Managerless Middlesbrough looking for priceless win
Life without Gordon Strachan begins at Middlesbrough.
His days at the helm at the Riverside were numbered following a string of bad results, and he finally had enough after being at the club for less than a year. Last Monday evening, Strachan resigned, tore up his contract, and headed for the exit door, but is it a relief to ‘Boro fans?
The 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and, with Strachan now out of the way, who has thrown their hat into the ring?
Ronald Koeman has distanced himself from the position, although he has revealed a desire to work in England. The Dutchman has said he wants to manage at a club with potential, so Teeside is not the place for him. Tony Mowbray’s name has cropped up, but could he do any better than Strachan?
The man who finished bottom of the Premier League with West Brom in 2009 was appointed Celtic boss by popular demand in the same year, but that didn’t work out and he was fired after only 12 months in charge. He is the favourite to succeed Strachan and would have quite a lot of work to do, as ‘Boro are just one place above the relegation zone. They travel to Carrow Road to take on fifth-placed Norwich with their backs firmly against the wall.
Queens Park Rangers are still top of the Championship, but Cardiff City are hot on their heels, trailing by two points. The top-two at the moment are looking likely to finish as the top-two at the end of the season.
Unbeaten QPR play Bristol City tonight in a clash that sees top versus bottom, while Dave Jones’ Cardiff take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday night.
Sven-Göran Eriksson got off the mark as Leicester City manager with a 2-1 win at Leeds last Tuesday, and the Swede has taken the Foxes out of the relegation zone. A match away to Swansea is next up for them.
Burnley have climbed up to fourth in the table, and they play Reading at home. Burnley will have to be wary of Reading, as half of their 16 goals have come in the last 15 minutes, so they must keep their focus to the very end.
Third-placed Watford play Scunthorpe at Vicarage Road, while Coventry play Barnsley, and struggling Hull take on a revived Portsmouth.
Nottingham Forest are at home to Roy Keane’s Ipswich, and Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan will hope to continue a fine run which has seen him score six goals in his last seven games for the club.
Millwall play Derby, with Doncaster playing Sheffield United, and Preston North End have a relegation battle with Crystal Palace to play. Preston are 23rd and Palace 22nd, so to call this a six-pointer is appropriate in this case.
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