Korie has his say after the Middlesbrough game

Birmingham City Vs Middlesbrough  

12/3/24  

Match Facts  

Birmingham City have won just one of their last nine league home games against Middlesbrough. Their last win was a 2-1 in October 2019 when Pep Clotet was manager.  

Middlesbrough have lost each of their last two away league games in midweek. 

Blues have won just two of their last eight home games conceding 3+ goals in each of their three defeats in this period.  

Middlesbrough have won each of their last four league meetings with Birmingham City and could of win five in a row against Blues for the first time since they were relegated back to the Second tier ahead of 2017-18 season.  

First Half  

Middlesbrough kick the game off looking to extend their winning streak to three games in the championship with a win tonight with Blues looking to get some points on the board to avoid being in the bottom three during the upcoming international break.  

Marc Roberts plays a short back pass to John Ruddy lucky he manages to scramble the ball away.  

Alex Pritchard looks to float the ball over the keeper from just past the halfway line, but it misses the target.  

McNair has a shot from outside the box after Ruddy got low to make a save from Latte Lath.  

Blues pressing high in the first 12 minutes of the game leading to the opposition playing the ball out of play on numerous occasions in this first half.  

Ayling avoids the challenge from James and lays it off to former Blue Riley McGree  who strikes it first time firing it into the top right corner.  

Brough have a free kick just inside their half Howson Takes but there is just too much on it and out it goes for a goal kick.  

As the 30-minute mark of the game approaches Blues are looking to withstand the oppositions pressure with them leading 1-0 at this point  

Paik Manages to dance his way through the opponents defence the ball is then laid off to Pritchard, but the shot is put high and wide.  

Ruddy picks out Jay Stansfield who pulls it back to Myoshi who misses the ball by inch’s which could have put Blues on level terms going into the half time break.  

Half Time: Blues 0-1 Middlesbrough 

Second Half  

Mark Venus look to get something out of this fixture by bringing on some fresh legs at the start of this second Half with Bacuna and George Hall coming on for Andre Dozzell and Koji Myoshi.  

The game is feels like both teams have the desire to gain something out of this match as both teams start strong.  

There has been a break in play as an issue has arose involving the referee, so the fourth official has taken over.  

Blues are holding the ball well looking to force the opening after the restart to get level on the score sheet.  

Carrick’s side are looking to keep tight and lock down their box to keep the advantage they have fought for.  

Blues are putting the away side on the back foot they are working well off and, on the ball, but still nothing to profit from.  

The Juke comes on from the bench looking to make an impact as he did a week ago against promotion pushing Hull at the MKM.  

Middlesbrough have a free kick in the final 15 minutes looking to punish Blues once again, but Greenwood doesn’t get enough dip on the ball, and it rises into the stand.  

Bacuna plays a smart ball through to Stansfield, but he is held up managing to find Drameh who tries to find Jukey but puts just a bit too much on it and the attack fizzes out.  

Paik plays a lofted ball through to Juke who heads it down for Stansfield, but he can’t bring it under his spell.  

Keeper spills the ball after trying to catch a cross from Tyler Roberts lands into the path of Juke, but he was unable to get to it.  

The fourth official adds on a massive eight minutes of additional time giving Blues a massive opportunity to grab a vital point out of this fixture.  

Paik is brought down in the attacking half as the last chance for Blues comes along Bacuna puts the ball into the box, but no one could latch on to it and the game ends 1-0 to the away side.

Full Time Blues 0-1 Middlesbrough  

Final Thoughts  

Blues have bright sparks in the first half creating some good chances and we were defending well until McGree was left in space which was a mistake from Blues that cost them. Like I have said many times before the thing we have lacked this evening is finding them clear cut chances to be able to score which we are in desperate need of if we are to progress up the table and get away from danger. Today we weren’t quite up to speed because it didn’t click for us knowing we needed a positive out of this game to get us out of this bad form and situation.  

Let’s move onto Saturday against the Hornets where we are desperately in need of getting back to our best as we are currently sat one point against the relegation zone due to us being only championship game on tonight.