Middlesbrough v Leeds Utd Wednesday 26th February 2020 19.45 | The Riverside Stadium Having worked hard to open up a five point gap between themselves and the play off' hopefuls, Leeds will be confident that they'll be able to brush aside a below par Middlesbrough. The Smoggo's have played consecutive games against the bottom three, picking up one point from a possible nine; leaving the Teessiders three points from the drop zone. Another loss could spell the end of Jonathan Woodgate's tenure at the Riverside. Having hobbled off during the White's victory over Reading at the weekend, Kelvin Phillips is unlikely to be risked. Gianni Alioski standsby. With no news from the FA in regards to Casilla's racism charge, we can expect the former Real Madrid shot stopper to keep his place between the sticks. The longer it takes for the FA to come to a decision, the more difficult it will be to punish the Spaniard. Patrick Bamford looks set to face his former club, surely the perfect opportunity to find his striking boots. A month after signing, Jean Kevin Augustin will be wondering when Bielsa will give the French man his starting debut!
I’d prefer Douglas at LB but I trust in Bielsa so if it’s a shuffle around to accommodate Phillips injury then so be it, at least Dallas will be kept out of the central midfield role. I wonder who will fill the spare place on the bench, you’d imagine Poveda but if there is no chance of him playing yet you do question if it’s worth it. WBA are playing Preston tomorrow, Cardiff at home to Forest then on Wednesday Swansea are at home to Fulham, the pressure is on the others more than it is on us
Poveda would take us beyond the 5 loanees allowed in the match day squad. EDIT: Ignore that, Poveda is a permanent signing
Why does this game scream Wigan from last year to me? The next couple of games are crucial. 6 points and we can start to dream. I'd like to see us finally make it easier for ourselves, please! We know it ain't gonna happen though.
The difference with the Wigan game is that boro are at home and there's pressure on them, just as much as the pressure on us. Although I'm sure they'll want revenge for their hammering at ER. Also the fact that they are near the relegation pack should motivate them. In saying that, if we get a goal early on their heads could go down and their fans will get on their backs. This has always been a tough fixture. I remember the Ayresome park days, never a nice place to go to and always tough to get a result. On and off the pitch.
Ayresome was a nasty place to go, remember as a young un, the heart pounding a little trying to get back to the coach.
I never had the pleasure Gessa. I used to stay over with my relatives in Newcastle and we were playing them away I think either new years day or boxing day. Anyway they wouldn't take me to the game because it was a dangerous ground to go to.
The trouble was so bad one year and I was that scared, that we came out of the game at 4.15pm. Had to ask them to open a gate to let us out. Once past their end I felt better but not for thefaint hearted going there as a Leeds fan.
One year there, i got booted up the backside, hurt for days. 1977to 80, I only missed 1 away game and there was some scary stuff around in those days policing at a lot of grounds was little more than useless. I would put Ayresome Park up there with the worst places to go, yet they never really had a reputation in the press. Around our way there was a group of a dozen Villa fans who had a reputation for fighting at games, they used to minibus everywhere, about 5 years ago, i got to know one of them very well, he told me Ayresome was the only place they went and all 12 of them got a kicking.
Very true along with Maine Road, Ayresome Park were the two worst grounds to go to as a Leeds fan. 12 of us went to Ayresome Park for a testimonial and couldn’t believe the hatred they had for us seeing we hadn’t played them before. A horrible place altogether
Don't know about those two grounds but there's a pattern emerging that whenever Glory was in the away end it ended in a riot... The Manor Ground, Dean Court, Stamford Bridge, St Andrews...and many more Fooking hooligan