01-17-2026, 05:34 PM
One forum 59 pages. Definitely the chattiest fans so far!
***Pre Match***
[Someone's used ChatGPT in the style of Bob Mortimer to write a pre-match summary, with the excuse that they are too excited about Boro's transfer business to do it themselves.]
We head to The Hawthorns, a place that always feels slightly stern, like a headmaster who’s been told to “loosen up” and now allows clapping on birthdays. West Bromwich Albion await, organised and upright, but perhaps about to encounter a Middlesbrough side that’s been given permission to have a go.
[While another forum features someone having an imaginary conversation with someone called Eric (not Ramsay)]
West Bromwich Albion Players to Watch:
Aune Heggebo – striker: The 24 year old Norwegian international signed for West Brom in July 2025 and has scored 8 goals in 26 appearances so far this season. Strong on the ball, can hold up play for his teammates as well as having an eye for goal. Has a decent left foot and can head it as well, as we found out in September.
Samuel Iling- Junior – wing/wing back. The versatile 22 year old is a player well-known to Boro fans. He was arguably unlucky to come on loan to Boro at a time when the team was in something of a slump but I felt that there is a good player in there if it all “clicks” for him. As we know it tends to “click” for former players when they face us.
Jed Wallace – right winger. The influential 31 year old club captain is back from a calf injury which has kept him out for much of the season so far, and scored in last Sunday’s win at Swansea. His return should give the Baggies a boost.
4-0 to the boro
probs perfect time to play this team given the new manager was only announced yesterday, and most managers don't get 3 points in their first game
Feels like this will be a tight game that will be decided on whether we take our chances or not. Theyll definitely sit back in the first half and try to nab a goal.
Although it doesn't feel like it, we have a decent recent record at the Hawthorns and they'll be coming to terms with a change of manager in the middle of what has been a really disappointing season. I thought they would be genuine playoff contenders this season as they looked to have recruited well and had seemed to have come out from under a massive financial burden from relegation... As it is, I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win to us.
Going to be a good test and certainly WBA will not want a double recorded against them by Boro
Be an interesting game with their new manager, hopefully he tries to be to clever and get his system implemented. If he messes it up we will take them apart.
Apparently this Ramsey guy likes to play very defensive/low block formation - not what we like to come up against
West Brom are very good at home and haven't lost by more than one goal there all season. I would expect them to try to score first and then shut up shop, a tactic that works very well against us.
I'd keep the team from Fulham largely unchanged but with Castledine starting on the bench, and bring him on 2nd half if we're struggling to break down WBA's low block.
[Ramsay video]
Will someone tell this fella he needs to blink!?
Stop looking at me like that, creep.
[That how Ramsay might set up video]
Bit of an insight into how Ramsay might set up WBA
They will set up to frustrate I am sure. New manager will want to avoid defeat first and foremost.. .In all honesty I think we could be 3-0 up at half time.
WBA 0-6 Boro
Malanda V Heggebo should be interesting. He caused a lot of problems in the reverse fixture. Hopefully Malanda will lock him down.
- He didn’t start their last game
West Brom away isn't a fixture that normally fills Boro fans with hope & positivity. Hoping we can go against the grain and come away with a decent result for once.
Pros: the Baggies aren't in great form at the moment and Boro can be very effective when our forward line clicks.
Cons: History and the always-possible "typical Boro" performance. Will a Friday night under the lights put us off our game?
Their manager did very well at Minnesota apparently but no idea what to expect
They’ve got a great squad on paper
3 strikers all a handful when fit
- Let's hope he is from the Wilfried Nancy Playbook style of Management.
Don't think I've ever seen a Manager look so out of his depth, clearly success in the MLS doesn't equate to having a clue what to do in real football.
- There's a good boro breakdown podcast opposition show on him.
Apparently he played quite defensive counterattacking football in the US, no idea if it will be the same at West Brom though. Hellberg basically said we will play our own game and adapt to their style
I think we will draw 1-1
3-0 Boro tonight, I'm ITK
Really depends on how good Ramsey actually is imo, he’s no mug but it’s still his first game at this level. We’ve seen it so many times these hipster managers turn up with their system and get humbled.
Will he try to implement his style in full and straight away? Or does he do it gradually as Hellberg has done?
I think there is a 25% chance we batter them because of this but more likely it will be a very tight game as I think he will focus on getting the defence right first.
Let’s be real tho WBA are down at the bottom, we really should have confidence and we should be winning if we want to stay 2nd. 2-0 to us im saying
m ITK 2 - 1 Boro tonight
A number of players who played for both team
1904/06 Bill Davies - Signed from West Brom Bill played 12 games without scoring
1914/20 Albert Davies - Signed from West Brom he only featured in two games, one league game ironically away at West Brom & a 9-3 FAC win over Goole Town, he failed to score in either
1946/50 Stan Rickaby - Over 4 seasons he only played 10 games, without scoring but his claim to fame was signing golden boy Wilf Mannion for non league Poole Town, Mannion had been banned from football for comments in his newspaper article but Richaby persuaded him to sign for Poole. Signed for West Brom from Boro
1969/79 & 1984/85 David Mills - First half million pound footballer made 398 appearances over two spells for the Boro, scoring 111 goals. Played for West Brom between 1979/83
1989 Mark Barham - 4 games for Boro when signed by Bruce Rioch. Signed for West Brom after Boro
1991 & 1998 Andy Dibble - Two separate loan spells when he became our 47th GK & our 11th loaned player & 55th GK & 25th loaned player when loaned from Man City both times. Loaned to West Brom in 1992
1994/97 Bryan Robson - Player manager at the Boro, made 26 appearances, scoring the one goal & becoming our oldest goalscorer & one time oldest debutant. Played for West Brom who sold him to Man Utd in 1981
1994/97 Alan Miller - Became our 51st GK when signed from Arsenal in 1994 for the start of the season under Robbo he became the main keeper over the next 18 months playing 64 games. Alan had three spells at Albion, on loan from Arsenal in 1991, on loan from Boro in 97, then signing permanently
1997/99 Andy Townsend - Signed for Boro under Robbo & was instrumental is under winning promotion, playing in a cup final & consolidating in the PL making 88 appearances, scoring 4 goals. Signed for West Brom from Boro
2000/06 Ugo Ehiogu - Started out at West Brom. Made 159 appearances, for Boro scoring 8 goals, as with Ugo alongside Gareth we achieved our highest PL finish & winning a major trophy
2001/04 Jonathan Greening - Played 109 games, scoring 4 goals, signed for West Brom from Boro
2002/04 Chris Brunt - Signed a professional contract at Boro but never played a game. In 2007 he signed for West Brom
2003/07 James Morrison - Our first away EUFA goalscorer. 97 appearances, 8 goals. Signed for West Brom in 2007 for £2.5m
2012/13 Ishmael Miller - Played for West Brom between 2007/2011 Became our 56th loaned player - Loaned from Nottm Forest - 34th at the Riverside
2014 Nathanial Chalobah - Became our 61st loaned player when loaned from Chelsea - 39th at the Riverside, playing 19 games, scoring the one goal. Played for West Brom in season 2023/24
2018/24 Paddy McNair - Scored on his Boro debut playing 219 games, 4 goals. In 2024 he signed for SanDiego FC who later loaned him out to West Brom
2021/23 Luke Daniels - Started out at West Brom. Became our 82nd GK when signed from Brentford, playing 12 games
2022 Marcus Forss - Started out at West Brom in 2012/17. Played 65 games, scoring 17 goals so far
2022/23 Alex Mowatt - 108th loaned player when loaned from WBA - 75th at the Riverside
2022/25 Matt Calrke - 44 games, 3 goals. On loan at West Brom before he signed for Boro
2023/24 Morgan Rodgers - WBA academy without playing, 33 games, 7 goals, before he left he was the league cups top goalscorer
2024/25 Samuel Iling-Junior - Became our 120th loaned signing when loaned from Aston Villa - 87th at the Riverside. Signed for West Brom 2025
2-0 Boro, Malanda header and Castledine off the mark in his first game
Westbrom have a weak midfield due to injuries we have got too take advantage of it
We’re going to be up against a low block here i can tell - this guy likes to keep things tight. I just hope we can score first.
WBA playing 5 at the back going to be a hard slog to get chances
Iling-Junior at LWB. Presumably he'll be up against Whittaker?
That Johnson fella on the wing seemed to cause us no end of problems last time when he came on. Hope Targett can let him know he’s there early on
- Is he playing wing or no 10 though, think he's got close to most assists in the division so far. I was thinking he could have been a player of interest to us.
***First Half***
Boy we got lucky then
Yikes - that was a let-off!
WBA on top now Boro looking a tad nervy
Looks like the new manager has given them a big boost
Really need to wake up they are bossing us
Boro need to re-assert a bit of control here. WBA having far too much of the ball in our half.
They look very compact and hard to play through
They have changed their system and look dangerous immediately. We haven’t been good in possession but they have thus far
I don't like how we're just jogging around, doing all these short passes and taking ages to get up the pitch.
Gives the Baggies defence all the time they need to get organised and we run into a black & white wall every time.
- Blue and white!
- I'm watching on a PC monitor - maybe I need to adjust the colour settings!
They look like a Poundstretcher Newcastle to me.
We're making it easy for WBA to shuffle back into a very solid defensive shape
Horrible team with horrible tactics. Need to find a way to overcome this though as it’s happening most weeks now.
- Hopefully you're talking about West Brom here.
- Park the Bus FC
- If you look at the last five league games we’ve had though parking the bus has worked against us so it makes sense to play this way. It’s up to us to figure how to break this kind of play fown
Still believe we should have retained Illing Jnr
The league has a new anti football terrorist like
but we’re not playing well
All comments about us being poor but genuinely think we are trying to play those vertical balls we are used to. They look very compact in defence and dangerous on the counter.
Imagine playing like this at home
Who’s this ? ? commentating. Apparently we’re getting battered ?♂️
Is this commentator a moron?
Endless praise of West Brom and Ramsey
Ermm were literally sat on the edge of their box the entire game mate
Only team trying to win
They’re sat in praying we don’t score and they can nick some scraggly little set piece rebound goal eventually
Terrorism.
Commentators im listening to are praising WBA for not conceding so far, dont think they realise how many missing from our attack.
- They've got a new manager so there's more focus on them that's all.
These look so setup to absorb pressure and just sucker punch us on the break. Looks like they’ll succeed as well, we look too slow in passing helping them to get back in sit and wait for us to lose the ball again.
- Yes I think the plan is to be solid and hope for something on the break, will be interesting to see what happens if we score first and how quickly the crowd turn
I’m sure the sky bloke is a Sunderland fan isn’t he? Can’t remember his name but it’s the co commentator I think Don Goodman?
- Yeah it's Don Goodman, who did play for Sunderland, and indeed West Brom.
Home fans are silent. WBA sitting in their own third. It's fine to do if they get the first goal on the break but don't think the home fans will be happy if we do.
These commentators are desperate for a West Brom goal. They seem to have no idea what is going on
If it continues like this I think the crowd will stay to turn on them. It’s attack be defense atm
That’s two important stops from Brynn.
(Which is weird as West Brom are playing anti football parking the bus and not trying. )
0 - 1
At least West Brom are going to avoid the 3 point deduction for sitting back now
Oh no - its just a really unlucky OG as the ball cannons off the defender and beats his own keeper.
Haha get in! Now sit back you horrible buggars.
Thankyou Charlie Taylor
- Good finish that. I wonder how much they'd want for him
Oh well if we can't score at least their defenders can sort us out
Good effort Illing Jnr
Impressive looking effort from Iling Jr but comfortably wide.
***Half Time***
The crowd will get on WBAs back if they dont show some ambition in the 2nd half
- They have had as many shots as us just as many on target and arguably the better chances.
West Brom season tickets should come with free counselling sessions. They are absolutely diabolical to watch. We deserve the lead even though we've been stuck in second gear throughout. Let's hope we don't balls this up now...
Need to wash my eyes after that.
Parking the bus at home. Rank.
Thank god they crashed it
Needed that. Longer it went on I was thinking we are gonna struggle to break them down
Not the most thrilling 45 minutes of football, as WBA frustrated Boro with a very well-drilled defence, giving us very little time or space to create chances, until the last 5 minutes or so.
Don't think Baggies fans will put up with parking the bus at home for very long.
Hope the ref gonna pull em up with these tactical fouls in the middle o the park too.
Eric Ramsey claiming to be very flexible with what formation he uses but plays 5 at the back in his first game, sounds very familiar
Everyone sees things differently, but as a home team under a new manager, IMO they've been extremely negative and obdurate. They've had a couple of decent counters, but it's very thin gruel for Baggies fans. And they're awful away from home, so this is as good as it gets for them.
- Completely accept it’s possible to see the game differently. He’s known for being very pragmatic (apparently). I just thought in the first 20 mins their breaks looked very dangerous and their tactics worked better. But hoping we can kick on in the second half.
Yeah, I don't think they played well, but West Brom definitely threatened more than we did.
They might decide to hold their nerve and keep the low block and look for the break. It nearly worked for them in the first 45.
They were more dangerous in the first 20, weve been on top since then. Deserved lead.
Great to be one up but West Brom will kill football if they stick to these tactics for the rest of the season, effectively eight at the back at home and try and score from a set piece. I know the Baggies fans and at this rate this new bloke won’t last the season out.
- He’s been there 5 days
It'll probably take him a few games to figure out his best line-up.
Hope for the Baggies fans he can be more adventurous...
Is it just me or is that Eric Ramsay basically Daniel Ayala's twin?
- I was thinking he's got a bit of Mikel Arteta about him. Lets hope he's not as good!
***Second Half***
Just put some money on wba win. We have regressed to a negative plod
0 - 2
Maja and Wallace coming on. uh oh.
Jed Wallace. Now where have I heard that name before?
Well saved Brynn game opened up now dangerous free kick edge of the box for WBA
Thank *** for no VAR
That was a pen. Silvera very very stupid there.
And that should be a pen.
Clear pen
West Brom looking dangerous last 5. A goal here would make things very nervy
1 - 2
Ffs.
Probably justice as that was definitely a penalty.
Excellent strike and probably fair given that it was a pen. Worried now
Shoulda been a pen. Good goal
Well executed free kick but that’s let them back into a game where we should have been comfortable
All over us now. We have tanked.
2 - 2
Ah Jed Wallace. Had to be.
Could tell when the subs came on. Maja has dropped into space and we have completely gassed.
Easy for them. They deserve that we have completely stopped playing
they've been the ones running all game trying to close down constantly.
Look at the difference WBA get the ball and move it forward with multiple runners we get it and stop then pass back. Wait for WBA to get set then start to push it around.
Brilliant keeping from Brynn.
Brynn saving Boro's bacon again there!
We have really gone to pot all over the park. No control over the game at all.
Side to side no pace passing against quick one touch attacking passing, I wonder which is the more threatening!!
How is styles still on the pitch??? Ref has been far too lenient tonight
2 - 3
***Post Match***
Brynn my MOTM made some really important saves.
Only West Broms 2nd home defeat of the season.
5 wins in a row against WBA, btw
Also absolute karma for them with the late sucker punch. They ought to be ashamed setting up to park the bus and counter at home.
Between two teams that were below par for most of the game, I would say we were the better, if not by a huge amount.
We got a bit of luck with the opening goal, with the WBA defender being in the right place, at the right time to bundle in the rebound from Gilbert's shot. Our other 2 goals came from genuine quality play.
Whereas West Brom benefitted from Boro giving away a freekick in a dangerous position (that probably should have been a pen), plus some horrendous defending that allowed the ball to roll across the box, onto the feet of Wallace.
There weren’t many obvious glaring misses there, and they did a good job of marking Whittaker out of the game as our obvious threat.
we didn’t k ow what to expect and West Brom worked hard, our midfield struggled when they changed formation.
Boro yet to drop a point from a winning position this season.
Christ. Watching the West Brom gaffers interview.
Blink FFS. This blokes clearly an Alien.
Excellent win that, was always going to be a difficult game against a new manager and West Brom have some decent players
West Brom have some decent players yet set up like a non league side vs a premier league side. That’s not going to be popular for long if they don’t get some decent results
Amongst all the commotion wasn’t that a great 2 footed goal saving challenge by Brynn
As for West Brom thought they were terrible first half. Low block at home.! Wouldn’t want a season ticket watching that and only really played when they were 2-0 down.
West Brom fan said we are the best passing team they have seen and they hate what Hackney does to them every season.
I thought we were pretty crap for long periods. More so to do with west brom being totally dog. setting up with two banks of 5 at home against us. how bad is that. it's bad enough bristol city doing it. but west brom have been a decent side until recently. they have faded so bad. Maybe our team were bored to sleep because it was so easy and allowed them to claw it back. lol. anyhow, we upped a gear and got the winner.
Its hard to know if WBA sat back after 2-2 or if it was our change of shape that sort of forced them to change again. Maybe a combo. I dont think they choosed to sit back against us
I went in to the game thinking this was going to be a difficult game.
1 As indifferent as they been, WBA have a very good home record.
2. Then there was the whole new manager and us not really having anything to go off in terms of what their tactics would be.
^These two aspects really told in first 25 mins as we struggled to get to grips with them.
Add to the above we had some big players missing - Brittain, Jones, McGree and Strelec would all start if fit
Yes we were not perfect but I think when you consider all the above, we did very well to go there and come home with 3pts.
I think what also helped us was Mowatt and Molumby missing for them. It allowed Hackney and Morris to gain control pf middle of the park after 30 minutes of them being on top.
It was a tricky game so glad we can move on woth 3pts in the bag
***Pre Match***
[Someone's used ChatGPT in the style of Bob Mortimer to write a pre-match summary, with the excuse that they are too excited about Boro's transfer business to do it themselves.]
We head to The Hawthorns, a place that always feels slightly stern, like a headmaster who’s been told to “loosen up” and now allows clapping on birthdays. West Bromwich Albion await, organised and upright, but perhaps about to encounter a Middlesbrough side that’s been given permission to have a go.
[While another forum features someone having an imaginary conversation with someone called Eric (not Ramsay)]
West Bromwich Albion Players to Watch:
Aune Heggebo – striker: The 24 year old Norwegian international signed for West Brom in July 2025 and has scored 8 goals in 26 appearances so far this season. Strong on the ball, can hold up play for his teammates as well as having an eye for goal. Has a decent left foot and can head it as well, as we found out in September.
Samuel Iling- Junior – wing/wing back. The versatile 22 year old is a player well-known to Boro fans. He was arguably unlucky to come on loan to Boro at a time when the team was in something of a slump but I felt that there is a good player in there if it all “clicks” for him. As we know it tends to “click” for former players when they face us.
Jed Wallace – right winger. The influential 31 year old club captain is back from a calf injury which has kept him out for much of the season so far, and scored in last Sunday’s win at Swansea. His return should give the Baggies a boost.
4-0 to the boro
probs perfect time to play this team given the new manager was only announced yesterday, and most managers don't get 3 points in their first game
Feels like this will be a tight game that will be decided on whether we take our chances or not. Theyll definitely sit back in the first half and try to nab a goal.
Although it doesn't feel like it, we have a decent recent record at the Hawthorns and they'll be coming to terms with a change of manager in the middle of what has been a really disappointing season. I thought they would be genuine playoff contenders this season as they looked to have recruited well and had seemed to have come out from under a massive financial burden from relegation... As it is, I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win to us.
Going to be a good test and certainly WBA will not want a double recorded against them by Boro
Be an interesting game with their new manager, hopefully he tries to be to clever and get his system implemented. If he messes it up we will take them apart.
Apparently this Ramsey guy likes to play very defensive/low block formation - not what we like to come up against
West Brom are very good at home and haven't lost by more than one goal there all season. I would expect them to try to score first and then shut up shop, a tactic that works very well against us.
I'd keep the team from Fulham largely unchanged but with Castledine starting on the bench, and bring him on 2nd half if we're struggling to break down WBA's low block.
[Ramsay video]
Will someone tell this fella he needs to blink!?
Stop looking at me like that, creep.
[That how Ramsay might set up video]
Bit of an insight into how Ramsay might set up WBA
They will set up to frustrate I am sure. New manager will want to avoid defeat first and foremost.. .In all honesty I think we could be 3-0 up at half time.
WBA 0-6 Boro
Malanda V Heggebo should be interesting. He caused a lot of problems in the reverse fixture. Hopefully Malanda will lock him down.
- He didn’t start their last game
West Brom away isn't a fixture that normally fills Boro fans with hope & positivity. Hoping we can go against the grain and come away with a decent result for once.
Pros: the Baggies aren't in great form at the moment and Boro can be very effective when our forward line clicks.
Cons: History and the always-possible "typical Boro" performance. Will a Friday night under the lights put us off our game?
Their manager did very well at Minnesota apparently but no idea what to expect
They’ve got a great squad on paper
3 strikers all a handful when fit
- Let's hope he is from the Wilfried Nancy Playbook style of Management.
Don't think I've ever seen a Manager look so out of his depth, clearly success in the MLS doesn't equate to having a clue what to do in real football.
- There's a good boro breakdown podcast opposition show on him.
Apparently he played quite defensive counterattacking football in the US, no idea if it will be the same at West Brom though. Hellberg basically said we will play our own game and adapt to their style
I think we will draw 1-1
3-0 Boro tonight, I'm ITK
Really depends on how good Ramsey actually is imo, he’s no mug but it’s still his first game at this level. We’ve seen it so many times these hipster managers turn up with their system and get humbled.
Will he try to implement his style in full and straight away? Or does he do it gradually as Hellberg has done?
I think there is a 25% chance we batter them because of this but more likely it will be a very tight game as I think he will focus on getting the defence right first.
Let’s be real tho WBA are down at the bottom, we really should have confidence and we should be winning if we want to stay 2nd. 2-0 to us im saying
m ITK 2 - 1 Boro tonight
A number of players who played for both team
1904/06 Bill Davies - Signed from West Brom Bill played 12 games without scoring
1914/20 Albert Davies - Signed from West Brom he only featured in two games, one league game ironically away at West Brom & a 9-3 FAC win over Goole Town, he failed to score in either
1946/50 Stan Rickaby - Over 4 seasons he only played 10 games, without scoring but his claim to fame was signing golden boy Wilf Mannion for non league Poole Town, Mannion had been banned from football for comments in his newspaper article but Richaby persuaded him to sign for Poole. Signed for West Brom from Boro
1969/79 & 1984/85 David Mills - First half million pound footballer made 398 appearances over two spells for the Boro, scoring 111 goals. Played for West Brom between 1979/83
1989 Mark Barham - 4 games for Boro when signed by Bruce Rioch. Signed for West Brom after Boro
1991 & 1998 Andy Dibble - Two separate loan spells when he became our 47th GK & our 11th loaned player & 55th GK & 25th loaned player when loaned from Man City both times. Loaned to West Brom in 1992
1994/97 Bryan Robson - Player manager at the Boro, made 26 appearances, scoring the one goal & becoming our oldest goalscorer & one time oldest debutant. Played for West Brom who sold him to Man Utd in 1981
1994/97 Alan Miller - Became our 51st GK when signed from Arsenal in 1994 for the start of the season under Robbo he became the main keeper over the next 18 months playing 64 games. Alan had three spells at Albion, on loan from Arsenal in 1991, on loan from Boro in 97, then signing permanently
1997/99 Andy Townsend - Signed for Boro under Robbo & was instrumental is under winning promotion, playing in a cup final & consolidating in the PL making 88 appearances, scoring 4 goals. Signed for West Brom from Boro
2000/06 Ugo Ehiogu - Started out at West Brom. Made 159 appearances, for Boro scoring 8 goals, as with Ugo alongside Gareth we achieved our highest PL finish & winning a major trophy
2001/04 Jonathan Greening - Played 109 games, scoring 4 goals, signed for West Brom from Boro
2002/04 Chris Brunt - Signed a professional contract at Boro but never played a game. In 2007 he signed for West Brom
2003/07 James Morrison - Our first away EUFA goalscorer. 97 appearances, 8 goals. Signed for West Brom in 2007 for £2.5m
2012/13 Ishmael Miller - Played for West Brom between 2007/2011 Became our 56th loaned player - Loaned from Nottm Forest - 34th at the Riverside
2014 Nathanial Chalobah - Became our 61st loaned player when loaned from Chelsea - 39th at the Riverside, playing 19 games, scoring the one goal. Played for West Brom in season 2023/24
2018/24 Paddy McNair - Scored on his Boro debut playing 219 games, 4 goals. In 2024 he signed for SanDiego FC who later loaned him out to West Brom
2021/23 Luke Daniels - Started out at West Brom. Became our 82nd GK when signed from Brentford, playing 12 games
2022 Marcus Forss - Started out at West Brom in 2012/17. Played 65 games, scoring 17 goals so far
2022/23 Alex Mowatt - 108th loaned player when loaned from WBA - 75th at the Riverside
2022/25 Matt Calrke - 44 games, 3 goals. On loan at West Brom before he signed for Boro
2023/24 Morgan Rodgers - WBA academy without playing, 33 games, 7 goals, before he left he was the league cups top goalscorer
2024/25 Samuel Iling-Junior - Became our 120th loaned signing when loaned from Aston Villa - 87th at the Riverside. Signed for West Brom 2025
2-0 Boro, Malanda header and Castledine off the mark in his first game
Westbrom have a weak midfield due to injuries we have got too take advantage of it
We’re going to be up against a low block here i can tell - this guy likes to keep things tight. I just hope we can score first.
WBA playing 5 at the back going to be a hard slog to get chances
Iling-Junior at LWB. Presumably he'll be up against Whittaker?
That Johnson fella on the wing seemed to cause us no end of problems last time when he came on. Hope Targett can let him know he’s there early on
- Is he playing wing or no 10 though, think he's got close to most assists in the division so far. I was thinking he could have been a player of interest to us.
***First Half***
Boy we got lucky then
Yikes - that was a let-off!
WBA on top now Boro looking a tad nervy
Looks like the new manager has given them a big boost
Really need to wake up they are bossing us
Boro need to re-assert a bit of control here. WBA having far too much of the ball in our half.
They look very compact and hard to play through
They have changed their system and look dangerous immediately. We haven’t been good in possession but they have thus far
I don't like how we're just jogging around, doing all these short passes and taking ages to get up the pitch.
Gives the Baggies defence all the time they need to get organised and we run into a black & white wall every time.
- Blue and white!
- I'm watching on a PC monitor - maybe I need to adjust the colour settings!
They look like a Poundstretcher Newcastle to me.
We're making it easy for WBA to shuffle back into a very solid defensive shape
Horrible team with horrible tactics. Need to find a way to overcome this though as it’s happening most weeks now.
- Hopefully you're talking about West Brom here.
- Park the Bus FC
- If you look at the last five league games we’ve had though parking the bus has worked against us so it makes sense to play this way. It’s up to us to figure how to break this kind of play fown
Still believe we should have retained Illing Jnr
The league has a new anti football terrorist like
but we’re not playing well
All comments about us being poor but genuinely think we are trying to play those vertical balls we are used to. They look very compact in defence and dangerous on the counter.
Imagine playing like this at home
Who’s this ? ? commentating. Apparently we’re getting battered ?♂️
Is this commentator a moron?
Endless praise of West Brom and Ramsey
Ermm were literally sat on the edge of their box the entire game mate
Only team trying to win
They’re sat in praying we don’t score and they can nick some scraggly little set piece rebound goal eventually
Terrorism.
Commentators im listening to are praising WBA for not conceding so far, dont think they realise how many missing from our attack.
- They've got a new manager so there's more focus on them that's all.
These look so setup to absorb pressure and just sucker punch us on the break. Looks like they’ll succeed as well, we look too slow in passing helping them to get back in sit and wait for us to lose the ball again.
- Yes I think the plan is to be solid and hope for something on the break, will be interesting to see what happens if we score first and how quickly the crowd turn
I’m sure the sky bloke is a Sunderland fan isn’t he? Can’t remember his name but it’s the co commentator I think Don Goodman?
- Yeah it's Don Goodman, who did play for Sunderland, and indeed West Brom.
Home fans are silent. WBA sitting in their own third. It's fine to do if they get the first goal on the break but don't think the home fans will be happy if we do.
These commentators are desperate for a West Brom goal. They seem to have no idea what is going on
If it continues like this I think the crowd will stay to turn on them. It’s attack be defense atm
That’s two important stops from Brynn.
(Which is weird as West Brom are playing anti football parking the bus and not trying. )
0 - 1
At least West Brom are going to avoid the 3 point deduction for sitting back now
Oh no - its just a really unlucky OG as the ball cannons off the defender and beats his own keeper.
Haha get in! Now sit back you horrible buggars.
Thankyou Charlie Taylor
- Good finish that. I wonder how much they'd want for him
Oh well if we can't score at least their defenders can sort us out
Good effort Illing Jnr
Impressive looking effort from Iling Jr but comfortably wide.
***Half Time***
The crowd will get on WBAs back if they dont show some ambition in the 2nd half
- They have had as many shots as us just as many on target and arguably the better chances.
West Brom season tickets should come with free counselling sessions. They are absolutely diabolical to watch. We deserve the lead even though we've been stuck in second gear throughout. Let's hope we don't balls this up now...
Need to wash my eyes after that.
Parking the bus at home. Rank.
Thank god they crashed it
Needed that. Longer it went on I was thinking we are gonna struggle to break them down
Not the most thrilling 45 minutes of football, as WBA frustrated Boro with a very well-drilled defence, giving us very little time or space to create chances, until the last 5 minutes or so.
Don't think Baggies fans will put up with parking the bus at home for very long.
Hope the ref gonna pull em up with these tactical fouls in the middle o the park too.
Eric Ramsey claiming to be very flexible with what formation he uses but plays 5 at the back in his first game, sounds very familiar
Everyone sees things differently, but as a home team under a new manager, IMO they've been extremely negative and obdurate. They've had a couple of decent counters, but it's very thin gruel for Baggies fans. And they're awful away from home, so this is as good as it gets for them.
- Completely accept it’s possible to see the game differently. He’s known for being very pragmatic (apparently). I just thought in the first 20 mins their breaks looked very dangerous and their tactics worked better. But hoping we can kick on in the second half.
Yeah, I don't think they played well, but West Brom definitely threatened more than we did.
They might decide to hold their nerve and keep the low block and look for the break. It nearly worked for them in the first 45.
They were more dangerous in the first 20, weve been on top since then. Deserved lead.
Great to be one up but West Brom will kill football if they stick to these tactics for the rest of the season, effectively eight at the back at home and try and score from a set piece. I know the Baggies fans and at this rate this new bloke won’t last the season out.
- He’s been there 5 days
It'll probably take him a few games to figure out his best line-up.
Hope for the Baggies fans he can be more adventurous...
Is it just me or is that Eric Ramsay basically Daniel Ayala's twin?
- I was thinking he's got a bit of Mikel Arteta about him. Lets hope he's not as good!
***Second Half***
Just put some money on wba win. We have regressed to a negative plod
0 - 2
Maja and Wallace coming on. uh oh.
Jed Wallace. Now where have I heard that name before?
Well saved Brynn game opened up now dangerous free kick edge of the box for WBA
Thank *** for no VAR
That was a pen. Silvera very very stupid there.
And that should be a pen.
Clear pen
West Brom looking dangerous last 5. A goal here would make things very nervy
1 - 2
Ffs.
Probably justice as that was definitely a penalty.
Excellent strike and probably fair given that it was a pen. Worried now
Shoulda been a pen. Good goal
Well executed free kick but that’s let them back into a game where we should have been comfortable
All over us now. We have tanked.
2 - 2
Ah Jed Wallace. Had to be.
Could tell when the subs came on. Maja has dropped into space and we have completely gassed.
Easy for them. They deserve that we have completely stopped playing
they've been the ones running all game trying to close down constantly.
Look at the difference WBA get the ball and move it forward with multiple runners we get it and stop then pass back. Wait for WBA to get set then start to push it around.
Brilliant keeping from Brynn.
Brynn saving Boro's bacon again there!
We have really gone to pot all over the park. No control over the game at all.
Side to side no pace passing against quick one touch attacking passing, I wonder which is the more threatening!!
How is styles still on the pitch??? Ref has been far too lenient tonight
2 - 3
***Post Match***
Brynn my MOTM made some really important saves.
Only West Broms 2nd home defeat of the season.
5 wins in a row against WBA, btw
Also absolute karma for them with the late sucker punch. They ought to be ashamed setting up to park the bus and counter at home.
Between two teams that were below par for most of the game, I would say we were the better, if not by a huge amount.
We got a bit of luck with the opening goal, with the WBA defender being in the right place, at the right time to bundle in the rebound from Gilbert's shot. Our other 2 goals came from genuine quality play.
Whereas West Brom benefitted from Boro giving away a freekick in a dangerous position (that probably should have been a pen), plus some horrendous defending that allowed the ball to roll across the box, onto the feet of Wallace.
There weren’t many obvious glaring misses there, and they did a good job of marking Whittaker out of the game as our obvious threat.
we didn’t k ow what to expect and West Brom worked hard, our midfield struggled when they changed formation.
Boro yet to drop a point from a winning position this season.
Christ. Watching the West Brom gaffers interview.
Blink FFS. This blokes clearly an Alien.
Excellent win that, was always going to be a difficult game against a new manager and West Brom have some decent players
West Brom have some decent players yet set up like a non league side vs a premier league side. That’s not going to be popular for long if they don’t get some decent results
Amongst all the commotion wasn’t that a great 2 footed goal saving challenge by Brynn
As for West Brom thought they were terrible first half. Low block at home.! Wouldn’t want a season ticket watching that and only really played when they were 2-0 down.
West Brom fan said we are the best passing team they have seen and they hate what Hackney does to them every season.
I thought we were pretty crap for long periods. More so to do with west brom being totally dog. setting up with two banks of 5 at home against us. how bad is that. it's bad enough bristol city doing it. but west brom have been a decent side until recently. they have faded so bad. Maybe our team were bored to sleep because it was so easy and allowed them to claw it back. lol. anyhow, we upped a gear and got the winner.
Its hard to know if WBA sat back after 2-2 or if it was our change of shape that sort of forced them to change again. Maybe a combo. I dont think they choosed to sit back against us
I went in to the game thinking this was going to be a difficult game.
1 As indifferent as they been, WBA have a very good home record.
2. Then there was the whole new manager and us not really having anything to go off in terms of what their tactics would be.
^These two aspects really told in first 25 mins as we struggled to get to grips with them.
Add to the above we had some big players missing - Brittain, Jones, McGree and Strelec would all start if fit
Yes we were not perfect but I think when you consider all the above, we did very well to go there and come home with 3pts.
I think what also helped us was Mowatt and Molumby missing for them. It allowed Hackney and Morris to gain control pf middle of the park after 30 minutes of them being on top.
It was a tricky game so glad we can move on woth 3pts in the bag