Boro Mania

VS

Football is returning to Middlesbrough this week after a fortnight of tough away games against Aston Villa and Everton.

Boro are starting to look strong after a September full of defeats, infact since October... we've only lost one game, making that one defeat out of seven matches and five games unbeaten in total. Arguably an excellent return, but it's still leaving Boro fans wondering if we could have had more points on the table.

This week we're hosting Bolton at the Riverside Stadium and Gareth and his troops will be looking to send them home with nothing after last year's dissapointing 1-0 home defeat.

The game comes at a good time for Boro as we see players returning to form. Players like Stewart Downing who's displays against Aston Villa and Everton were noticably improved and his international performance on Wednesday was one of his best displays this season. We also have Tuncay who scored a Hat-trick against Poggy's Austria Side on Wednesday, so we're hoping this vein of form continues back on Teesside tomorrow afternoon.

Bolton, a brief history

Founder members of the Football League, Bolton were a successful cup side in the 1920s, winning the FA Cup three times. The club won the cup a fourth time in 1958 thanks to two Nat Lofthouse goals. A leaner spell followed, reaching a nadir in 1987 when the club spent a season in the Fourth Division. The club regained top-flight status in 1995 after a 15 year absence; their current spell in the top division started in 2001. In 2005–06 they participated in European competition for the first time, reaching the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Bolton qualified for the 2007–08 tournament by finishing 7th in the 2006–07 Premier League season and this time they managed to reach the last 16 of the competition. Bolton Wanderers moved to the Reebok Stadium in 1997. Their former home was Burnden Park. Bolton have spent the highest number of seasons in the top flight without winning the title (69, as of 2007-08)

Bolton are currently sporting the best defensive record outside the top three, however as team, they havent been too impressive this season which presents a chance for Boro to go out and display a bout of attacking football. Bolton's performances have been plagued by individual errors, whilst they havent nesecarily resulted in goals being scored, these errors cirtainly need to be taken advantage of and hopefully Boro's pace can do just that. What we can hope for though is an easy enough afternoon and some luck infront of goal... basically, the complete opposite of the West Brom game.

It still remains to be seen where these goals are going to come from though. Alves currently isn't getting the service and while Tuncay seems to be in goalscoring form at the moment, he isn't a prolific striker... infact, he isn't a striker at all, so the burden musn't be placed on his shoulders. Instead, the team should be working on getting the killer balls through and splitting the defense which is something that hasn't been happening, and until it does, i wouldn't expect a flurry of goals from the front two. In my honest opinion, it's midfield that desperately needs a bit of competition for places and a few additions with some attacking and creative flair to release the strikers into goalscoring opportunities. Why dont you head over to the Forum and read the featured article with the players we've been linked to and post some of you're own suggestions. Who do YOU think Boro should take a look at?

Middlesbrough: Possible line-up and team news

Turnbull, Hoyte, Taylor, Wheater, Huth, Downing, O'Neil, Arca, Digard, Tuncay, Alves

Southgate will be trying to field as much of an unchanged squad as possible, however he'll be forced to make one or two changes to the squad that drew with Everton a week ago.

Chris Riggott left the field early on in the second half with a hamstring injury, so David Wheater is poised to take his place back in the centre of defence.

O'Neil could keep his place on the right hand side of midfield, with Arca now fit again. Didier Digard should resume service alongside Arca.

Boro's medical team are currently working with five of our players ahead of Saturday's game.

Mido [Hamstring] Huth [Ankle] and Aliadiere [Virus] are in with a chance of featuring against Bolton having been training this week. Mido's progress is unclear and he may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Pogatetz had withdrawn from the Austria squad with a suspected knee injury, so Huth could be drafted in ahead of schedule to fill the gap in the centre of defense.

Shawky is still out as he contends with a thigh muscle strain.

Bolton: Possible line-up and team news

Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Samuel, O'Brien, Cahill, Nolan, Taylor, Muamba, Mcann, Elmander, Davies

Bolton will be poised to field the same squad that lost against Liverpool last week.

With only one long term injury victim, Ricardo Vaz Te [Knee Injury] Megson will have a full squad to choose from.

Team vs Team Statistics

A total of 115 matches have taken place in this fixture, with Bolton actually leading the wins collumn in the overrall standings.

Boro have won 37 games, while Bolton have 48 under their belt, leaving 30 draws.

At the Riverside, Boro have won 29 games, to Bolton's 15, while 14 games have ended in both teams taking the points.

On average, Boro have scored 1.88 goals per game at the Riverside [107], to Boltons 1.14 [66 goals]

Boro are currently in a run of 5 games undefeated.

We've only lost one match in 7 games.

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Bolton have gone 7 away games without a draw

Match Predictions

I believe Boro are going to cruise this game at home. With Downing currently returning to form, and a general sense of confidence brewing throughout the squad, i'm going to go for a 2-0 win for the Boro. If Boro can capitalise on Bolton's mistakes, there may be more in it. I'd like to see the midfield get the front two into the game more and perhaps as a consequence see Alves bag a brace.

*My appologies for this week's lack of illustration, depth and the generally short article. It's not upto my usual standards as computer problems are again hampering me writing this article. Long story short, a faulty PSU is causing random restarts, so i've had to rush this weeks addition. Next week's should be back upto scratch, so don't miss out!*