Ell-ectric away day is the ultimate test of Boro’s credentials
BORO must don hard hats and prepare for their biggest test so far at Elland Road this afternoon.
The Garry Monk Factor will ensure that the atmosphere at the start of the derby with Leeds United is electric.
The pace will be fast and furious and the football will be the most physical Boro have experienced so far this season.
In this respect Boro need to show they have a tough side to their character.
In the early stages at least, this will be a remorseless roll-up-your-sleeves battle.
More than anything, the game will prove one way or another whether Boro possess sufficient all-round promotion credentials.
When the Championship fixture list was issued in June, this would be the first match that many Leeds United fans would have looked for.
There is a deep feeling within a section of the Leeds faithful that they were betrayed by Monk, who walked away shortly after the club came under new ownership.
Maybe, for a while, Monk was not missed by the Leeds fans as new boss Thomas Christiansen engineered a fine start to the campaign.
But Leeds have since begun to slip badly, while at the same time Monk’s Boro side have recovered from a dodgy spell and moved into a play-off position.
With Boro having finally climbed above Leeds in the table, those fans who were upset by Monk’s departure will vent their frustrations against him.
Leeds-Boro clashes always have an edge to them, but more so today. Boro must step up to the blocks and deal
with it.The key, naturally, is for Boro to try to frustrate Leeds and then hope that their qualities shine through. Scoring the first goal will be crucial to both sides.
It has taken some time for Boro’s expensive signings to come good, but now most of them are firing on all cylinders.
This had helped Boro to tighten up defensively. They have conceded just one goal in their last three games and these defensive qualities may prove crucial this afternoon.
Monk has a decision to make at right-back, where the impressive Cyrus Christie is suspended.
However, Brazilian Fabio may be fit again to slot in on the right with George Friend staying on the left.
Darren Randolph may be called on to perform some of his recent heroics in goal, but this is a particularly big game for Daniel Ayala.
The Spaniard has still to regain the brilliant form he displayed in the Championship two years ago. If he can grasp the nettle this afternoon he will not only hopefully help Boro to record a major victory but also put himself back into the top drawer.
If Boro can survive anticipated early pressure, then the key difference between the two sides could be the developing attacking partnership of Britt Assombalonga and Martin Braithwaite. Assombalonga has now scored eight goals following his £14m record signing from Nottingham Forest and is well on course to reach 20 for the campaign.
Braithwaite, who will be buoyant following Denmark’s midweek qualification for the World Cup Finals, is now back to his best.
He promises to be one of the most exciting players in the Championship this season and Leeds are certain to find him a handful.
Leeds made a lot of summer signings, just like Boro, but have experienced different reactions.
While Boro were slow starters, Leeds opened up like a house on fire. However, quite a few players have since gone off the boil and Leeds have won just one of their last eight games.
Highly rated German striker PierreMichael Lasogga, who is on loan from Hamburg, has dried up following a bright start, while the expensive Macedonian Ezgjan Alioski has scored just once.
The main things from Boro’s point of view is they do not allow these players, nor returning striker Caleb Ekuban, to get back on the goals trail today.
Boro are unbeaten in the Championship away from home since August, which confirms they are the team in form. Returning to Elland Road and winning will no doubt give Monk some mixed emotions because, despite concentrating all his efforts into hopefully restoring Boro to the top flight, he will still retain fond memories of his time at Leeds.
However, Monk will be banking on today’s derby not being about him, but what his new club achieves.