Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

It was the visitors who were dangerous in the early stages....Rob Dickie made made a superb block, David Marshall saved well
& after 15 mins or so later he made an outstanding one, tipping the ball over from just under the crossbar.

The lino on the Ellerslie Rd side took a while to be motivated lifting his flag

However, Ilias scored a wonderful goal (I was right being it) when he bent the ball beyond Joe Lumley.

Middlesbrough equalised in added time.

Seconds after the restart & with many fans still returning to their seats, Chris Willock seized upon
Lumley's error.

The visitors soon took control & have to say they were much the better side in the 2nd half.

Much improved from when I was up there in August & would expect them to finish in the top six.

Take it on the chin, a point gained which leaves us one point behind Blackburn, with 2 games in hand
& 3 points behind 2nd placed Bournemouth.

Attendance: 14,140, including an impressive away turnout which numbered 2,112.

[ESSEXURs]

Yes Steve we looked second best for much of the game.
Not sure why we have lost that earlier season interpassing around the box which won us so many games. Too many hoofballs last night and unfortunately Dykes does not hold the ball up when he receives it preferring to head it on to non existent forwards.

Thought Marshall other than one second half mistake was superb.
Johansen apparently playing with a stomach bug which explains his poor performance. Thought Hendrick had a good cameo and probably should have started in place of Johansen.
Field had a good game as well. Wallace looked slow and probably needs resting with hopefully McCallum returning soon.
I just hope we don’t produce our usual performance against teams that haven’t won for years and we hit them hard from the start for a change. We usually let these teams gain in confidence by sitting back.

[steveqpr881]

......I just hope we don’t produce our usual performance against teams that haven’t won for years....We usually let these teams gain in confidence by sitting back.

That's long been a bugbear of mine, Colin.
In fact, we've always been a soft touch for the lower-placed teams, I dread playing them.

[Kerrins]

A difficult fixture. Shame we could not win it but at least we did not lose.

I have been convinced for a while that we will make the play offs and still remain confident....but despite optimistic supporters quoting logical theory at me sorry you can kiss automatic promotion goodbye. Never believed in that scenario.

Fulham and Bournemouth are better than us (and the other chasers) simple as that. However overall we are as good as and and in some cases better than the rest of the play off pack.