|
 |
ALASTAIR BROWNLEE'S DERBY COUNTY v BORO MATCH PREVIEW 14-12-07
ORDER YOUR COPY OF ALI'S NEW BOOK 'VOICE OF THE BORO' RIGHT HERE - NO LOG IN REQUIRED
ORDER MARK SCHWARZER'S BOOK HERE
ORDER THE FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION CALENDAR HERE
It has been a terrific week for Boro both on and off the pitch.
Sunday's fantastic victory over league leaders Arsenal was followed by the news that the club are taking positive action to try and attract fans back to the Riverside by reducing admission prices for the under elevens to £9 in all areas of the stadium.
Certainly if the remaining home games produce the drama that the demolition of the Gunners did, then not only will we see the return of big crowds to back the team, but it will also see the side move rapidly away from the relegation zone and into a position of mid-table safety.
The key test for many fans though is coming this Saturday at Pride Park as Boro switch from facing the top club to a Derby County side at the bottom of the table.
I can still hear the warning words from my granddad as we watched Boro from the Holgate End. Over the years he had seen the team beat the best and then lose to the worst. Let's hope that doesn't come true at Derby.
This will be Paul Jewell's first home game in charge of the Rams and he will certainly have his players fired up for the match, even though he has not had an immediate impact as the new boss.
County have lost at both Sunderland and then Manchester United in his opening two fixtures.
The Derby stats tell a story of a struggling club and one whose misery Boro must exploit.
County have only one Premier League win to show for their season and have scored only six goals (that's roughly one every four hours). They also have the weakest defence in the top flight, leaking thirty eight goals (again the maths show that's one every thirty-eight minutes).
Meanwhile the training ground has been a happy place to be for the Boro players, with one of the biggest smiles belonging to Tuncay.
Tuncay arrived with the reputation as the 'King of Fenerbache" but struggled to make an instant impact. His goal at Reading, however, seems to have produced a huge boost to his confidence.
Tuncay was magnificent in the win over Arsenal and his work rate was phenomenal. The Turkish international also grabbed his second goal in as many games and the adulation when he came off late in the game was similar to the affection shown to Juninho.
It is all now down to consistency and if Tuncay can reproduce that form on a regular basis he will take the Premier League by storm.
His partnership with Jeremie Aliadiere seemed an unlikely alliance when they were paired together as it's not the traditional "big one small one' combination. Both rely more on pace as opposed to a physical presence but it worked well last Sunday and a repeat at Pride Park will give the home defenders a run around.
A big talking point amongst the fans this week has been the advert featuring David Wheater aimed at getting fans back to the stadium. Personally, I think it is terrific.
Wheater has supported the club from boyhood and certainly speaks from the heart.
It's not only that though as his form this season has been excellent. He has quickly adjusted to playing regular first team football.
Some of his full blooded challenges against the Gunners would have brought a roar of approval from the hard to please fans that used to stand in the "chicken run" at Ayresome Park and if he continues his rapid improvement we might have found a new Tony Mowbray. There can be no higher praise than that!
The Boro fans have also been in terrific voice recently, out-shouting the home fans at Reading and then creating a wonderful, noisy Riverside Stadium for the Arsenal match. Support of that quality does make a difference and will, I am sure, be repeated at Derby.
Bernie and I will be reflecting on all the action from Pride Park in Simply Red on Century fm on Sunday.
There will be all the usual features, including the chance to win Sunday lunch for two at the Bluebell and tickets to see Boro against West Ham United courtesy of Ladbrokes and the Hillstreet Shopping Centre.
Guests will include Terry Cochrane and Dean Windass so why not join in the fun by giving us a call on 08450021100 or text 85102. The fun starts at 11am.
After the show I will be heading for Stockton High Street to help judge the final of the World Parmo Championship. Any chance to sample Teesside's favourite food is never turned down and the response to the search for the top parmo has been unbelievable.
The top three finalists will produce their best parmos on Sunday from 2-30pm and if you can get along I look forward to seeing you there. It certainly beats a turkey sandwich!
Up the Boro!!!
ORDER YOUR COPY OF ALI'S NEW BOOK 'VOICE OF THE BORO' RIGHT HERE - NO LOG-IN REQUIRED
ORDER MARK SCHWARZER'S BOOK HERE
ORDER THE FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION CALENDAR HERE
RETURN TO ALASTAIR BROWNLEE INDEX PAGE HERE
 |
|
|
|
