Abbreviated picks continue thanks to a backlog resultant from hunting Gorillaz in downtown most of the week. Three results right last time round – two perfect scores…

Cardiff 2-0 Norwich

Crystal Palace 1-2 Swansea

Derby 3-2 Watford

Ipswich 1-0 Millwall

Leicester 2-0 Preston

Boro 2-1 Bristol City

Portsmouth 2-1 Nottingham Forest

QPR 3-1 Burnley

Reading 2-0 Doncaster

Scunthorpe 3-3 Leeds United

Sheff Utd 0-2 Coventry

Barnsley 1-0 Hull

If we’re to believe Steve Gibson – and frankly there’s no reason not to – one can’t help feel a little sorry for Gordon Strachan. It’s the ‘mark of the man’ that he walked away, offering a resignation and surrendering any claim to compensation by tearing up his contract. A small remuneration for all the torturing disappointment endured by the fans, allowing all interested parties to move on from an ill-conceived decision the club now say they got all wrong. The owner, and proud lifelong diehard, gets another chance to make an impact appointment – are the previous aberrations of wet rookie and sour, atavistic Scot the new norm, or does he have another wonderstrike in him?

Prognostication shifts primarily to able gaffers. Last time round netted five results right – one perfect score. More robust match previews will return once this madness abates…

Bristol City 1-2 Reading

Burnley 2-0 Barnsley

Coventry 1-3 Cardiff

Doncaster 2-2 Derby

Hull 2-0 Sheffield Utd

Leeds 3-1 Leicester

Millwall 3-0 Portsmouth

Norwich 2-0 Crystal Palace

The Trees 1-1 Middlesbrough

Preston 1-0 Scunthorpe

Swansea 1-1 QPR

Watford 2-1 Ipswich

• The visitors made their intentions known early: fitter, faster, first to everything, and way more up for – Davide Somma’s goal on 12 minutes granted their reward – 8 matches now without a clean sheet

• A motivated and assiduous Kris Boyd is a wondrous thing – started sharply with some good movements and runs – still though, who will provide the regular, effective service he requires?

• No ideas, no creativity, no game plan – archaic 4-4-2 again – chances to freshen it up were overlooked – Scott McDonald offers nothing when placed back in a RM role

• Argentine striker Luciano Becchio had the sterling moment with a perfect volleyed finish to give Leeds the winner on 63 minutes – later on he struck the underside of the bar in an attempt to stretch the scoreline

• What does Steve Gibson make of the mood in the crowd – does it force him to act? For once, supporters are actually looking forward to his fireside chat with Brownlee on Monday

• A full-time tsunami of hate towards the gaffer – ‘we want Strachan out’ resumes at full pelt

• Gordon Strachan claimed Boro were unlucky in his rather calm post-match interview: unlucky w/ their 2 goals – we worked hard but didn’t get anything from it (what was he watching?) – doesn’t have a problem with the chorus of demands for his dismissal

• Wheats – feels we were better overall and should have gotten something from this

• GON – we dominated the game (where is this coming from?) forget about promotion at this stage – too far behind and it distorts expectations

• Tommo decision, playing him straight away after 6 weeks off, very costly – off after 5 mins – still no word on the extent of the aggravation

• Pompey had loads of chances in the first half – all match long they snapped into tackles and were all over the ball

• Boyd played well and quite active and up for it…sadly his finishing wasn’t top notch as 3 or 4 really good chances went begging

• Draw may be the fair result – Boro pretty poor in the first half with a goal against the run of play – at least our pen was stonewall, and Robbo took charge of the situation with authority, shielding the ball from Boyd and Mac before blasting home

• Pompey had loads of chances in the first half – all match long they snapped into tackles and were all over the ball

• Liam Lawrence = fantastic! all over the pitch, central to everything they did, deadly set pieces and balls into the box

• GON: Robbo retaliated against Mokoena after a contretemps in the Boro box – his injury: tight hamstrings, lack of training, didn’t want to risk a tear

• GS: looked comfortable, created chances – didn’t see anything in the Robbo incident…and he’s ‘not interested’ in Robbo’s version of the events – takes drugs/drink and smoke? that’s uncalled for – what to change for Leeds? don’t have a linesman give a penalty when the ball is 50 yards from the box

The sexiness coefficient of the league has just dipped dramatically with Paulo Sousa’s sacking at Leicester. Down deep in the table, unable to string anything tangible together, some think the diamond Portugeezer shouldn’t be the only alien deported back from whence they came. More on the fiery Scot occupying the hot seat below, now it’s round 10 prognostications unveiled:

Barnsley 2-2 Cardiff

Bristol City 1-2 Norwich

Crystal Palace 1-1 QPR

Doncaster 2-0 The Trees

Hull 1-1 Coventry

Ipswich 2-1 Leeds United

Leicester 3-0 Scunthorpe

Middlesbrough 2-0 Portsmouth

Millwall 2-2 Burnley

Preston 2-3 Reading

Sheffield Utd 0-1 Watford

Swansea 3-1 Derby

Pressure mounts on Gordon Strachan; he has no idea what’s wrong, and no clue how to fix it. Knives have been unsheathed again after a miserable trip to Watford and Derby, completely eradicating any momentum garnered by the home gains of two weeks ago. It’s prompted a chance to elucidate some feelings, to really convey one’s thoughts surrounding this soon to be one year anniversary of an Irn-Bru revolution…

Accounts have been filed with Companies House – no real financial shockers, nothing that hasn’t been calculated on the back of a fag packet…

Mogga doesn’t want the poisoned chalice, so who is in the frame if Gordo is told to do one? Phil Brown? Martin O’Neill? If the gamble on immediate promotion is as serious as the dosh dossier suggests, it must be someone skilled at getting out of this league. Who else fits the bill?

Friday

7.45p

Doncaster v Leeds United – Keepmoat Stadium

James Coppinger was one of two hat-trick heroes from Tuesday…his treble helped sink Norwich and thrust Donny into the top 6…Leeds need to regroup quickly after the tonking administered at Oakwell…Doncaster 2-1 Leeds United

Saturday

3.00p

Barnsley v Derby – Oakwell

This pair are travelling in different directions – Barnsley is on the ascendancy after a rough start, while Derby rest near the foot of the table…if this lot were limp at Hull, imagine the shellacking they may get here…Barnsley 3-0 Derby

Bristol City v Coventry – Ashton Gate

The change in gaffer hasn’t had the desired stabilising effect for the hosts…another wretched display in the loss to Watford at the Gate…Coventry are still cogitating over bringing in Felonius Punk Marlon King…give him what he wants or he’ll bash ya, cos he’s a millionaire don’t you know? Bristol City 1-1 Coventry

Crystal Palace v Burnley – Selhurst Park

James Vaughan was the other goal machine from earlier this week with his three more nails in the Pompey coffin…just in on loan from Everton, the goal ace has revealed he’d be up for staying on permanently – don’t all players on loan say that to quickly engender themselves? Burnley may be content with a tepid 0-0 based on the lunacy of their last two matches…Crystal Palace 2-1 Burnley

Ipswich v Cardiff – Portman Road

Some speculation out there says Avram Grant will get to enjoy all the religious sabbatical he wants…Dave Jones has surfaced as the current flavour of edible undercrackers being considered by smut lords Sullivan and Gold…there’s a little more money to spend in the East End, and the imagined assembly line of totty available for sampling, if you’re into that sort of thing…Ipswich 1-1 Cardiff

Leicester v QPR – Walkers Stadium

With Cardiff demons freshly exorcised, Paulo Sousa can now look to halting a runaway QPR juggernaut…we want somebody – aside from Port Vale – to please fucking stuff them…Leicester 1-2 QPR

Middlesbrough v Reading – Riverside Stadium

Tarmo! Tarmo! Tarmo! The Estonian livewire singlehandedly eased the mounting pressure on Gordon Strachan and produced an emotion nearly extinct on Teesside: football-based pleasure…another good result against Reading will go a long way to healing the wounds and re-launching a dead-serious promotion push…Boro 1-2 Reading

Millwall v Watford – New Den

We thought the Lions match v Reading was called off or postponed due to endemic hooliganism after spying the 0-0 result…it was Reading keeper Adam Federici going all gymnastic in repelling Steve Morison several times…Scott Loach looks to replicate those heroics…Millwall 4-1 Watford

Preston v Norwich – Deepdale

Nonsense…rubbish…a disgrace…probably a few other choice adjectives were launched as Little Ferg accepted his fine and 3-match touchline ban for naughty language post-Burnley…Paul Lambert hopes his side can profit after getting done by Donny…Preston 1-2 Norwich

Sheffield United v Portsmouth – Bramall Lane

So much for the Gary Speed revival…sugarcoat it all you want, but when the home side ships four goals and scores eff all, that’s a proper banjaxing…fortunately Portsmouth are a panacea for those type of ills…it’s the overused understatement of the century, but Steve Cotterill has got a job on his hands if they’re to stay up…Sheffield Utd 1-0 Portsmouth

Swansea v Scunthorpe – Liberty Stadium

There’s only one Ian Baraclough, there’s only one Ian Baraclough…Scunny ran riot at the Lane, while Darren Pratley and itinerant former Chelsea next-big-thing Scott Sinclair netted for the Swans to keep Coventry at bay…Swansea 3-2 Scunthorpe

5.20p

Hull v The Trees – KC Stadium

Signs of life from the denizens near the Trent, snatching vital away points against woeful Preston…Jimmy Bullard, the formerly quite useful midfield dynamo, took a bow in the destruction of Derby…whether he’s actually part of Nigel Pearson’s plans, or the club is just putting him in the shop window prematurely remains to be seen…Hull 0-0 The Trees

Tuesday

7.45p

Barnsley v Leeds United – Oakwell

The Tykes look to avoid the ignominy of consecutive losses to newly promoted sides…Leeds will be without their number one as Kapser Schmeichel battles a foot injury…Barnsley 2-1 Leeds United

Bristol City v Watford – Ashton Gate

City took advantage of the then-uncertainty at Glanford Park and rolled to a critical win…Watford pulled a Boro and threw away points when Doncaster snatched at draw at the death…Bristol City 2-0 Watford

Doncaster v Norwich – Keepmoat Stadium

A juicy proposition between two intriguing sides fully imbued with the spirit of their respective gaffers…a game to take impressionable, aspiring tots to…Doncaster 2-2 Norwich

Hull v Derby – KC Stadium

When you’ve failed to win away in 27 straight, home can be a tonic…unless your form there is pretty shit too…fortunately for Hull, Derby look rubbish…Hull 1-0 Derby

Ipswich v QPR – Portman Road

Like countless others before, many Boro fans take warm comfort in Roy Keane…his, erm, methodical approach to finally stringing some results together after 18 months give those suffering under Strachan some cause for optimism…stuffing rampant QPR after our beatdown should engender more moist emotion…Ipswich 1-0 QPR

Leicester v Cardiff – Walkers Stadium

A playoff rematch from May, when Cardiff prevailed and thought they’d stroll to promotion after Blackpool shocked the Trees…four months on it’s Pool strutting on the Prem promenade…Paulo Sousa needs this one badly…Leicester 3-1 Cardiff

Middlesbrough v Burnley – Riverside Stadium

The knives are out…the captain castigated after his heroically frank post-QPR assessment…and Gary McAllister is contemplating using the escape hatch to fuck off to Villa…attendance may be in the four-figures, if not Tuesday, then Saturday for sure, without a courageous, competent display here…Burnley shanghaied Little Ferg last time out, and it was glorious…Boro 0-2 Burnley

Millwall v Reading – New Den

Trips to Millwall were always going to be grim…the fact that they’re playing some of the best stuff in the league now makes it positively frightening…Millwall 2-1 Reading

Preston v The Trees – Deepdale

Unofficially, it took Little Ferg five whole league post-match pressers to use ‘disgrace’, or any of its permutations…that’s just not good enough…we want his not-so-distinct bombast and vitriol tout les jours…Billy Davies may not be the most agitated Scot in the league after all…Preston 1-0 The Trees

Sheffield United v Scunthorpe – Bramall Lane

This league lost a diamond geezer when Nigel Adkins agreed to take over at Southampton…let’s hope a little bit of money and fame doesn’t change him…Sheffield United have a golden chance to make it three straight wins for rookie gaffer Gary Speed…Sheffield United 2-0 Scunthorpe

Swansea v Coventry – Liberty Stadium

We’re plumping for a big, defining away win…only cos we really can’t call this…it happens…Swansea 0-2 Coventry

8.00p

Crystal Palace v Portsmouth – Selhurst Park

Pompey fight and bleed and rummage…it’s hard not to tacitly pull for them in these sullen times…Palace have the makings of a good side with Ambrose, Danns, and Speroni…George Burley has quite a bit to prove you would think after setting Scotland football back to the dark ages…Crystal Palace 2-2 Portsmouth

Saturday

12.30p

Coventry v Leicester – Ricoh Arena

Paulo Sousa isn’t a one bird man…his indecisiveness is spilling into his striker selection too: D.J. Campbell was going to stay, but then he went…and now he’s not so sure about Matty Fryatt…at least he has the spunk to admit he couldn’t go on without a bit of Martyn Waghorn…Aidy Boothroyd has the home side embarking on a positive ascent…Chris Coleman did too this time last year, and that didn’t end on the best of terms…Coventry 1-1 Leicester

1.00p

Derby v Sheffield United – Pride Park

Great bit of business by the Rams, eh? Boro were willing to part with upwards of £4m last summer for hulking forward Rob Hulse…instead they dug their heels in and stood firm, aided by the fact Hulse wasn’t interested in a move to the northeast…QPR snapped him up for £1m before the close of the transfer window, leaving a considerable gap in attack…Gary Speed seeks another win to herald a good start to an overdue managerial career…Derby 1-1 Sheffield United

3.00p

Cardiff v Hull – Cardiff City Stadium

Massive…huge…epic…landmark…Anthony Gerrard returns to Cardiff City Stadium! Frankly we’re tired of talking up Craig Bellamy, and we can’t work in a smart Goldie Lookin Chain reference…here’s hoping Nigel Pearson is back to rude health after a hospital scare…Cardiff 2-0 Hull

Leeds United v Swansea – Elland Road

Amdy Faye has been drafted in to add grit and muscle to the Leeds midfield…a shrewd acquisition that further bolsters an already formidable spine…Swansea are right in the early thick of it, but the away form has to improve if they’re to make a real go…another proven goalscorer couldn’t hurt too…maybe a cheeky call to his mate in Madrid to see if Gonzalo Higuain might be available on loan? Leeds United 2-1 Swansea

Norwich v Barnsley – Carrow Road

Mark Robins may have a true gem on his hands in Adam Hammill…a chic pick for prosperity, the Tykes look to build on the success that followed an underwhelming start…Norwich don’t look like they’re going anywhere, in a good way…they’ll hang and claw and scratch, and occasionally gouge…Norwich 3-1 Barnsley

The Trees v Millwall – Trees Home Ground

This is for you smogonthetynenowinnunthorpe…an exorcism of the Garibaldi Reds, distilling them down to a generic parochial, arboreal outfit…chief thicko Steve Morison looks to maintain his torrid form…Kenny Jackett immediately distancing himself from the Wales vacancy can’t hurt the continued cohesion either…The Trees 0-1 Millwall

Portsmouth v Ipswich – Fratton Park

If nothing else, Dave Kitson will give great quote to the journos on the south coast…he and Liam Lawrence certainly appear a considerable upgrade over what they surrendered in Marc Wilson and Tommy Smith…no word if Roy is to go ahead with his coaching duties after this tragic news…goodnight, sweet prince…Portsmouth 1-0 Ipswich

QPR – Middlesbrough – Loftus Road

Things are going swimmingly at the Bush…and Neil Warnock has never lost to Boro, anywhere…of course we had never won at their place either, before the 5-1 thrashing way that signaled Gordo’s first win last December…a real litmus test for the visitors, especially with a national media set to cast a beady eye on our assembly of expensive talent…QPR 2-2 Boro

Reading v Crystal Palace – Madejski Stadium

Palace secured the scrawl of James Vaughan on loan to key the attack…Reading matches them with their own tyro, former Royal Simon Cox is in from West Brom…will Reading go the way of the Sugarcubes after their charismatic focal point Gylfi Sigurdsson has gone? Reading 2-0 Crystal Palace

Scunthorpe v Bristol City – Glanford Park

Such class…Nigel Adkins won’t give Southampton the time of day unless they consider compensating the Iron…a lesson in devotion and professional integrity for all in these morally bankrupt times…Keith Millen gets a starlet in Tottenham’s Danny Rose…the young whippet should be keen to impress that he does indeed have the goods…Scunthorpe 2-1 Bristol City

Watford v Doncaster – Vicarage Road

The loan window recently opened, and no doubt Watford will be on edge as they see if they can snatch anymore big-time Prem-nurtured talent to abet a quest to avoid expected tough times in the league…Doncaster don’t have to wait for the Arsenal whelps, for they play they’re own brand of pass-it-into-the-net stuff…Watford 2-2 Doncaster

5.15p

Burnley v Preston – Turf Moor

Great stuff from Paul Fletcher this week, chronicling the financial re-tooling of a club almost taken to the HMRC wall…Little Ferg is on board with the austerity plan, though not without his own nepotistic loan captures…Turf Moor is a fortress, just ask Big Ferg…Burnley 2-0 Preston

The power base is contravening their expected strategy to avoid short-term loan options, which is what we’re certainly facing at this juncture. Unless Gordo has a cheeky scheme to raid some Prem clubs of the talent left out of the compulsory 25-man rosters. Loan activity at this level commences 08 Sep 10…a consternated support base eagerly awaits the possibilities for additions prior to the next must-get-a-result outing at QPR.

Vic was gracious enough to elucidate on the net spend since January - the numbers assuage some concerns and potential stigmas…here’s our evocative reply to the post-transfer window postmortem:

Looking at the numbers makes me feel a bit better – such a more positive outlook when including the wage savings from the old big-time earners…

I can’t help but thinking of another area we’ll soon be more deficient in: having/developing marketable players…Wheats has to be the only one of the academy lads who could command a nice transfer fee…Steele may get there soon enough, but after that, who? Any of Park/Pilatos/Luke Williams?

As far as first-teamers and squad players, GON remains the primary attraction – his valuation has dipped to the 2.5m range at best…Boyd would be a profit cos of the free…we could possibly recoup the McDonald spend too…

Gordo ideally wanted to eschew the loan market in favour of weaving together an impenetrable squad…he has to rely on it now – a few more able-bodied mercenaries semi-committed to the cause…

A few more late-week Boro tidbits:

• The second monthly shirt sponsor has been unveiled, and it generated considerable buzz…
• International break – Euro 2012 qualification begins this weekend – the bravehearts aren’t the only ones away on duty…
• Lithuania v Scotland - Robbo and Mick start for the absolutely critical opener away in Kaunas  
• Estonia v Italy – shoot-on-sight livewire Tarmo Kink features for the hosts as they host 2006 WC champions, and 2010 WC laughingstocks, Italy

And finally, an offering to the football blogging deities, hoping beyond hope that we’ll be rescued from the ennui of a cubicle-based work existence…some tossed together notes strained from the frankly wonderful commentary of the local Barnsley radio coverage streamed on that dastardly justin.tv:

Kris Boyd – Tykes commentators/contributors: ‘Boyd born offside’ – a few good half-chances – sliced a really good open chance 10 feet past Luke Steele’s post – ran hard and got into decent positions

Robbo – cracking 25 yd effort saved in the second half – quite active overall – much better individually after Sheffield United

Kink – continued to build confidence – more pops from distance that have increased in marginal success – escaped punishment for coming back onto the pitch after treatment prematurely, w/ out ref consent

post match inquests w/ Gordon Cox:

Gordo: not very contrite – keeper made great saves – away support was brilliant…disappointed for them – unhappy times at the moment – keep working, hope the luck will change and performances improve – I have a ‘terrific life’…didn’t seemed too bothered by the context of a dreadful start

Wheats: couldn’t get the ball to wide men from the back – balls out of play – worked on the crosses extensively in training – keep grafting/training hard – revelation about the first goal from set-piece

callers: where’s his passion – fight! – he sounds like an outsider – no passion for the cause – Kevin Fucking Keegan? – that trumps the outlandish demand for Maradona – Rioch was frequently outraged at the rubbish results and risible performances…he ripped into his teams accordingly

GG sews it up: work very hard in the next 2 weeks boys – in the midfield, when Barnsley lost the ball they battled and willed themselves to win it back…we gave up and looked ragged, lost the shape and were totally overran

Saturday

3.00p

Barnsley v Middlesbrough – Oakwell

If the Tykes want a cup tie they’re going to get one says Gordon Strachan…Boro continue to tinker with their formations in search of some shape and attacking stability…midfield help is en route from Germany in the form of Hamburg’s itinerant Senegal international Mickael Tavares…Barnsley have yet to live up to early season promise as a playoff contender…Barnsley 1-2 Boro

Derby v QPR – Pride Park

Adel Taarabt is the second coming of Cristiano Ronaldo…Neil Warnock is taking Rangers back to the promised land…they play the most expansive football in the division…blah blah blah…wake us when they’re sweating on the outskirts of the top 6 come March…Derby 2-0 QPR

Doncaster v Hull – Keepmoat Stadium

The home side will take their hammerings, as they did last week in Wales…it proves as no deterrent for the slick brand of football Rovers like to espouse…Nigel Pearson undoubtedly has the resources and nous to stabilize leaky Hull…they strike us as a bit of a wildcard – you don’t quite know what to expect, especially away from home…Doncater 2-1 Hull

Ipswich v Bristol City – Portman Road

Roy certainly is rolling: a bright start to the campaign, currently in fifth position, superfluous Jon pair of Stead and Walters flogged off for needed dosh…a towering dread-locked striker procured from Wigan…things are progressing well for Town…Bristol City are still trying to find their feet after the Coppell disaster as they leak goals at an alarming rate…Ipswich 1-0 Bristol City

Millwall v Coventry – The Den

We reckon Marlon King may not be in the crowd for this one…surely a good kicking awaits if he’s daft enough…the Sky Blues are set for one too as Millwall continue to acclimatize to their new surroundings nicely…Millwall 3-1 Coventry

Nottingham Forest v Norwich – City Ground

Tough sledding for Forest so far…is Billy Davies furtively packing up his things little by little, or will he just sod it all and hope Forest ship his possessions out via courier to his forwarding address on file in human resources? Norwich are off to a flyer like their promoted bretheren…Nottingham Forest 0-0 Norwich

Portsmouth v Cardiff – Fratton Park

Dave Jones has zero sympathy for Pompey…maybe your heart goes into the deep freeze when your club is continually skint, you can’t afford remedial repairs to the pitch, and you’ve personally endured allegations of being dangerous to children? Portsmouth 1-1 Cardiff

Scunthorpe v Crystal Palace – Glanford Park

The Iron will survive if they maintain knocking off the bigger clubs who can’t match their austere and prudent approach to running a football club…Crystal Palace is another prime, attainable target…and Glanford Park can be a fun fortress…Scunthorpe 2-0 Crystal Palace

Sheffield United v Preston – Bramall Lane

Ferg Jr got a much needed result last week v Portsmouth…he’ll lead the Lillywhites into Bramall Lane hoping to extend the Blades early misery, and make the curve for new gaffer Gary Speed noticeably sharper…based on their display at the Riverside – and both teams were culpable – he’s got a job to do…Sheffield United 1-1 Preston

Swansea v Burnley – Liberty Stadium

The Clarets have hit the ground running – as expected in most footballing circles…Swansea’s transition under Brendan Rodgers shouldn’t be a transition at all really since the club was steadfast in appointing a new manager keen on proliferating their patented possession approach…some remain underwhelmed by the Carnlough Mourinho…scalping the visitors could go some way to altering that mindset…Swansea 2-1 Burnley

Watford v Leeds United – Vicarage Road

A top ten tussle in Hertfordshire, though for how long remains to be seen…Malky Mackay has his young tribe overachieving early…Simon Grayson just got attacking reinforcement in the shape of Scotland international striker Ross McCormack…we like the newcomers to nick a jammy win…Watford 0-1 Leeds United

5.20p

Leicester v Reading – The Walkers Stadium

Mouthwatering…sumptuous…eye-catching…adjectives not quite appropriate for these two given their pedigree and level of expectation…still, they’re our tips for fouth and third respectively…if it came down to barnets and overall looks amongst the gaffers the Foxes win every damn time…Leicester 2-1 Reading