimistic, look on Boro's board, the Samaritans will be on suicide watch 24 tonight.

We will need to watch Vipotnik, he is dangerous.

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 24, 2026

Ipad Boro said:
Indeed. Then we went off the boil, just as we played you, not forgetting to refer to my point about you "performing out of your boots" against us. Your two games against us were the highest level you'd performed at by far, compared to every single one of the 14 games in between.

Plus the inevitable double jinx of playing you and that Manager of the Month award meaning we were doomed from kick-off off of course.

My personal view was that our slump was overplayed away from home.

What actually worried me was the 2 losses from winning positions v Norwich and QPR in the same week followed by drawing to Oxford at home. That was the real slump.

Our December away fixtures couldn’t get much harder from Stoke (15/11/25) throughout to Birmingham (04/01/26) - 5 of those 7 away games were against top half home form teams. Stoke and PNE were top 6 in home form and league position when we played them.

sc1940 · Feb 24, 2026

There was a good comment from FL a few days ago in one of his post-game interviews, I can't find in now, but words to the effect that we were feeling the pressure of being top, and it was affecting us, and it had happened to him as a player earlier in his career. He said that in the end you get used to the pressure and it stops having a negative effect, and we should look at our dip in form not in terms of throwing away a massive lead but the lead we had enabled us to (hopefully) come through it still in contention.

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 24, 2026

sc1940 said:
There was a good comment from FL a few days ago in one of his post-game interviews, I can't find in now, but words to the effect that we were feeling the pressure of being top, and it was affecting us, and it had happened to him as a player earlier in his career. He said that in the end you get used to the pressure and it stops having a negative effect, and we should look at our dip in form not in terms of throwing away a massive lead but the lead we had enabled us to (hopefully) come through it still in contention.

Losing top spot must’ve been a real kick up the backside for the squad. The opportunity to immediately take back top spot v Boro was the perfect motivation imo.

Also, adding a player like Onyeka to squad is a big boost. He is a Prem player and has immediately made an impact.

shepardo01 · Feb 24, 2026

Actually feel sorry for the guy;

Nick · Feb 24, 2026

shepardo01 said:
Actually feel sorry for the guy;

I don't, he will be getting a pay off and wasn't very good.

Dennis Lawrence gone too.

Ipad Boro · Feb 24, 2026

sc1940 said:
There was a good comment from FL a few days ago in one of his post-game interviews, I can't find in now, but words to the effect that we were feeling the pressure of being top, and it was affecting us, and it had happened to him as a player earlier in his career. He said that in the end you get used to the pressure and it stops having a negative effect, and we should look at our dip in form not in terms of throwing away a massive lead but the lead we had enabled us to (hopefully) come through it still in contention.

I'd said something similar, most of your supposed "long slump" was just form not quite as good as that previous (which it was never going to be)

Your actual real slump was 4 games counting the cup game, the same as our christmas one only starting 2 games later.

shepardo01 · Feb 24, 2026

Nick said:
I don't, he will be getting a pay off and wasn't very good

Lawrence gone with him.

Moved over from the States (to West Bromwich!!) and they're done after about six weeks!!

Liquid Gold · Feb 24, 2026

Ipad Boro said:
Your two games against us were the highest level you'd performed at by far

We beat QPR 7-1, Millwall (A) 4-0 and Sheffield Wed 5-0

sc1940 · Feb 24, 2026

West Brom have some difficult fixtures coming up including Southampton, Hull, Millwall, and Ipswich as well as some relegation 6 pointers

fernandopartridge · Feb 24, 2026

shepardo01 said:
Actually feel sorry for the guy;

An absolutely bizarre appointment really, as each of the last three they've made have been. I bet Dennis Lawrence is a bit pissed off.

Liquid Gold · Feb 24, 2026

Great timing after we've played them and they still have some of our rivals to play.

Hopefully the new man can shape them up and they can do us some favours.

wingy · Feb 25, 2026

mrtrench said:
You've rounded that off. Pleegive us the full number.

The Beast.

wingy · Feb 25, 2026

Nick said:
I don't, he will be getting a pay off and wasn't very good.

Dennis Lawrence gone too.

Get him in for them remainder of the seson, shouldn't be too expensive.

clint van damme · Feb 25, 2026

Mucca Mad Boys said:
My personal view was that our slump was overplayed away from home.

What actually worried me was the 2 losses from winning positions v Norwich and QPR in the same week followed by drawing to Oxford at home. That was the real slump.

Our December away fixtures couldn’t get much harder from Stoke (15/11/25) throughout to Birmingham (04/01/26) - 5 of those 7 away games were against top half home form teams. Stoke and PNE were top 6 in home form and league position when we played them.

Sorry, but the 2 draws from winning positions in that run, one against 10 men, were also very poor results and contributed to people, rightly, calling it a slump away.

I wasn't overly concerned by Oxford. When you're a team who has a strong home record you'll always get the odd result like that, opposition comes, parts the bus and you can't find a way through, it happens.

SkyBlueStallion_89 · Feb 25, 2026

clint van damme said:
Sorry, but the 2 draws from winning positions in that run, one against 10 men, were also very poor results and contributed to people, rightly, calling it a slump away.

I wasn't overly concerned by Oxford. When you're a team who has a strong home record you'll always get the odd result like that, opposition comes, parts the bus and you can't find a way through, it happens.

Showed at Boro also, in fact Oxford could of got all 3 as they hit the bar and post first half and if Lankshear hadn't stepped on the ball and tripped that could of been another chance, they defended really well in both games

PVA · Feb 25, 2026

West Brom have been appalling, absolutely zero threat going forwards and playing really shit football.

Brighton Sky Blue · Feb 25, 2026

robbiethemole said:
Why Swansea?? we beat them last year and they don't look like world beaters this, don't be so pessimistic, look on Boro's board, the Samaritans will be on suicide watch 24 tonight.

The username ‘Stupid Sexy Strelec’ has made me chuckle but the same poster has also snuck in a brilliant ‘Der Untergang’ reference on there. My kind of guy.

BackRoomRummermill · Feb 25, 2026

we will be mathematically promoted on 11th April - save the date

Shannerz · Feb 25, 2026

Liquid Gold said:
We beat QPR 7-1, Millwall (A) 4-0 and Sheffield Wed 5-0

Tbf, he says better than the games those two against Middlesbrough sandwiched, which is true.

clint van damme · Feb 25, 2026

BackRoomRummermill said:
we will be mathematically promoted on 11th April - save the date

Would need to be 13 points ahead, big ask

torchomatic · Feb 25, 2026

Boro forum mirrors ours post Oxford. "Bottled it", "all over", etc etc.

Of course it's not. Twats.

Saddlebrains · Feb 25, 2026

BackRoomRummermill said:
we will be mathematically promoted on 11th April - save the date

Na, we wont be 13 clear of 3rd by then

2 games later for me Pompey Home 21st April.

skyblu3sk · Feb 25, 2026

Ipad Boro said:
Indeed. Then we went off the boil, just as we played you, not forgetting to refer to my point about you "performing out of your boots" against us. Your two games against us were the highest level you'd performed at by far, compared to every single one of the 14 games in between.

Plus the inevitable double jinx of playing you and that Manager of the Month award meaning we were doomed from kick-off off of course.

Welcome to going top, it had been happening to us for months, every team sees you as a scalp they want rather than just another game. It's obvious going in to 2nd for a week was a great kick up the arse for us. Long may that continue. You need to find a plan B which is what Frank has been working on. Mixing up the passing again like at the start of the season seems to be doing the job for us all of a sudden teams pressing lose a bit of confidence as we are happy to go long or short.

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