FOREST AWAY: Middlesbrough, Saturday 6th October – Fan Guide

The post-international break revival will surely face its sternest test on Teeside this Saturday. I spoke before Blackburn last week about needing wins on the road but ‘Boro are one of the real contenders this season and another draw would be a very good point. The surrender of our two goal lead at home to Millwall however does ramp up the pressure.

We are capable of winning this one though, albeit I can only remember the single victory in all of our many visits to the Riverside. A Jamie Ward goal put the smallest of dents in the ‘Boro promotion charge of 2016/2017. The man at the helm for the Smoggies that day was a certain Spaniard.

What bothers me about a game like Saturday is it’s the final one before another of those pesky fortnights off. The Brentford defeat at the start of September was painful knowing that there wasn’t an immediate chance to put it right. That said a week off isn’t entirely unwelcome. The last three weeks have involved trips to Swansea and Blackburn plus three consecutive midweek games. Us fans are at risk of getting fatigued, never mind the players!

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By Train

This isn’t a straighforward trip on the train, nor is it cheap. The days when a good value fare could be snapped up to somewhere like Middlesbrough appear to be over. There is a variety of routes available – either via Sheffield, Newark or Grantham but most services will involve a further change at York. A standard off-peak return is a whopping £83.60 on East Midlands Trains but breaking down the journey and buying it in individual legs will reduce that.

Middlesbrough station isn’t a bad walk from the stadium.

By Car

It might not look like it on a map but Middlesbrough isn’t a bad drive at all from Nottingham. Depending on where you are setting off from you’ll probably want to take the A1 / A19 / A66 or M1 / M18 / A1 / A19 / A66. Either way it’s usually a decent journey.

The one big exception to this was Boxing Day 2014. My worst ever away trip… A 3-0 hammering was, we assumed, as bad as it would get but the drive home was nothing short of horrific as some of you may remember. I had the misfortune of being the designated driver that day, something I instantly regretted as soon as the snow began to fall very heavily as we reached the Clumber Park hotel in north Nottinghamshire. A mere 30-40 minutes of our remaining journey became a 3.5 hour test of endurance on the sloping country roads. An absolute bastard of a day. When we are losing an away game somewhere these days I often think of that game and think that it could always be worse!

Anyway, I digress. For parking I would recommend the France Street car park just off the A66 (TS1 2DY) which is short walk from the ground by heading through the underpass under the A66. Without fail there is a chap busking his heart out in that tunnel both before and after the game. Knowing his audience, in victory for the home side he is always belting out some chirpy tune to get the locals singing and, you have to assume, get them throwing him a few more bits of shrapnel. The car park has always been free (assuming you don’t park in the zone near the entrance) and spaces are usually plentiful as long as you aren’t too late. Try and park as close to the road as you can as it can be a little painful getting out and working your way back onto the A66.

Pubs

The nearby town centre includes a drag with a few pubs on including the odd one off the beaten track. A bit further away is a Baracuda with cheap beer and big screens but a slightly suspect clientele.

The Pig Iron is a usual stop for us – it’s largely home fans but we’ve never had any issues getting in or once inside.

The more typical locations for away fans are at the closer end of town, just across the road from the aforementioned parking spot. The main congregation of away fans is usually in Doctor Browns while the Medicine Bar across the road is okay and a bit quieter.

If you end up drinking in any of these pubs or in this area you won’t be more than a 10 minute walk from the away end (via the underpass mentioned earlier).

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To provide some more insight into Saturday we spoke with Middlesbrough fan Daniel Chapman who kindly agreed to answer our questions.

 

1. Middlesbrough are a team that many predicted will be occupying a place towards the very top of the table come May. How is your season unfolding so far? 

So far I think this season for ‘Boro has been a slow but steady start. Transfers maybe didn’t happen as quick as fans and Pulis wanted but the squad he finished with at end of the summer transfer window we were are all happy with. The team are showing very much a Tony Pulis way of playing football, abit like the way we played under Karanka, very structured and organised, making the Riverside the fortress that the fans believe it should be. However, it’s not the most exciting football to watch.

It’s also been a good start for our younger members of the squad who have featured in our cup run. So with the league position we are in I would have to say a good start to this season so far.

 

2.It seems to be a recurring them at each ground but Forest have a particularly poor record at the Riverside. One win is all I can remember – the season you last got promoted. Any ideas how this one is going to go? 

I hope in every game at the Riverside there is a early goal either way, this then stops one team sitting back and playing for the draw with loads of boring football. I believe Karanka will set up defensively and Pulis will match it with a organised team that, I have to say, will have a bit more quality than the Forest team. So I can see our home record staying in touch along with our record or scoring first. I predict an early ‘Boro goal but game finishing 2-1 ‘Boro.

 

3. Aitor Karanka received a very warm welcome when we visited towards the end of last season – is he held in high regard by Boro fans? And what are you own views on him? 

A very tactical welcome last time in my opinion… Knowing he was going to get a good reception on his last visit he waited to come to the touch line when Boro’s pressure was on and fans were behind the team. The fans saw him and gave him a round of applause and it lost the atmosphere that fans had built up before his appearance.

He will always be held in high regards by most Boro fans beccause he took us back to the big time after so long away and is such a nice bloke to meet and talk to. However, my views on Karanka … I’m not his biggest fan but I do think he is a very good coach/manager. When you watched the way we played under him (mainly in the Championship) we never looked liked losing, sometimes never looked liked winning either, but that’s me looking from a coaching point as my fans point of view. His football at times is very boring and prevented good players go and be good players, very much how I see his mentor now (Mourinho). You can see he learnt a lot from, him; some good thing in how to win games but some bad as in it’s not entertaining.

 

4. In both games last season Britt Assombalonga had a torrid time although he is clearly a striker capable of scoring plenty of goals. Was he worth the £15m you paid for him? Has he established himself a place in the starting line up now having seemingly been a little out of favour under Pulis last season? 

Britt at Forest away last year looked like was actually trying too hard instead of letting the cheeky smiley Britt that we all know scores goals be there. It was awful to watch but in the market of strikers and prices that people get valued at I think he is worth it and he will score us a lot of goals and help us massively. I still can’t work out if he will be Pulis’ first striker on the team sheet but if he keeps putting him self about and getting the goals I’m sure he will be. He would be if I was gaffer.

 

5.  In recent visits I’ve noticed a fan group have emerged behind the goal trying to drum up a bit more atmosphere. They are also responsible for banners, displays etc  . Who are they and have they been a positive addition to the Riverside atmosphere? 

The Red Faction. They stand sing and bang the drum behind the South Stand goal. They are good for the club; they create some great atmospheres inside the ground in my opinion although I’d take away the drum as I don’t believe we need it but it’s there thing. They have the odd bad moment which gets them in bother; pyrotechnics etc but then they also do some great giant displays and banners. I think anyone trying to help create a good atmosphere to get behind the team is always good for the club.

 

6. There will hopefully be a healthy following in the away end on Saturday. Where would you recommend we get a drink before the game? 

I hope there is a good following and I know the Fores thave great fans so I’m sure they will be welcome in most places. There is a place we go before games which is the North Ormesby Working Mens Club where away fans are welcome. There is free parking there and it’s a five minute walk to the ground. It’s got a giant function room and kids are also allowed.

They do food and stuff like blindcards & quizzes and have the early kick off on projector screen and small screens around the room. The address is underneath if any of your fans need it:

66 Westbourne Grove, Middlesbrough TS3 6EF

 

7. One man that links our two clubs is Brian Clough – both cities have a statue in his honour. Is it close enough to the town centre / ground to make it feasible to visit? 

Our Brian Clough statue is placed in Albert Park which is a 10 minute drive from stadium and a half hour walk from the stadium. It’s not the best walk and not the easiest place to park the car but if you have plenty of time you could always visit the park, see the statue and have food  in Central Park restaurant just outside Albert Park where the statue stands.

 

8. What would represent a good season for Middlesbrough? 

A good season for Boro and Tony Pulis is going straight back to the Premier League but as Boro fans we all know that things never go to plan.

 

I hope you all enjoy your journey up to Teeside and the Boro!! Good luck Saturday !!