I was watching TV the other day and they were talking about how most of those examples of the PC brigade are simply made up, particular mention of the ba ba black shep.

Check out Baa Baa Media Sheep.

And loving the Black Benni song.

Do Chelsea field a weakened team in this competition? I sure hope so.

Lawro has gone for a 2-1 win to us.

most be dodgy!!!

Theres a bung or something in there me thinks!!!!

I was planning a Lawro Watch for this season, but it's proven irrelevant now. He's no doubt predicted more success than we have actually achieved so far!

Finally, with a win against Manchester City and a good second half performance to kick-start our season, we can now put the fears of a struggle against relegation behind us and look forward to push on up the table, much like we did last season.

Next stop is away to Middlesbrough, a match that should be winnable for a reinvigorated Blackburn Rovers. My prediction concludes this preview.

Where & When

Date: Saturday 23 September

Time: A traditional 3:00PM kick-off

Place: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough (capacity 35,100)

The Town

Middlesbrough is a large, formerly industrial, town in Yorkshire that is is populated by some 140,000 people. The town has come under a hammering during the years by some football players, citing it as a dreary place. It is not as ugly as Walsall, though.

Town History

Middlesbrough was the place of the famous victory by unfancied North Korea over giants Italy in the 1966 World Cup. The team was the first ever Asian team to qualify and were well received by the locals. A contingent of Middlesbrough fans and residents followed the team to its next match in Liverpool against Portugal.

Club History

Middlesbrough Football Club won their first ever major trophy in their entire 130 years of history by winning the Worthington Cup in 2004 over Bolton in a 2-1 win. It's a record that makes you glad to be a Rovers fan, eh?

Middlesbrough, nicknamed the Boro, also reached the final of the UEFA Cup last season, but were well outplayed by an impressive Sevilla in a 4-0 result.

Past Results

Results under the Mark Hughes regime have been overall successful. The last three encounters have resulted in clear wins for Rovers. However, the first Middlesbrough result under Hughes was an unforgettable 0-4 result, a season where we struggled against relegation. Some members, reading back, even questioned whether he was the man to lead us out of this mess. How time flies by!

2004

H Middlesbrough PREM L 0-4

2005

A Middlesbrough PREM L 0-1

A Middlesbrough CC W 2-0

A Middlesbrough PREM W 2-0

2006

H Middlesbrough PREM W 3-2

The Last Match

Robbie Savage was sent off for the first time of his club career as Blackburn sent Middlesbrough home with their tails between their legs in a 3-2 win. Craig Bellamy put in a man-of-the-match performance by sending the ball into the back-of-the-net twice. Morten Gamst Pedersen scored the other Rovers goal from a free kick.

Current Form

Middlesbrough are currently on the same amount of points as Rovers in the Premier League, collecting five points from five games. Their only win was a 2-1 win over reigning champions Chelsea. They lost 4-0 to in-form Portsmouth the next match.

A Reading L 2-3

H Chelsea W 2-1

H Portsmouth L 0-4

A Arsenal D 1-1

A Bolton D 0-0

Fitness

Middlesbrough hosted Notts County at home in the second round of the FA Cup and lost 0-1, while Rovers had the entire week off. This should give Hughes' men the competitive edge, even though some first team players were rested.

The New Manager

Middlesbrough player-turned-manager Gareth Southgate has taken the managerial reigns since their most successful of former managers (in terms of major trophy), Steve McClaren, took the England reigns after the 2006 World Cup.

Initially, the fan reaction was mixed. Those disappointed cited Southgate's inexperience, and the fact that a promise from the club that a proven manager would be appointed was not taken aboard. Others felt that he was familiar with the club's set-up and has the potential to become successful.

What the Opposition Fans Say

Middlesbrough fans are an optimistic bunch, much unlike our own. They came off a horrific loss midweek to Notts County, acknowledge recent dire performances, and think the result can go either way given their erratic past results, but are still gunning for a win. The following post epitomises the typical Middlesbrough fan.

I can honestly say I haven't got a ###### clue.

We could win or lose this 3 - 0

We could draw 3 - 3

The Boro are capable of anything nowadays.

So my heart rules my head, and adding a little bit of hope................

2 - 0 to the Mighty Reds

Boro Message Boards

This sorry lot makes me thankful for the tidy organisation of topics and the general post quality that we have here at BRFCS.

Come On Boro

The Boro Forum

Fans FC: Middlesbrough

Sport Network: Middlesbrough Message Board

My Prediction

The men in blue and white are finally picking up their game and we have had some excellent results against Middlesbrough in recent history. This time should be no different, so I predict a tough 2-1 win. The stars will shine brightly on Andre Ooijer as he scores twice for his own team.

Blackburn Rovers Line-Up

Rovers are expected to choose from:

Friedal, Emmerton, Ouijer, Khizanishvilli, Neil, Bently, Tugay, Savage, Pederson, Jeffers, McCarthy, Mokoena, Nonda, Gallacher, Peter, Brown, McEvely, Grey, Derbyshire.

Emerton crosses for Gallagher to make it 4-2.. yibbida yibbida.. that's all folks

You know your Rex Hunt.

Well done Rovers!!!

"We're just a small town in Europe," sing the away fans.

"A magical moment from Robbie Savage," says the Rovers World commentator.

Play resumes.

Edit: Echo in the room.

I'm listening to Radio Lancs-what is your source?

I'm listening to the Match Console.

It's Pop Concert Stadium at the moment.

Players off because of power failure.

The Daily Telegraph said Salzburg had not conceded a home goal this season.

They're playing different opposition, though. Maybe we can take them by surprise.

A 1-1 result would be terrific, which is also my prediction.

Man City engage in a bizarre display of strength by Reading holy texts today and casualties may be incurred and force withdrawals for next week.

I damn well hope so, not only for Rovers' sake, but also for my hip pocket. I've got a sum of money on them for a win. Have a feeling about them. Man City are looking a poor side at the moment.

Anyway, I waited a bit before replying to see the reaction to this thread. It's different, I tell you that, and I read it all, which I almost never do.

I'm up for a 1-0 win for Rovers (bold makes it easier for The Gull to spot). It is essential to win this game. If we lose then we really do have to ask questions of ourselves, despite being approximately in sync at this point last season in terms of points.

Come on Rovers!

Does anyone realise how much these players contributed last season............ too much either off the bench or starting in cup matches.

Have we replaced any of them properly? Have we brought in any quality at all? Can Blackburn fans get excited after finishing 6th or is that simply it? Have we built on last season?

Answer to all the questions is... NO

Oh dear. It's a bit too early to start a fit over the state of the team. We have been on a run of two points from four games, which - believe it or not - we did twice last season. (Last year's fixtures and results.

shillito15 - I don't find the sh*t that Hughes is putting out amusing at all. He will be off soon.

With all Hughes has done at the club so far, the least he deserves is fan support. You've already got the casket out, open, and ready for transport!

Friedel, a living legend!

Who do I email at the club to ask them to expand payment options for international customers? I want to pay for the Match Live console, but there aren't any viable payment options for me.

http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Con...,,10303,00.html

:\

2-0 to the Rovers! Nonda and McCarthy to show a touch of class.

Kuqi might bring you up, but he won't keep you up.

All in all, it was one of the best pieces of businesses for a long time to get 2.5 million out of him. He's certainly not skillful enough for the Premiership.

Where does this signing leave Jeffers? A player trying to rehabilitate after consistent decline will not get anywhere with occasional sub appearances. I think Hughes has realised that he's signed a dud.

Garbage. Hughes wants to perform in all four competitions, which will allow Jeffers more than enough chances for first team football.

And the stupid woman insisted on calling Brett , Skippy the whole game! Is this a well known nickname for him or just something she has imaginativly?!?! come up with?

I've never heard him referred to as "Skippy". They probably came up with it. I'm not sure it's the most positive of nicknames either.

Regarding good old Brett, interestingly, Guus has never played Emerton as a right-sided midfielder/winger. He has either played as a central midfielder, as a right-sided defender, or not at all.

Funnily enough, pg, I wouldn't mind seeing Emerton and Reid swapping positions in the last 15 minutes of one or two matches. Good old Brett might just might turn out to be the creative spark we need to replace Reid's woeful peformances at the moment. :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:

Three player analysis and rating time.

Friedel - Did quite well. 7/10

Emerton - Best player, almost. 8/10

Ooijer - Give him time. 5/10

Khizanishvili - A mixed performance. 6/10

Neill - Terrific on left. 7/10

Bentley - Best player, amazingly. 8/10

Reid - He went missing. 5/10

Savage - Ran all day. 6/10

Pedersen - Turned up today. 6/10

Roberts - Communication needs improvement. 6/10

McCarthy - Has nice touches. 6/10

Gallagher - Boy done good. 7/10

Hughes - Tactics mostly right. 7/10

Clattenburg - Overawed by Chelsea. 3/10

1-1. Jeffers to equalise!

1-0 to the Rovers.

McCarthy to score his debut goal.

Ah, the season starts and we're back to knee jerk reactions. This place just isn't the same without them. So at the risk of sounding like Jim, the silver lining from today is a note of realism - to all those predicting a finish in about 6th for us, can I have a pint of what you're drinking please. It ain't going to happen. We've made two signings over the summer, both an improvement on what we had before. So keep the good performances/players from last season, add Kuqi and Bellamy and we'll finish 3 or 4 places higher. Lose a few key players/performances and we'll finish a bit lower. A relegation fight isn't out of the picture.

Ah, two interesting comments there. The first certainly holds true for this season.

Your second comment is a funny side note. Not picking on you though, because I did think we couldn't and shouldn't play a 4-4-2. :ph34r:

Anyway, I decided to bump this topic because it is so similar to the Portsmouth thread.

And because I haven't been able to find that other thread where some user with very few posts jumped straight onto the relegation bandwagon.

We thrashed Wolves a few seasons ago on the opening day of the season. We were humiliated by West Ham on the opening day last season. Hardly indicators of what was to come. Patience.

I remember someone coming on last year and starting a thread to say we would be relegated!

Wonder if they come back. :ph34r:

The fact he has retained him for a further 4 years, IMO, means that he feels he can get more out of Emerton than we have seen so far (maybe at right back as has been reported).

Aye, he needs that extra space that right-back would bring him and he's finally seen sense that he should let the manager have all the say in the position he plays that suits the player and the team, not give an ultimatum of sorts to play on the wing which doesn't do the manager nor himself nor the team any favours.

I'm sure we'll see him excel in Europe, should the team do a bit of progression, rather than getting knocked out very early.

1. Chelsea

2. Liverpool

3. Arsenal

4. Manchester United

5. Tottenham Hotspur

6. Newcastle United

7. Blackburn Rovers

8. West Ham

9. Aston Villa

10. Portsmouth

11. Bolton

12. Everton

13. Charlton

14. Wigan Athletic

15. Fulham

16. Manchester City

17. Middlesbrough

18. Reading

19. Sheffield United

20. Watford