Another day, another defeat…

By: MoonPig | March 22nd, 2008

Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Derby County

I’ve mentioned before how I’m convinced the only difference between (us) Derby and the majority of the other Premier League teams is spending power (usually in the form of a heavyweight striker (or two)) and a slice of luck here and there… When Middlesbrough beat Derby 1-0 at Pride Park earlier in the season, the difference was quite literally two players, Stewart Downing and Tuncay. Once again that proved to be the case.

Relax Eddie, we’re already doomed…

Just an example of the teams around us (albeit, not /near/) … Sunderland spent 6m on Kenwyne Jones, Birmingham 5.5m on James McFaddean, Middlesbrough coughed up 12m for Alves, and the list goes on. That’s nobody’s fault but our own but I do think that’s one of the big failings of our season.

Paul Jewell says the performances of late are “driving him up the wall”. He should try watching it from the stands… how one team can put in such constrasting displays really is beyond me. Thing is though, despite his encouraging honesty, there’s no getting away from the fact that of the 16 strong squad named for today’s game, 6 of them are his own signings. Don’t get me wrong, our fate was sealed along time before Jewell took over and we all know next season will be different, but players have been moved on and the problem still remains. I think in any other situation, a run of 4 points from a possible from 51 (17 Premiership games) would usually be enough to roll out the ‘chairmans vote of confidence’

Good thing he doesnt own a firearm

Jewell is the man to put this club on the map. No question… I just hope he gets a fair crack of the whip next season. The club craves stability and has allowed far too many good managers to leave in the past few years. Fingers crossed Jewell will be here for a long time to come.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young (Shawky 65), Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, O’Neil, Cattermole, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere (Alves 86), Sanli (Johnson 86). Goals: Sanli 32.

Derby: Carroll, Todd, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Sterjovski (Villa 39), Savage (Ghaly 62), Jones (Pearson 62), Lewis, Earnshaw, Miller.

We need 6 points from our remaining games against Fulham, Everton, Villa, West Ham, Arsenal, Blackburn, Reading… Middlesbrough was a good opportunity to nick at least a point…. Can we surpass Sunderlands 15 points or will this season continue to kick us in the proverbial’s? Irrespective of what points tallys may say I believe Barnsley or perhaps Swindon Town were the worth teams in Premiership history, but I would say that, wouldn’t I?