Deep In My Heart, Derby County v Middlesbrough|| Middlesbrough F.C. news, reviews and comment

DEEP IN MY HEART
Derby County vs. Middlesbrough, 15th December 2007, Riverside Stadium, erm sorry, I mean Pride Park, Premier League
James Keen

The football world collectively cocked their hats to the Boro and to our manager this week after an unbelievable, nigh on unimaginable victory against the Premier League's only remaining unbeaten club.

And I for one have never been so proud to be a Middlesbrough fan than whilst watching that game.

Yes, they didn't have their first eleven out but that is the only thing that Arsenal have to defend themselves as we battled, we scrapped, we fought and we were victorious.

We haven't fielded our first eleven yet this season and Arsenal's second string managed a victory in Europe this week. They also got a point against Newcastle and beat Aston Villa so they're no mugs.

Southgate has taken enough stick from the fans, the media and our opponents in recent weeks. Now we should recognise his success.

Our gaffer has now locked horns with Arsene Wenger three times in his managerial career and still hasn't ended up on the losing side. Two draws and a win. Not bad.

Football though is a harsh game. And the same people that roundly applauded Southgate last week will be digging the knives in again if we don't beat Derby this weekend.

A defeat would render last week's victory fruitless.

If we play with the same tempo, spirit and aggression we will win. There is no doubting that. But Boro have a history of complacency following big wins and an even worse record away from home against League strugglers.

It'd be foolish to suggest this week will be easy but we must play with pride and confidence.

Tuncay Sanli has delivered upon the promises of our club in the last two weeks and has seen his stock rise amongst many doubters. We need to take advantage of his confidence and ensure that he gets chances against Derby because he will take at least one.

Aliadiere played like a man possessed and put in the performance of which we all know he's capable against Arsenal. But what his game lacks is goals and if he is ever to become a 'striker' rather than a 'forward' then he must use games like this one to start getting his career stats up to a more respectable level.

For once we have what looks like a good subs bench. Players like Arca, Huth, Johnson and, ahem, Dong Gook, can come off the bench and do a job. In some cases they can do a very good job. And the former three of that list did just that last week.

It wouldn't surprise me if Southgate considers a couple of them for his starting line up.

Derby are on a terrible run. Six defeats on the bounce means that they are one of the few clubs with a worse recent record than us.

To make matters worse their new manager, Paul Jewell, has had little impact on their fortunes following their defeats to Manchester United and Sunderland in recent weeks.

This game is a banana skin. And with players like Barnes and Pearson in their side they have the ability to unlock doors. But their biggest problem has been finding someone to open the door once it's unlocked.

Steve Howard, formerly of Hartlepool, is not the man to do it.

He is an honest forward but nothing more. Yet he has the pressures and the expectation of 25,000 Derby fans on his shoulders every week.

Tommy Miller has arrived to try and help him but his goal against Newcastle on his debut remains his only real input. Their record signing, Earnshaw, has hardly had chance to kick a ball in anger this season.

Derby is the sort of team you look at in order to cheer yourself up, allowing you to consider that things could always be worse.

If we get it right this weekend, and results go our way, we could be as high as twelfth. This would be a psychological boost for the boys ahead of the Christmas run. But we need to ensure that we don't slip up because defeat would be a killer.

We, the fans, play a massive part in the Boro story and now it's time we backed our boys to the hilt. Southgate has given us a game to remember, now let's give him the support he deserves.

Up the Boro!

The Outcome: My heart and head are singing similar tunes this week. My heart is saying we will triumph 2-0 but my head thinks Derby will go for it and score 1 but lose 2-1...

Last Time We Met: Derby County 0-1 Middlesbrough 1/4/02, Premier League

Boro Form (most recent result first): WDLDDL

Derby Form: LLLLLL

Probable Teams:

Boro: Turnbull, Young, Pogatetz, Woodgate, Wheater, Rochemback, O'Neil, Downing, Boateng, Tuncay, Aliadiere.

Derby: Bywater, Moore, Griffin, Leacock, McEveley, Davis, Oakley, Pearson, Barnes, Miller, Fagan.

Man to Watch: Tommy Miller

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