Midweek game so early pre match thread.
An efficient if unspectacular win vs Derby County sent us top for only the 2nd time this season (atleast until tomorrow).
A 4th win in 4 games with 0 goals conceded at home continues our almost perfect home form.
A professional performance puts us into a strong position going into the midweek games.
But Tuesday will present a different type of test, a much better team who have beaten us at home this season and done it well.
Last time we met Middlesbrough was in the Carabao Cup, a Leeds team including Rothwell, Aaronson, Piroe, Firpo, Ampadu and Rodon from the very start with Wober starting and Gnonto, Gruev, Bogle, Struijk and the departed Rutter all coming off the bench were unable to lay a glove on a backup and at the time injury hit Boro side which had to play former LUFC Captain the now 36 year old Jonny Howson at cb in a humbling 3-0 defeat for us.
Whilst not as weakened a team as Boro put out it has to be said with quite a few current starters in it or coming off the bench it was early in the season and we are now a better outfit and will have our best team out of course with only a few injuries to worry about far as we know.
But Boro are a threat, they've shown they can beat us at Elland Road, and beat us well.
They also would argue I'm sure they are a better side now and the squad is in much better shape.
Current key players such as Tommy Conway, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Finn Azaz, Hayden Hackney, Ben Doak and Dael Fry were not involved or did not start last time we met.
In terms of tactics Michael Carrick is fairly committed to his 4-2-3-1 formation, this hasnt always been the case as Carrick has occasionally switched to a back 3 or a back 5, but he prefers his 4-2-3-1.
That changes in or out of possession with it often becoming a back 3 with one of the full backs tucking in or the holding midfielder when Middlesbrough are in possession.
They play a fluid system with positional rotation and risk a part of the game both in and out of possession.
A risk that has bitten them on occasion with goals going in at the wrong end.
But going forward when it clicks they are very slick, very quick and very effective.
They have the highest xG in the league, the most touches in the opposition box, they are in fact slightly under performing their xG for and against (conceding more than they should and scoring less).
In fact quite a few predicted Championship tables have them top end of the season for this very reason.
They prefer a short passing style similar to ourselves but play with more width with the Boro wingers generally coming less narrow than ours do. This suits them as they do utilise switches of play a lot (twice as much as we do) and whilst not a long ball team they will use it and its accurate (usually over the top) the most accurate long ball passers in the league.
As previously mentioned though this commitment to pretty attacking football has bitten them, they haven't kept a clean sheet in 8 games. They've conceded 22 goals which whilst not awful is statistically on the high side for teams challenging for promotion as Boro expect to be.
Form is good however, 14 points from last 6 games overall, won 2 drawn 2 of the last 4 away and should have beaten Burnley yesterday and have beaten Sheffield United as well.
On the flip side a defeat to our opponents this afternoon Derby and draws vs Preston and Portsmouth have shown the struggles
In terms of key players they have a large array of impressive attacking players in good form.
Playmaker Finn Azaz who plays usually just behind the lone striker has the joint most assists in the league and the 2nd most goals and assists combined with 13 (Championship's top creator overall with most chances created).
Next to him on the right is 19 year old Liverpool wonderkid Ben Doak. An impressive young man, 3rd most assists in the league, 5th most chances created overall and one of the most effective dribblers in the league (5th again).
The intelligence of Azaz and his eye for a pass combined with the pace and directness of his young teammate has proven a fruitful combination for Boro.
And ahead of them they have the option of two of the form strikers in the league.
Emmanuel Latte Lath and Tommy Conway have 15 goals between them.
Neither big strikers but they are mobile and clever, Conway though no shrinking violet is more prone to running in behind and stretching the play, Latte Lath is more keen to hold it up and fight but he is equally capable of running in behind.
So a dangerous side going forward with capable players offensively and not as awful at defending as perhaps it seems at times, but one that is struggling to keep goals out.
For ourselves the usual questions about players.
Rotation?
Gnonto in?
Ramazani?
The big one may be who replaces Firpo vs Ben Doak because get that wrong and that could decide the game.
Last time we played Boro they didn't park the bus but they were happy to let us have the majority of the ball and just smack us in transition, could we see a role reversal?
Would a more pragmatic approach be sensible against a side that can over commit?
Or is that not an approach the Elland Road crowd would accept?
