Here are our notes on the action, distilled from the rave-y cocktail of live streaming audio, orderly real-time blog chaos, and existential social networking banter…

Boro experiment with a 3-5-2: Steele, McMahon, Davies, Hines, Grounds, Bennett, Bailey (c), Arca, Taylor, Lita, McDonald. Subs: Ripley, Park, Smallwood, Halliday, Boyd, Zemmama, Haas

Andrew Davies, fresh in on loan until the end of the season from Stoke, goes straight into the heart of an previously untried defence. Barry Robson misses out through injury – Marvin Emnes travelled across the North Sea back to Holland for a family medical emergency. Nicky Bailey takes the armband in the absence of the captain and vice-captain.

1^st half

• Lively Millwall start – a few quick corners, then a decent chance for goal hawk Steve Morison that goes wide – 4 mins
• Ref – Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire)
• Leroy Lita enjoying a decent opening: a free header directed well wide early on, then a run in on David Forde halted by an awful first touch. At the moment he’s the only striker we’ve got who can consistently mix it up and cause headaches for the opposition
• Last 31 in the series: Boro 14W 6D 11L
• Neil Harris strikes in the 14^th min – simple, harmless ball over the top, allowing the old head to get around Davva and half-volley past Jason Steele…Millwall 1-0 Boro
• Steve Morison: bargain of the decade in this league after being plucked from Stevenage
• Boro have seen a decent amount of the ball, but the touches/movement have been benign – Millwall are gaining possession, turning up field, and attacking our goal directly
• Great play Julio Arca; a terrific burst forward, unlocking LL. It’s another heavy touch as he rounds the keeper, forcing him to steer too wide, and giving the defence time to cut down the space
• James Henry is miles ahead of anyone else on the pitch this first half. He’s marshalling this effort to constantly assault and disrupt the visitors
• twitter despatch from @keithlambmfc: new old signing andrew davies has made a massive difference, we’ve conceded in the first half now!! #Boro
• Millwall have conceded just 6 goals in their last 15 at the New Den

HT Millwall 1-0 Boro

It’s a marvel that this is still 1-0; Millwall have had loads of possession and chances. Boro have had chances too – it’s not as one-way as it seems: Arca has fashioned a few openings with inventive passes…Leroy Lita is seeing chance after chance evade him with heavy touches and poor finishing

Adjusting to the new system harshly – Bennett is getting called out of position by the bench, Hines is getting terrorized by Morison and Harris. Can we afford to stick with this in the second half?

2^nd half

• Attendance – 11871 (878 Boro)
• Arca booked for dissent 8 mins into 2^nd half. In an effort to protect him, and his club, Tony Mowbray introduces Merouane Zemmama for the Argentine
• Millwall: one double over Boro in 1967-68
• Tony, Tony McMahon!! Fantastic free kick from 30 yards – great work from Scott McDonald to earn the opportunity…Millwall 1-1 Boro
• End to end, breathless stuff – right after the restart Jason Steele produces a world class save to keep it level…60 mins
• Scott McDonald stamps a remarkable turnaround…terrific ball from Zemmama after his dance on the edge of the box…inspired change by Mogga…Millwall 1-2 Boro
• Fans, missiles, rozzers, stewards; they are all on the pitch…obvious mind games from the smart Millwall supporters, thwarting Boo’s momentum… Chris Sarginson consults with his crew, some of the security staff, and the gaffers whilst contemplating pulling the players off…it can’t end like this!
• Boro seeking first win at Millwall since 1973
• Kenny Jackett brings on a late-match magician…Kevin Lisbie – on loan from Ipswich (7^th diff loan club) – the nomad has come up large with late goals in each of Millwall’s last two matches
• Here comes the surge: Hameer Bouazza picks his spot masterfully after a questionable foul leads to the set piece…Millwall level it 2-2 with 13 mins to play…grandstand finish on our hands
• Lethal Leroy Lita!! This was a chance her couldn’t possible fuck up: astonishing control on the flank from Zemmama, creating enough space to deliver a pinpoint cross. LL made no mistake with his finish… Millwall 2-3 Boro…8 mins to play
• 6 goals in 2 matches…this is an explosion
• adidas should make Leroy Lita a onesie – there simply has to be a remedy to his natural inclination to rip off the top after a goal
• Davva giving himself a concussion with seemingly dozens of desperate headers
• 6 mins added courtesy of the yobs and their shenanigans

GG MOM – Andrew Davies

FT Millwall 2-3 Boro

Took some doing, but Boro finally kicked on in the second half – to come here and get all three points is massive. The mettle displayed to hold on and see this out, after last weeks’ meltdown, is a tremendous confidence builder…

Zemmama had a go at the Dockers Stand during the kerfuffle – Ali offers a terse explanation for his desire to get involved: ’it gets tasty in Marrakesh’. His addition added a new dimension, a spark of creativity and energy that kick-started our attack. Two assists in a relief appearance; he looks a natural for that dynamic role behind two strikers.

Tunnel reaction with Tony Mowbray: pretty draining result – through the intensity of the match you could easily see why they’ve won 6 on the trot at home – Davva: he’s in because he’s done the work, training with the club over the winter holidays – he can help us – a leader on the pitch – disappointed with the first half, but somewhat expected given the required adjustments – had a few words about what is was like to be a footballer in this league – demand the character and composure necessary to improve the overall fortunes – Zemmama: this why he’s here – genuine quality, class with the ball – ref was committed to removing the players from the pitch; we just needed the match finished – hopefully this result is a great bonding exercise for the young defenders

Andrew Davies triumphantly returns: eventful affair – first real competitive game in 4 months – the type of match where the youthful defending was under serious scrutiny – really just wants a chance to play regular football – 1 Prem match in 3 seasons at Stoke – ‘if I’m in a Middlesbrough shirt I’ll always give my best’ – ‘I just wanna do well for everyone’

Standard straight talk from Tony McMahon: ‘I’ll talk about the goal all day if you want’ – smashed it in, may never score another one like it – everyone is buzzing – didn’t deal well with their early-and-often pressure – team answered the gaffer’s questions from half time – redeeming performance from Jason Steele too – referee handled the transgressions well – Davva had a hard time at Stoke, ‘nightmare 2 years’ – he’ll win headers, lead the team, and give it his all

New foreign folk hero Merouane Zemmama: really enjoyed the game – fans created a special atmosphere – spirit in the ground generates enthusiasm between the players – heard prior to the match that Millwall was an ‘aggressive’ place

Boro make one enforced change: Steele, McMahon, Bates, Hines, Bennett, Franks, Bailey, Arca, Taylor, Boyd, Lita. Subs: Ripley, Haas, McDonald, Halliday, Grounds, Smallwood, Park

Pre-match niceties with Mogga: on the progress of Merouane Zemmama –  ‘he’s in a post office in Marrakesh probably’

Jonathan Franks in for Marvin Emnes (groin), who failed a late fitness test

35 played in this series – Boro: 13W 9D 13L

1^st half

• Dougie Freedman is still searching for first win. He’s been permanent for a month, fostering a stingy defence that hasn’t conceded at home since 09 Nov 10. His number two Lennie Lawrence shared a few hearty moments with Mogga pre-match
• Jason Steele and Joe Bennett get the call for the England U21 match in Empoli against the Italians
• Julian Speroni – looks a bit gruff…and heavy…’you sound like Brucie’ quips Gary Gill
• Arca the, ahem, Arcatect
• Ref – Roger East (Wiltshire)
• Matthew Bates off with hamstring knack after 22 minutes. Jonathan Grounds comes on, leaving Maxi  Haas to still wait for his English debut. Crutches for the captain? Nah, he’s proper hard…
• Macca took the armband after Bates exit
• Boro looking to score in 9^th consecutive league match
• More poor composure from Leroy Lita…had Speroni committed and scuffed his shot
• Anthony Gardner having a Kalifa Cisse-esque shocker
• Dean Moxey the standout Palace man so far. A cracking piece of late transfer business from the looks of it…he’s the standout presence in this Palace side looking to close the gap between them and their current opponents
• ‘A catalogue of errors’ leads to Palace’s opener – awful play from Seb Hines…goal claimed by James Vaughan…Palace 1-0

HT Palace 1-0 Boro

Loads of possession for us, with no end product. Arca has been masterful, completing at least as many passes as the hosts combined. Bates exit has really had an impact. Hines shocking during the concession of the goal – Vaughan outmuscled the young centre back entirely too easily. Get your head on son and repay the favour this half…

Scott McDonald can change the shape for us – he can get forward and profit from the fruitful passes Arca and Bailey are offering

2^nd half

• Franks off – Cameron Park on
• The strikers must be strong, getting the ball to stick…keep possession and be stronger
• Darren Ambrose denied a chance to possibly kill it off…great save Steele
• Boyd off – McDonald on, vociferously
• 15 mis left – no subs left to reshuffle – who will conjure up the magic to get us something
• Att – 14060 (1315 Boro)
• Hines heads up front for a last roll of the dice…with Boyd off there’s a decided lack of height in the attack…

GG MOM – Arca

FT Palace 1-0 Boro

One mistake punished us, though to be fair they could have had 2 or 3. We dominated possession and did fuck all with it; not a good sign to do this away against a team below you. Boro’s glaring, flagrant lack of presence in the Palace penalty box ensured we wouldn’t be a threat. Confidence waned as the match progressed. And once Bates left the spirit disappeared entirely

4 points from 9 – simply not a good enough return against teams in the bottom three. Obviously the Preston lapse set the tone for this critical run

Fans openly questioning transfer window logic – £2m  wasn’t enough for Lita? And why no reinvestment in the squad? Mogga’s admission that the club wanted, and needed, to move more players around in the transfer window will sting throughout May – summer will be the time for wide range perestroika

Tunnel reaction with Tony Mowbray: punished quite a bit for one mistake in this division – standards slipped – the squad didn’t succeed with the game plan in training, and it showed – Matthew Bates: hamstring injury confirmed ; less than ideal training conditions may have played a role – Grounds is better with ball at his left foot; he played well ahead of a potential English debut for Maximilian Haas – another day and it’s 0-0, no-one deserved to win the match – Cam Park; late call to plump for Franks after Emnes was ruled out; he came on because we needed a creative player on the pitch

Nicky Bailey needs consolation: disappointing end to a good run – got ‘caught up a little bit’ – ‘didn’t create enough or play well enough as a team’ – not trying to make excuses, but the wind ‘was everywhere’ and the pitch was ‘bubbly’

Julio Arca, Boro’s new best interview: too a nasty kick, leg is hurting – ‘we tried everything’, ‘couldn’t find the space’ – they waited for us to make a mistake, and apart from the goal they created nothing – ‘frustrating when you can’t break in’ – regarding Swansea, it could be better for us to play against a team that wants to play good football…slightly elitist eh, Julio?

Boro employ a fluid 4-4-2: Steele, McMahon, Hines, Bates, Bennett, Bailey, Arca, Taylor, Emnes, Lita, Boyd – Subs: Ripley, Haas, Grounds, Smallwood, Park, McDonald, Franks

11 academy players in the squad, rendering it easier to name the foreigners: Bailey, Arca, Haas, McDonald, Lita, Boyd, Emnes

Maximilian Haas has been allocated squad number 3

Having a listen to Mogga’s pre-match with Ali. He describes Richie Smallwood as a pragmatic footballer. Perhaps the best bit of January business was inking the young talent to new long term deals – Smallwood, Joe Bennett, and Seb Hines are in on the ground level of this renaissance

1^st half

• Extremely low crowd in this unfashionable midweek fixture – only two coaches full of Scunny support, and they’re only about 90 minutes away

• Ref: Rob Lewis (Shrewsbury) – this is his Championship bow. Does this mean we can harshly scrutinise his performance and infer he doesn’t know the laws of the game?

• Early clanger for Matthew Bates – after some panic it’s determined he just needs some tissues stuffed up his nostrils

• Kris Boyd, still around after a series of transfer dominoes failed to fall fortuitously, makes an early mark in the match, just like at Glanford Park – an easy ball over the top from Seb Hines leads to a decent finish past a hapless defence…7 mins in and Boro lead 1-0

• Boro lead the recent series 9W 4D 4L – Scunny haven’t won on Teesside since November 1961

• Woeful defending on display by the visitors. Keeper Joe Murphy remains out with an ankle injury, so Josh Lillis – himself the lad of former Iron player and assistant manager Mark Lillis – is tasked with organising this ragtag bunch

• Mogga looks for a spark and a bit of conviction – Taylor and Emnes are ordered to switch their roles on the flanks to make something, anything, productive happen

• Feliz Cumpleanos (tardio!) Julio Arca, who turned 30 yesterday

• Average so far – limited cohesion and concentration – fortunate to be ahead

• Come on and take these corners/free kicks short…be crafty Mogga

• Scunthorpe: 6 away wins this term, which is a smashing return. It’s their home form that’s abandoned them and consigned them to the relegation zone

HT Boro 1-0 Scunthorpe

Much better end to the first stanza, marked by more chances, improved passing, and better attacking intent. The forwards need to ‘liven up’, and they are not the only ones to draw a scornful eye from the Boro technical area.

2^nd half

• It’s the first shot across the bow this half – Julio Arca goes very close with an expert free kick, past a rooted Josh Lillis – great work Tony McMahon to earn the attacking opportunity

• Following the script: Ahead by a slim margin. Dominating the second half. Now what – kill the fucking game like a group of professionals, or bottle it?

• The bench asks it too – where’s the second goal? McMahon and Bennett are the only reliable attacking outlets

• Attendance -14364 (265 Scunny)

• Penna awarded! Then 6 Scunthorpe players mob the referee and force a consultation with the linesman who overturns it. Leroy Lita goes in the book for being ‘over-theatrical’

• Tony McMahon blows kisses to the crowd! It’s a killer free kick that takes a solitary hop on its way in, and Boro have some breathing room…this can be a propelling result

• Abdisalam Ibrahim is sent off – he accrues two harsh bookings to prompt an alacritous red card from the rookie ref

• Last time Scunthorpe came to the Riverside they finished w/ 10 men, harshly (Cliff Byrne the offender), and Leroy Lita was sent off for ‘petulance’ after decking an opponent…LL is on a yellow currently after the reversed penalty decision

• Scunthorpe enduring a wretched run – 1 win in their last 11 league matches

• Cameron Park receives another late cameo – it’s a home debut this time round

• 5 mins added

• Julio Arca pulls rank on the youngsters as he commands the free kick he earned – his effort is top notch, just missing the crossbar in a quest for the third goal

GG MOM – Tony McMahon

FT Boro 2-0 Scunthorpe

Nicky Bailey was excellent again – this is nine or ten matches on the spin where he’s been a masterful technician. The full backs were outstanding, often providing the best attacking options. There’s no underestimating how psychologically important the clean sheet is when factoring recent, and historical, transgressions. In the end it’s a satisfying result.

Tunnel reaction with Tony Mowbray: two goal advantage takes the sting out of the opposition – in the end it was relatively comfortable – disappointed at half time…played poorly for the first time in a long time, couldn’t string together passes and execute moves – have to continue believing in Kris Boyd to help him score goals – no matter who claims the second goal; the win is the only thing – Tony Macca was ’exceptionally good’ – the result is all the more important given the future visits of Swansea and QPR

Tony McMahon tells his mates ‘I’ll ring you back’ so he can chat about the match: the goal was his, full stop – Leroy Lita continued the stick after the final whistle, adamant that he got the slightest of touches on the wondrous free kick – gaffer constantly encourages the full backs to press forward

Final thoughts from Seb Hines: really good performance in the second half – trying to take the opportunity he waited so long for, even with an imported centre back now lurking over his shoulder – the underlying aim is to win; send a statement to every club in the division

• Tony Macca out – Justin Hoyte in at right full back…Seb Hines for the suspended Wheats

• Boro XI: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Bates, Bennett, Thomson, Bailey, GON, Arca, Mac, Emnes

• Bates announced as permanent captain…impetus for Gary O’Neil to play well through well-channeled anger?

• Cardiff – 19 points out of 30 away…sterling form, especially compared with ours

• Hoyte in favour due to his pace…he must assert himself adequately to really wrest the position away from Tony Macca

• Emnes w/ a great turn and runs at the defender…stinging shot saved by Marshall

• Gilly at right full back the last time Boro beat Cardiff in 1985 at Ayresome…Mogga in the side too

• more of the same: Arca pinging quality balls into the box too classy for our attackers

• miserable miss from Mac…dragged wide…bobbled off knee/upper leg

• Cardiff ‘mean it more’ when attacking

• Emnes taken down…should have been a red for Gyepes…Arca converts with ease…Boro 1-0 Cardiff

• HT Boro 1-0 Cardiff… with the lead we’re less prone to their counter-attacking ambition…expect a strong response in the second half

• Bellamy gives referee Anthony Bates stick for the penna cos he’s from Sunderland, perceiving some sort of Arca-influenced bias…really?

• only one man to mark for Hines and Bates – sadly it’s Craig Bellamy and neither of them are that assured in the job…squeeze the space between you and play tighter

• Dave Jones erupting in the technical area, melting the snow with his vitriol…strong remonstrating w/ the officials

• Boro morphing into a 4-1-4-1 w/ Thommo playing deep and Emnes alone up front

• getting ‘tasty…very tasty’ down on the touchlines

• Chopra spears into Jason Steele, a clear yellow card, which should be his second, and Dave Jones has the temerity to scream at the fourth official demanding an explanation

• 4 mins added

• attendance – 14250 (505 Cardiff)

• GG MOM – Bates

• FT Boro 1-0 Cardiff – Emnes – a constant threat..Thommo – tidy…Bailey – put in a shift…GON – tireless

• outstanding discipline – remarkable tactically from Mogga – fill the holes, make it tight, not commit too many forward

• Mogga – amazing shift – overcame training challenges to execute a flawless game plan – the crowd drags the players on…massive boost – Seb Hines: immaculate…brave, put his head through things – midfield worked their socks off – Doncaster will be another test…string together a few wins and keep taking the new things on

• Thommo – delighted, still not 100% – hard rehab work pays off – resolved displayed by Boro commendable – Cardiff full of top players with loads of quality

• Julio Arca – still has to look after the knee, requiring a proper cool down after a professional shift – confident about the penalty, and the decision to step up and bang it

• @higs8, deputising for an ill Gary Gill, on the snood: unless you’ve a medical condition you shouldn’t be wearing one

• Boro XI: Academy back five – GON and Bailey in the middle – Emnes right / Arca left – Lita and Mac upfront – only 6 make the subs bench…no Robbo or Thommo, or kids to fill out the cushy chairs

• Gary McSheffrey – epic in the 2006 FA Cup tie, ultimately won by Boro through JFH in the replay

• Coventry quick on the attack…dumping balls into the box and making quality runs to harry the defence

• Explore the flanks…’a little bit of joy’ so far down the left for Arca

• Lita: 250^th league appearance – 100^th Boro start for GON

• HT 0-0…missed penna apart, good finish to the half by Boro…points are there for the taking…we’re pressing their keeper more, closing the gaps between MF and attack and avoiding the silly, unnecessary fouls…

• Lita drives everyone to distraction…’get on with it!!’ stop remonstrating for fouls…an ‘unforgiveable miss’ – intelligent play from Julio Arca, giving the strikers everything they could want with terrific balls into the box

• Slapstick start to the 2^nd half – botched decisions from the female lino prompts semi-sexist rant from Higgy!

• 65 mins – Boro keep going to the flanks, where they’ve found freedom all afternoon…service from Arca, Bennett, McMahon has been brilliant…mind you, the strikers have done fuck all with it, but still…

• Doyle with a splendid chance to put Coventry ahead – a shocking miss in a 3 on 1 attack…both sides lacking composure in front of goal

• Bates concedes a definite penalty…of course Marlon King converts to get Coventry, ahem, out of jail…

• Woeful finishing has condemned us again

• 8 points from 42 if results hold

• ‘hit and hope’, without the hope…late on we’re flingling aimless balls somewhere in the vicinity of goal…where’s the direction and conviction of intent?

• Higgy MOM – Emnes

• FT Coventry 1-0 Boro…beyond worrying…we’re being cut adrift, staying off the foot of the table thanks to a late Cardiff equaliser v PNE

• penalty palaver: Robbo ill and out – Boyd was on the bench – Mac has a poor track record with the disgusting miss at Bloomfield Road back in February

• Mogga: disappointed dressing room – missed opportunities – effort deserved a result, players performed as well as they have in his short time here – will not judge a penalty taker, or admonish for a miss

• 24 years since Norwich have defeated Boro, and the last time these two met was real cracker; a 4-4 draw back in 2005 in the Prem that saw Boro waste a 4-1 lead over the last 10 minutes – this visit to Carrow Road sees Luke Williams back in the fold at the tip of a midfield diamond, with free license to operate anywhere in the free positions behind the strikers

• Do we ask or expect too much from GON? He’s really tidy in a central creative role – his passes are inventive and inch-perfect, but ultimately nullified by the poor FKs and corners and profligacy in front of goal

• All the clamour for Tony McMahon isn’t exactly being merited – again, going back to Forest Tuesday, he had acres of space at times on the right and couldn’t create something reliable – crosses were largely abject – still brings sound defensive mind to the position,  slightly canceling it out

• Three weeks after the desperate Thommo experiment against Pompey, he’s rushed back too soon again – how critical is this setback? 46 minutes in two appearances, clearly ill-equipped to return so soon from the troubling leg injury

• More of the same at HT – Lethal frustrates by getting into good positions with absolutely  no end product – Boro play bright stuff for long spells and muck it up with needless concessions – ‘fragile’ at the back and ‘toothless’ upfront

• ‘Sustained’ singing for Mogga from the away support – doesn’t appear he’s made a visit from his country pile in nearby Suffolk

• More condemnation for Strachan accompanies the news that Marvin Emnes has put Swansea ahead against Leicester…how we could use his pace

• Move to the future? First, Smallwood is preferred to Tavares when replacing Thommo, and then Mac came on for Boyd, leaving the whelpish Luke Williams on for a most diminutive attacking trident

• Ali has a dig at Strachan by noting that maybe we need ‘a bit of character’ – the wee unemployed man went to great pains when stressing his desire for it, yet none of the ‘men’ he drafted in have displayed it

• FT Norwich 1-0 Boro – huge shortage of belief – 1 point from 21 away – worst away record in the football league

• Aggers: not happy times, to say the least – hopefully the Thommo setback isn’t too devastating – we moved the ball well, no penetration in the second half, couldn’t attack the Norwich box – opportunity well worked to get Mac a good chance, on any other day he bangs that in and we get a point

Post-match texters, posters, e-mailers, and callers lobbed bombs at everyone: the players, GON and Scott McDonald in particular, Steve Gibson, Gordon Strachan – we must get points in the upcoming fixtures against Bristol City and Crystal Palace, otherwise serious disaster looms – get the loan players like Taylor and Emnes back sharpish. The new manager to inject fresh ideas and impetus into the flatlining club would be good too.

The existing deficiencies were again magnified in the loss to Barnsley 2-1. Boro negotiated suspensions and injuries to field another disparate side: Jonathan Franks on the wide right of a previously little used, though historically Strachan-favoured 4-5-1 -Marcus Bent foundered alone up front – Arca was in over Yeates again – Hoyte dallied some more on the left, ahead of 3 relatively well compensated and rested recognized left-backs. Never mind that the former Arsenal man and drafted replacement for Luke Young provided the opening goal – a benign cross cum shot from 35 yards out, adamantly labeled by the under-achiever as intentional. The visitors, heartened by the jovial and voluble traveling supporters, excelled early on and bossed it. Barnsley regrouped after the break, as is their wont, and changed shape to create 2 goals that changed the course and rendered Boro craven again. Mark Robins is starting to harness and conjure some of that old Oakwell magic – the Tykes now rest 15^th in the table on 30 points, but w/ two massive games in hand. Capitalise on those and we’ll have a new entrant into the playoff discussion…

The live blog is still on official Christmas holiday in Tenerife, and our normally reliable BBC Tees radio feed was replaced w/ a freakish imitation of Revolution 9 -  turn me on dead man…

• Celebrated egoist Leroy Lita suspended for punch petulance at the weekend
• Chris Riggott officially back – partners w/ David Wheater in the heart of defence
• Mark Yeates – still studying that lump of coal inexplicably planted in his Christmas stocking
• Arca goes close early on, capping a fine flowing team move – the strong shot denied by a full-stretching Luke Steele
• Boro goal! from Justin Effing Hoyte!! his deep, high cross from the right wrong-foots Steele and nestles in the top corner of the net – Barnsley 0-1 Boro – 24 mins
• Solid defending from Wheats – perfectly timed intervention in the box to stymie Hugo Colace
• No half-time ruminations – see above
• Barnsley reshape post-break – failure to clear a corner at the near post results in Stephen Foster heading the Tykes level – Barnsley 1-1 Boro – 49 mins
• GON tries to restore the lead quickly – latches on to a decent ball from Bent, but chips his effort cruelly over the bar
• Where is Julio Arca? 58 mins – Daniel Bogdanovic is given space/time to cross on the left – the delivery is met by an onrushing Hugo Colace to beat a helpless Danny Coyne – Barnsley 2-1 Boro
• Luke Williams makes his Boro bow – comes on for Jonathan Franks in the 73^rd – the little ginger doppelganger is the youngest senior debutant since good old Tommy Murray against Sheffield Wednesday in 1905…ah memories
• Emil Halfredsson – Icelandic winger – very impressive for the hosts
• Boro start to hibernate for the last 15 minutes or so until a quick pair of half-chances for the young starlet – a fierce Adam Johnson drive clips off the 16 year olds shin and painfully close to the Barnsley goal – right before the death he has another pop – better, but not enough for rescue
• With no GG to lead us, MOM honours go to Chris Riggott – solid in his return and a bit of a calming influence on our Redcar Rock

League duties take a back seat this weekend – Manchester Cini and their bespoke new gaffer bring the quarter-billion pound novelty – and possibly future relegated step-child – to the Riverside for the FA Cup. And it’s on the telly proper!

So it went that Jeremie Aliadiere not only furtively recuperated enough to not only make the squad for Scunthorpe, but actually start up front w/ Leroy Lita…and earn the penalty leading to the first goal…and prod home a fluky finish right after half time to effectively secure all 3 points in a 3-0 Boxing Day triumph. Gordon Strachan breaks his home duck, staying measured during the post-match interview; when asked initial impressions by Mark Drury, the words were ‘disappointed’ and ‘disbelief’. Disappointed for Emanuel Pogatetz – who hobbled off the pitch during the last quarter of the match w/ an apparent hamstring injury. Disbelief over the actions of Leroy Lita – especially cantankerous at times during the match, notably after Rhys Williams failed to pick him out in prime scoring position shortly after the break. It culminated in the 88^th minute when he was inexplicably sent off for what was initially reported as ‘foul and abusive language’ – Gary O’Neil elucidated in his MOM interview…he threw punch at a Scunthorpe player – Andrew Wright – for a charge of violent conduct. Terrific timing for an extended suspension considering the loan deals for Bent/Kitson are expiring, and there’s real possibility that Aliadiere could be sold – an immediate financial return on a timely brave and attacking display?

The live blog was operational – barely – for a full 30 mins or so before taking an early siesta. We relied on the rhythm and flow of Ali GG – booyakasha!!

• Bright introduction and welcome for Danny Coyne – back in the side after being yanked following the West Brom thrashing – Brad Jones not even in the squad
• No Gary Hooper for Scunny – scores big goals for them – 7 so far this term
• Boro really should be 2-0 after three minutes – Leroy Lita beat the keeper and the goal with a wayward shot – Isaiah Osbourne comes right back and whacks the post
• The penalty? It was definitely a foul – the sending off was harsh though -  Johnno dispatches expertly
• 1^st goal scored on Boxing Day since 2003???
• Santa delivered some confidence for the squad and atmosphere for the ground
• Danny Coyne receives another ovation for commanding a ball resultant a poor Scunthorpe corner – how can Brad Jones ever play for this club again?
• Incredulity in officiating – linesman and referee not linking up – major communication gaps
• Major assault launched in the last 10 minutes of the half – Lita and Johnno smack the post and crossbar respectively – Macca chips the frame with an audacious left footed blast – Rhys Williams finishes the incursion – sweeping finish at the near post at the very edge of stoppage time
• Gary Gill says ‘gamble…believe!!’
• Strachan reportedly bemoaning the lack of concentration from his central midfield pair
• Right after the break Boro maintain their attacking edge – LL dummies an incisive ball down the middle for JA to run onto…his touch is decent enough, and the ball spins towards the far post, off it, and across the line…3-0
• More encouragement from GG: maintain the focus, enjoy your football, restore some confidence, win supporters back
• Scunthorpe left back Marcus Williams – impressive – it’s not his zone of the pitch being exploited by Boro
• Pogi comes up lame – hamstring? Ref orders him off – the subsequent substitution for Chris Riggott took some time – Riggott back after 9 months off – knee injured @ Man City in February 2009
• Closing in on another Boxing Day landmark: 1^st win on it since 2002 – beat Manchester United 3-1…Alen Boksic w/ the winner…
• Lita loses it – sees a straight red – BBC labels it for ‘foul and abusive language’
• GG MOM – GON
• Final words from Mark Drury, with Gary O’Neil – disappointed they didn’t convert more golden chances – must punish sides – LL threw a punch ostensibly…

There is no time to breathe – Barnsley Monday, 3p @ Oakwell – a strong away crowd is expected as Boro have exhausted their original allocation of tix…one more Christmas treat?

Boro will endure more squad permutations: Justin Hoyte returns to the treatment room after a ligament injury v Coventry; Caleb Folan tore a hamstring in training Sunday, imperiling the current loan deal; the former should signal a return from unjust temporary exile for Tony McMahon…Yeatesie is sure not to feature after his comedic 20 mins Saturday, which already helps the young right back immensely.

What’s the plan after sending Folan back to Tiger Phil? That’s speculative at this stage, but why overburden our resources – return him as damaged and unwanted goods. Continue to exploit the emergency loan window to find that target man to excite the masses. We never condone or celebrate injuries, but this could be serendipitous…second chances Gareth, just follow the formulaic script: buffoon spurns his one chance for true love by fancying the vapid slag that everyone says is wrong for you, only to have  the epiphany during a overproduced and underwhelming montage set to trendy top 40 music. She’s out there boss; your hope, dreams, salvation, happiness, and ability to hold up play and muscle around the opposing box, creating beautiful havoc…

The usual suspects remain present: a worryingly thin squad; a sometimes-flagrant lack of purpose or intent; disruption of a tested formula – the supposition being that this isn’t the juncture to test a new central defensive partnership…we’ve yet to view the carnage, but the ever-reliable Gunner 71 was quick to point out how every breakdown was conceived through the middle of the park; compounding that was the absence of Gary O’Neil – his invention and will were sorely missed. Mark Yeates had a day so bad it will probably signal the end of Tony McMahon’s run in the starting XI…Yeatsie was so abjectly lost all day – West Brom terrorized the left flank so often it could have induced motion sickness for poor Macca. Gazza has been rumoured to be overly critical of the academy product – surely this will be his justification for finally dropping him.

The back-slapping is largely over…it’s getting personal. The papered-over cracks of the recently forged goodwill are beginning to fragment again – it was destined to happen when so much was invested in a subpar repair of the totaled wreckage emanating from last season. But we will continue rallying around the flag, no matter how many times it becomes riddled w/ holes, preventing proud flying.

Coventry next – a nice, normal week of training respite…