Middlesbrough start life without Gordon Strachan
Pressure can do strange things to footballers.
Middlesbrough’s spending spree over the summer had given them the tag of pre-season favourites for promotion – and rightly so.
Players such as Kris Boyd, Barry Robson and Scott MacDonald had all played in the Champions League during their time in Scotland, and taking the step down to Championship level should have been an easy task. Unfortunately for then manager Gordon Strachan, who left the club by mutual consent yesterday following their terrible start to the season, the players have been a shadow of their former selves and not taken to the hustle and bustle of this competitive league in the way many people had envisaged.
Steve Agnew takes charge for tonight’s game against Nottingham Forest, and with no-one really expecting Boro to perform, they may just find that with the pressure lifted, the ability to perform to their maximum potential can return.
If Middlesbrough need any encouragement in turning their season around, then taking a look at Portsmouth's recent results could be a good place to start. Pompey were defined as relegation material as little as four weeks ago, but three wins, a draw and 14 goals scored in their last four matches have catapulted the financially-stricken club into mid-table. They travel to the Den tonight to face Millwall where they will look to continue their recent free-flowing performances.
At the top of the league Cardiff closed the gap on runaway leaders QPR at the weekend to just four points, but they have a difficult looking trip to the Ricoh Arena to face Coventry. Aidy Boothroyd has instilled a style of play which isn’t easy on the eye but is currently reaping the benefits; the Sky Blues are organised, feisty and clinical in attack and Cardiff will have to be at their very best tonight to get a positive result.
If the Bluebirds do slip up then a win for QPR could restore their cushion at the top to seven points, but they also have a tricky looking away game at Swansea, who are the current form team in the division.
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