Blues 1-3 Middlesbrough


Starting XI

Three changes. Dion Sanderson injured. Troy Deeney and Emmanuel Longelo dropped. Jordan James, Jordan Graham and Lukas Jutkiewicz in. George Friend on the bench. Hannibal up front. Chong and James in CM.


Game

Not much in the way of chances as Blues frustrated Boro. A Giles-Howson 1-2 led to the former crossing for Akpom. Header deflected wide. Friend, on as a substitute, denied Forss after some patient play. Jutkiewicz did well to control a Bacuna pass and fired over from 30 yards.

Second half started in the same vein, Boro moving the ball, Blues trying to halt them. There were signs of tired minds, Graham switching off to let Forss in, who was denied by Ruddy. Then came the opener.

A short throw on the right was taken under no pressure. Laid back with no pressure. Laid back to Howson with no pressure. And the ball to the back post was headed in by Crooks under no pressure, Bacuna and Friend failing to communicate. Two minutes later, Friend miscontrolled a high ball and let Crooks in on goal. He finished.

Blues made a quadruple hange but it didn't have the desired effect, Crooks flicking a cross into Ruddy before Longelo was beaten easily and the move ended with Hackney firing at Ruddy.

We pulled a goal back. Leko did well to control and turn in the middle before laying to Deeney. His back post delivery found Jutkiewicz who nodded down for Chong. Boro halted momentum after that, not giving Blues the chance to build. It worked and they were able to kill the game off, Crooks getting the better of a duel with Trusty before teeing up Akpom through the legs of Friend.


Tactics

3-1-4-2 vs 4-2-3-1.

Boro trying to build from the back. Two routes. Either as a three with Smith tucking in with Forss and Giles dropping in to offer a wide option. Or Giles tucks in to an ordinary LB position with Smith wider. Midfield two always available as an option, dropping in and also bringing Blues midfield with them. Steffen always available. Him and Howson sharp with one touch play.

Blues' attempt to stop this are much better. Chong v Smith. Graham v Forss. Bacuna v Giles, albeit the sharpness of the challenge depends on how deep Giles drops, to make sure he can support if the pass goes long. James or Hannibal close Lenihan with the other supporting in closing the midfield two. Once the ball shifts across the rest of the team are narrowing to close the midfield two and force the quick pass, hoping they can nick it and go.

Akpom allowed to stay free in general play. Doesn't get involved. Once the ball goes wide, he comes alive, either getting across the front or round the back of Crooks to make sure there is another option. Big job for Colin.

Boro happy to let Blues move wide then try and play. When ball comes infield, their midfield are set and ready to break. Akpom immediately in cheating position. Forss too with Graham unable to run. Happy with cross with Fry and Lenihan in there.

Second half subs. Eustace made a quadruple sub. We moved to a diamond with Colin and Longelo at FB, Bellingham and Chong flanking Bielik with Leko in behind Deeney and Jutkiewicz.

Carrick made subs late on. Not quite like-for-like but positions the same. Bola played LM with Giles behind him, McNair for Akpom behind Crooks.


Players

Blues weren't terrible, we just weren't great. A lot of effort but little quality. I felt Colin had a solid game and stuck to his task. Bielik was solid in the centre. Leko had a bright game when he came on and at least started running at Boro.

For Boro, Howson was excellent. Never gave the ball away. Untroubled in possession. Always found the outlet and quickly. Superb. Crooks scored two and got the assist for the third, justifying his place up top.


Anything else?

I had to laugh at the enthusiasm of George Friend. On in the middle of the back three. First game since August. Within five minutes, Blues are breaking from a corner and when the ball from Chong came across, it was him at the back ready for a mistake. Brilliant.


Wrapping it up...

We've not been good since we returned. This also felt like a game too far in six days for a depleted side.

The issue we have is that we have such a small squad that even 4/5 injuries can leave us in a desperate position. We're not like others in the division with 22+ senior players so that, most of the time, injuries don't bite. We're only missing three of our first XI today but with three others also out, it left us weakened.

I don't want to go too big on today. We did okay. The shape and structure was there. The appetite was there for the turnover. We just lacked real belief in our play. We didn't have the players, the physicality, the quality, the options from the bench to really match the quality of a very good Boro side.

There's no point getting too down. It's been a poor Christmas period. We've been second best in all three matches and are crying out for some returning players.

Our next game is the FA Cup trip to Forest Green Rovers. I'd be surprised if Deeney, Bielik, Bacuna, Hannibal, Longelo, Chong and Ruddy turn up for that one. If Hogan and Dean are fit, I wouldn't be surprised if they're given an extra week and maybe a less competitive game to come back into. I wouldn't be surprised to see Colin and Trusty play. Gardner and Hall possibly return. Graham, Friend, James, Bellingham, Leko and Jutkiewicz are likely involved. The rest is probably made up of the kids. It won't be the priority for Eustace because we need to make sure we have a team to field at Bristol City the week after.

A chance to refresh and hopefully get back to our normal selves when we return to league action. 

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