AFCB vs Boro: Match Report

Matt Stevenson

First Team
The previous two games gave us little to go on for this one. The very good performance versus Swansea (who we could still catch if they continue to be unable to score) was followed up by a no-show in our biggest FA Cup game in a lot of our lifetimes. Playing a team who could go level of points with us (albeit having played a game more) was an incentive. Warnock was trying some mind games saying the pressure was on AFCB, Woodgate responded saying it was on both of us. I’d have preferred JW to have ratcheted it up, saying that losing could have fatally wounded Boro’s play-off hopes.

The team had one change from the Swansea game – Smith in for Stacey, a player I like, but had been off-colour against Southampton. Whether this was because JW prefers Smith, or is trying to show you need to play well to retain the shirt is not known. Kelly had played two games for the under 21s and so was on the bench, leaving Rico to play left-back. This is an area that opponents seem to be targeting, identifying Rico’s positioning / pace and the fact that Danjuma isn’t the best going towards his own goal (one of the best going away from it though, so I’ll take this position).

The game wasn’t particularly excited, we had a chance early on when a stray pass found Danjuma who made his way down the line, found Billing, who teed up Lerma, but he dragged it past the left post. In other games we had seen the net bulging or a good save, so it was a disappointment. We opened the scoring in the 14th minute and it was a good goal. Billing won a header in the middle of our half, which Solanke controlled well and very nearly put Danjuma through on goal but a defender just got his head to it. The ball looped up and Danjuma flicked it over his shoulder to the onrushing Billing who half-volleyed it into the net from the edge of the area. Two points, first that Billing had sprinted from within his own half to score (which might quieten his many detractors) and two, that the chance appears to be harder than we thought. iFollow didn’t have it as a clear chance, and the xG (more on that later) suggested he should only score 1 in 25.

Five minutes later, was our next good attempt, Danjuma cutting in from the left in trademark fashion but being blocked well by Hall. This was the end of our purple patch as we didn’t create another chance for 45 minutes and Middlesbrough who themselves didn’t create a real chance until the 43rd minute began to get a hold in the game, which for 20 minutes was dull viewing. Just before half-time Hall had a chance, and Bola hit the top of the bar with a looping header from a tight angle, and for those who’d seen AFCB this season, the warning signs were there. We went into the break 1-0 up, looking the better team, but with the tide potentially turning. A mention for the referee, who seemed more inept than biased, but who had some strange decisions, there was a close call when Danjuma was adjudged to have fouled a defender, when Danjuma got barged in the back, but the worse one was in the second half, when McNair, pushed out an arm in Stacey’s chest to use this as a springboard to dive over to win a free kick near his own goal. The ref didn’t affect the result though.

In the second half, Boro weren’t creating good chances, but a stream of quarter-chances were giving them confidence when we were creating nothing. Given our weakness in defending set-pieces, I was fearful we’d let them back into the game. As we did, although not through a dead-ball situation, but through a well-worked move with Watmore cushioning the ball well following a hard low cross from the left, and finding the eye of the needle by avoiding Cook’s lunging foot, Begovic’s outstretched hand and hitting the inside of the post. As Kris and Willo pointed out, ‘You could see it coming’ so certainly wasn’t against the run of play. Three minutes earlier Stanislas had been withdrawn holding his hip to be replaced by Stacey which was on the face of it a defensive change, although Stanislas hadn’t influenced the game much. I think it was coincidence that the Boro goal came down their left flank rather than Smith and Stacey not having sorted themselves out yet.

The goal sparked the Cherries into life. Stacey broke down the right and then played a ball slightly behind Solanke when further forward would have given him a goal his overall play deserved. Pleasingly, Woodgate was warming up Riquelme, presumably to take off Smith, drop Stacey back and try and win the game when we got a lucky goal. The one-two between Billing and Danjuma was good, but Billing’s cross was poor, Morsy made a complete hash of it though, allowing Lerma a scuffed shot, which deflected off Morsy and into the net. Now it was a case of trying not to throw the game away, and Boro didn’t have a chance thereafter, but there were two moments of alarm. First, without being under pressure, Begovic rolled the ball to Carter-Vickers who was running away from him with a lurking centre-forward. He must have heard a call just in time to flick the ball out to the right-back, but it was a scare we didn’t need. Second, Billing having been booked for a heavy tackle earlier in the game deliberately blocked a quick freekick and couldn’t have overly complained if he had been sent off. It was stupidity, but we got away with it. Riquelme had been told to sit down, and may have lost out on appearance money, but Pearson for Wilshere still happened, and a move many of us would have made earlier. The game was settled in the 83rd minute whne Billign won the ball, Stacey flicked it out from the centre midfield position to Solanke, who tricked McNair and lashed one straight at Bettinelli. The keeper palmed it back into the danger area and Solanke reacted quickest to prod the ball home. There was time for Stacey to break free from a Billing pass and to put himself forward for a role as a right midfielder, certainly if Stanislas and Brooks aren’t fit enough for Blackburn. That was it, it wasn’t a great game, we didn’t play well, the score line probably flattered us, but we had three points, with a lot of other results going our way.
 
Scores

Begovic 6. Had little to do, but could have dropped a major clanger with the roll out to Carter-Vickers

Smith 7. A solid, if unspectacular, game

Cook 8. Held the defence together and left Boro with few chances

Carter-Vickers 8 (MOTM). See Cook, was vary good apart from one fancy turn where he was caught out, impressed and one I hope we get on a permanent deal

Rico 6. Looked suspect near the end of the first-half, but steadied the ship.

Wilshere 5. Didn’t really influence the game. Produced a sublime bit of skill in the first half to turn away from a marker, but these things rarely win games

Lerma 7. A typical Jeff performance

Stanislas 5. May have been playing with an injury, but wasn’t at the races. Appears to be removed from ‘flag-kick’ duties.

Billing 8. Would have been my MOTM, apart from the huge risk he took in blocking a free-kick, if we had good down to 10 men, the game could have been lost, and Phil Bill would have gone from hero to zero

Danjuma 8. Must have enjoyed not being doubled up against and was a major threat, quick-thinking ad skilful to put Billing through for the opener.

Solanke 8. Close to MOTM for a tireless display battling on his own for long-periods, good work for the opener in almost releasing Danjuma, deserved his goal and would have had another good chance if Stacey’s cross had been further forward.

Subs

Stacey 7. Good cameo, we are lucky to have two good right backs and the option of playing Stacey in front of Smith looks attractive too if needs be

Pearson 7. Quietly effective. I like his style and I expect his to replace Wilshere for the Blackburn game.

Long N/A. Was only on for 5 mins, although may have tweaked a calf muscle. Presumably chosen ahead of Surridge as more experienced at game management.

xG timeline below - No comment given the report!Boro.JPG
 
Nice report! Fair scores, although I would have maybe given solanke a seven because he went in and out of the game a lot.
 
The previous two games gave us little to go on for this one. The very good performance versus Swansea (who we could still catch if they continue to be unable to score) was followed up by a no-show in our biggest FA Cup game in a lot of our lifetimes. Playing a team who could go level of points with us (albeit having played a game more) was an incentive. Warnock was trying some mind games saying the pressure was on AFCB, Woodgate responded saying it was on both of us. I’d have preferred JW to have ratcheted it up, saying that losing could have fatally wounded Boro’s play-off hopes.

The team had one change from the Swansea game – Smith in for Stacey, a player I like, but had been off-colour against Southampton. Whether this was because JW prefers Smith, or is trying to show you need to play well to retain the shirt is not known. Kelly had played two games for the under 21s and so was on the bench, leaving Rico to play left-back. This is an area that opponents seem to be targeting, identifying Rico’s positioning / pace and the fact that Danjuma isn’t the best going towards his own goal (one of the best going away from it though, so I’ll take this position).

The game wasn’t particularly excited, we had a chance early on when a stray pass found Danjuma who made his way down the line, found Billing, who teed up Lerma, but he dragged it past the left post. In other games we had seen the net bulging or a good save, so it was a disappointment. We opened the scoring in the 14th minute and it was a good goal. Billing won a header in the middle of our half, which Solanke controlled well and very nearly put Danjuma through on goal but a defender just got his head to it. The ball looped up and Danjuma flicked it over his shoulder to the onrushing Billing who half-volleyed it into the net from the edge of the area. Two points, first that Billing had sprinted from within his own half to score (which might quieten his many detractors) and two, that the chance appears to be harder than we thought. iFollow didn’t have it as a clear chance, and the xG (more on that later) suggested he should only score 1 in 25.

Five minutes later, was our next good attempt, Danjuma cutting in from the left in trademark fashion but being blocked well by Hall. This was the end of our purple patch as we didn’t create another chance for 45 minutes and Middlesbrough who themselves didn’t create a real chance until the 43rd minute began to get a hold in the game, which for 20 minutes was dull viewing. Just before half-time Hall had a chance, and Bola hit the top of the bar with a looping header from a tight angle, and for those who’d seen AFCB this season, the warning signs were there. We went into the break 1-0 up, looking the better team, but with the tide potentially turning. A mention for the referee, who seemed more inept than biased, but who had some strange decisions, there was a close call when Danjuma was adjudged to have fouled a defender, when Danjuma got barged in the back, but the worse one was in the second half, when McNair, pushed out an arm in Stacey’s chest to use this as a springboard to dive over to win a free kick near his own goal. The ref didn’t affect the result though.

In the second half, Boro weren’t creating good chances, but a stream of quarter-chances were giving them confidence when we were creating nothing. Given our weakness in defending set-pieces, I was fearful we’d let them back into the game. As we did, although not through a dead-ball situation, but through a well-worked move with Watmore cushioning the ball well following a hard low cross from the left, and finding the eye of the needle by avoiding Cook’s lunging foot, Begovic’s outstretched hand and hitting the inside of the post. As Kris and Willo pointed out, ‘You could see it coming’ so certainly wasn’t against the run of play. Three minutes earlier Stanislas had been withdrawn holding his hip to be replaced by Stacey which was on the face of it a defensive change, although Stanislas hadn’t influenced the game much. I think it was coincidence that the Boro goal came down their left flank rather than Smith and Stacey not having sorted themselves out yet.

The goal sparked the Cherries into life. Stacey broke down the right and then played a ball slightly behind Solanke when further forward would have given him a goal his overall play deserved. Pleasingly, Woodgate was warming up Riquelme, presumably to take off Smith, drop Stacey back and try and win the game when we got a lucky goal. The one-two between Billing and Danjuma was good, but Billing’s cross was poor, Morsy made a complete hash of it though, allowing Lerma a scuffed shot, which deflected off Morsy and into the net. Now it was a case of trying not to throw the game away, and Boro didn’t have a chance thereafter, but there were two moments of alarm. First, without being under pressure, Begovic rolled the ball to Carter-Vickers who was running away from him with a lurking centre-forward. He must have heard a call just in time to flick the ball out to the right-back, but it was a scare we didn’t need. Second, Billing having been booked for a heavy tackle earlier in the game deliberately blocked a quick freekick and couldn’t have overly complained if he had been sent off. It was stupidity, but we got away with it. Riquelme had been told to sit down, and may have lost out on appearance money, but Pearson for Wilshere still happened, and a move many of us would have made earlier. The game was settled in the 83rd minute whne Billign won the ball, Stacey flicked it out from the centre midfield position to Solanke, who tricked McNair and lashed one straight at Bettinelli. The keeper palmed it back into the danger area and Solanke reacted quickest to prod the ball home. There was time for Stacey to break free from a Billing pass and to put himself forward for a role as a right midfielder, certainly if Stanislas and Brooks aren’t fit enough for Blackburn. That was it, it wasn’t a great game, we didn’t play well, the score line probably flattered us, but we had three points, with a lot of other results going our way.
Brilliant match report and thanks for taking the time to write it !! Full marks to the author
 
Scores

Begovic 6. Had little to do, but could have dropped a major clanger with the roll out to Carter-Vickers

Smith 7. A solid, if unspectacular, game

Cook 8. Held the defence together and left Boro with few chances

Carter-Vickers 8 (MOTM). See Cook, was vary good apart from one fancy turn where he was caught out, impressed and one I hope we get on a permanent deal

Rico 6. Looked suspect near the end of the first-half, but steadied the ship.

Wilshere 5. Didn’t really influence the game. Produced a sublime bit of skill in the first half to turn away from a marker, but these things rarely win games

Lerma 7. A typical Jeff performance

Stanislas 5. May have been playing with an injury, but wasn’t at the races. Appears to be removed from ‘flag-kick’ duties.

Billing 8. Would have been my MOTM, apart from the huge risk he took in blocking a free-kick, if we had good down to 10 men, the game could have been lost, and Phil Bill would have gone from hero to zero

Danjuma 8. Must have enjoyed not being doubled up against and was a major threat, quick-thinking ad skilful to put Billing through for the opener.

Solanke 8. Close to MOTM for a tireless display battling on his own for long-periods, good work for the opener in almost releasing Danjuma, deserved his goal and would have had another good chance if Stacey’s cross had been further forward.

Subs

Stacey 7. Good cameo, we are lucky to have two good right backs and the option of playing Stacey in front of Smith looks attractive too if needs be

Pearson 7. Quietly effective. I like his style and I expect his to replace Wilshere for the Blackburn game.

Long N/A. Was only on for 5 mins, although may have tweaked a calf muscle. Presumably chosen ahead of Surridge as more experienced at game management.

xG timeline below - No comment given the report!View attachment 5441
Great match report.....hope you stick at it longer than Waza did!
 
Fantastic report, massive respect to anyone who is willing to dedicate the time and effort to write one. They take a lot more time than you would expect. One (slightly irrelevant) point re the expected goal stat for Billing’s chance, I have to be honest I do not take expected goal stats seriously. Did anybody see the highlights from the Barnsley vs Reading game yesterday? Readings expected goal total was around 0.8, this is despite Joao (Reading striker) missing an empty net from around 10 yards under no pressure whatsoever and with the ball in a very inviting position to strike (ie on the floor and not coming at him at a great speed.) Simply put it was the worst miss I have ever seen and a chance that would be scored 99.99% of the time, therefore I cannot for the life of me understand how just this chance on its own cannot be an expected goal of 1 or just under. Interestingly Joao’s ex goal stat for the game was just 0.3 which I find to be absolutely astounding! I honestly think that expected goal stats are a load of nonsense.
 
Agree re the poor assessment of Joao’s chance. I think the algorithm can’t incorporate the keeper lying on the ground and assumes he is ready. Certainly xG has limitations, own goals don’t count, which way the players are facing doesn’t seem to be a factor, and just missing a cross for a tap in don’t show up, but I still find them interesting, although appreciate that they should be taken with a pinch of salt. That long period where we weren’t threatening and the line stayed level certainly chimed with what I was watching though.

I hadn’t planned on writing a second one, but if no-one else is doing it, I’ll do the Blackburn one.
 
Good report, thank you.

Agree regards Solanke that he went in and out the game a lot but this isn’t necessarily down to him.

I thought Rico had a quiet second half which is a good thing! I thought he had a shocker first half although he must be frustrated since when he does make an overlap, Danjuma rarely gives it to him then he ends up miles out of position so not always his fault
 
Thanks Matt.

Did enough to win and deservedly so without hitting the heights we can.

We're still searching for the right balance to the side, in April! Danjuma for me disappeared a bit second half. Meanwhile we misused a half fit Stanislas on the right. Why not have Stan on the bench, to replace Danjuma second half? We rarely see the best of either when we try and fit both into the side. Start one and then swap for the other for me. Between Smith, Stacey, Brooks, Riquelme, Anthony even we have options on the right.

Boro like many sides attack us on our left knowing whoever we have at LB is likely to be isolated.

XG is a whole debate of its own. I'd say it has its place and is interesting to see, but can by no means be taken as a serious metric in isolation.
 
Boro manager Colin reckoned we didn't play as well as we should, and none of our forwards were good enough for his team.

Clearly was expecting a 5 nil then
 
Agree with xG criticisms which also doesn’t include penalty decisions that should have been given / not given. I like them and find they add to my understanding, but understand why people prefer not to look at them.

That said, many people who don’t like xG, also say with conviction that we were lucky / unlucky in a certain game, which is using their own internal xG. So I think it is more a debate on whether the algorithms match our own perception. As humans can process more information there will be glaring bad assessments, but I think these are exceptions rather than the norm.
 

;