It’s the big one. Norwich vs. Middlesbrough under the lights at Carrow Road on a Friday night. 2nd vs. 4th place, with Middlesbrough just one point behind Norwich in the automatic promotion places. Every game is big at this stage, but this one means a little more. Here are five things to look out for.
1. Middlesbrough Defense
When we played them in November, you probably noticed the attack of our northeast foes that smashed us 4-0. What is more impressive is their defense. They have conceded just 33 goals in 43 games this season, and are tough to break down. We’re not going to be able to just cut them open like we have to other teams. It is going to take a moment of brilliance to unlock that defense, but we have provided a lot of those this season.
2. No Draws
Middlesbrough have the third fewest draws in the Championship this season, and Norwich are tied for fourth in that category. We have just two draws in our last fifteen matches, and they have only one in eighteen in the league. If we are level into the last five or ten minutes, do not expect either team to sit back and play for a point. Both managers will go for it, which is always good to see.
3. Patrick Bamford
The Chelsea loanee has been carrying Middlesbrough as they look to get into the Premier League. We all know that he is a good striker, but what he has done this season is astounding. He has 27% of all of the goals his club has scored this season. He also had the winner at the Etihad in the FA Cup and a 123rd minute equalizer at Anfield in the league cup. He is six foot one, and more about pace than power. He scored against us in the return game as well. Obviously he is not the only player that matters, but I can’t see Middlesbrough winning if he doesn’t have a good game.
4. Nerves
At the beginning of this season, this team was sculpted for an immediate return to the top flight. The board assembled a group of players that had lots of experience playing in promotion races, and in the Championship. Lewis Grabban was part of Bournemouth’s promotion to the Championship two years ago, and Gary O’Neil has gone up through the promotion playoffs two out of the last three years. Kyle Lafferty is not here anymore, but he is just coming off of a promotion with Palermo in Italy. Johnson and Howson both experienced promotion with Leeds, and John Ruddy and Russell Martin are part of the core group that led us up in 2010-11. We have lots of experience with this, and are playing at home. I don’t expect us to be nervous at all. Our opponents do not have much experience with this at all. Big game, bright lights, can’t afford to lose, live on Sky Sports, that could make them nervous. We need to pounce on that, and take advantage of potential nerves.
5. Squad Selection
For the final time this season, Alex Neil will have to deal with fixture congestion. 72 hours after the Leeds game, we have the Middlesbrough game. Nathan Redmond was poor in the last game, and I can’t see him getting a place in the team. We have conceded one goal in our last four games, so I cannot see the defense changing. What I am really interested to see is who starts up top. Gary Hooper did not play in either of the games in the last week, so I would like to think that he will start. However, Cameron Jerome has starting in winning teams recently, so the squad might not change. The midfield is an interesting dynamic. I would be shocked if Bradley Johnson is not in the team. Other than that it is a mystery. We cannot afford to be tired, but we also need quality. It is a tough decision for Alex Neil, but I have complete faith he will make the right one.
That is it, those are my five things. I hope that this article didn’t make you even more nervous for the game than you already were. Friday night is going to be a night where dreams are made, and I cannot wait. OTBC!
