HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"We are a well and truly below average Championship team", "There's still a possibility of challenging for the play-offs, but on current form we have absolutely no chance", "This isn't even funny anymore", "It is so demoralising to watch."

With no league win and no goal in their last seven games, most Boro supporters have written off this season's campaign: "We need to bring in a psychologist. The players must have a fear of shooting and scoring goals. It's getting worrying now."

"I'm starting to fear we won't score a goal again, ever." Boro's last three home games have been 0-0 draws. "I bet a lot of wives in Middlesbrough are happy as their better halves come home, rested and full of energy after enjoying a nice 90 minute nap."

Owls 1 Boro 0

"No, no, no! Not again! Referees are trying to give me an aneurism this season", "The ball hit both posts and crossed the line, but it wasn't given. Not so much a disallowed, as an unacknowledged goal", "What a crock! What do we have to do?"

Fans could be forgiven for thinking that they are now the subject of a cruel experiment after last week's defeat at Hillsborough. Referee Andy D'Urso failed to award a goal for a shot which most neutrals felt crossed the line and awarded a soft 87th minute match-winning penalty to the Owls.

"Penalty to Wednesday for a Dean Whitehead handball and he gets a red card", "Ha ha! Brilliant - just brilliant!" "All you can do is laugh", "How has Andy D'Urso not retired and how does he still get Championship games?"

Status Anxiety

"We're no longer a big club. We can't compete financially with teams in this division never mind the Premier League. We've just gone downhill since the 4-0 drubbing by Sevilla (in the 2006 UEFA Cup Final) and we can't seem to stop our slide. I don't see us getting out of this division anytime soon."

Despite the wretched 12 months their team has endured, some fans will never lose hope: "Maybe I'm being unduly optimistic, but I look forward to seeing Boro as the new Real Madrid. It seems laughable now, but not impossible."

Aitor Karanka

"Aitor Karanka (AK) is set on getting Boro playing the Chelsea way and defensively at least he has made excellent progress."

The team have been playing in a settled 4-2-3-1 system. "He has Mourinho's philosophy and tactics, but nothing like his experience. We need to give him time."

"All this criticism of AK'S tactics reminds me of our many fans complaining about Steve McClaren's negative football. It turned out well under him in the long run, didn't it?" Supporters are giving the former Athletic Bilbao centre-back and Real Madrid assistant manager the benefit of the doubt.

"He has installed discipline, an ethos and philosophy with limited resources", "We are all bewildered as to what has been going on recently, but we have to judge AK on next season when his influence of staff and tactics will be stronger." "I think we will see a different team next season."

"There have been so many changes in our line-up, and his mentality in selecting players seems to be based on their attitude. He seems to be in Mourinho's shadow by stating ‘It's my way or no way', and ‘No-one is bigger than the club.' I agree, but it can be harsh leaving some players out."

Defence

"AK has got it defensively spot on", "His first task was to shore up what was quite possibly the most comical defence in the Football League. He's had to focus on drilling a defensive mentality into all of the players", "You can see why we concede so very few goals. Teams can't get the ball off us."

Boro have only conceded two goals in their last six games. "In all our home games under Karanka, we have restricted the opposition to scraps." Leeds were the third team in a row - after Wigan and Blackburn — to leave the Riverside without finding the net a fortnight ago.

Real Madrid loan signing Tomas Mejias started in goal against the Owls. The 25-year-old "made a few good saves but flapped at a lot of crosses. His distribution was inconsistent", "He is a good shot stopper but couldn't kick his way out of a paper bag."

Goalkeeper Jason Steele has been absent since November with an ankle injury, but has now resumed full training. Several fans feel that the 23-year-old "won't get a sniff for the rest of the season if this Spanish guy lives up to what's expected of a Real Madrid youth product."

Jason Steele

"Joszef Varga is more than capable of playing at right-back, and he's consistently solid", "He's influential and composed there." The 25-year-old Hungary international "works hard and deserves his starting position", "However, with the ball at his feet he can look uncomfortable and a liability."

"'Gorgeous' George Friend was man of the match by a stretch against Leeds." The 26-year-old former Doncaster left-back and one-time Town target "has really proved his doubters wrong", "He had a good game against the lively Kebe", "He has an error or two in him, even in a good display."

"Friend's defensive game has come on in leaps and bounds under Karanka. He got up and down well and nullified any real threat from Leeds", "He seemed to panic a little when he bombed on down the line, perhaps because Karanka hadn't been letting him do that lately."

Former Spurs, Newcastle and Real Madrid centre-back Jonathan Woodgate is "a brick wall, as per usual." The 34-year-old ex-England international "was outstanding" against one of his other old clubs, Leeds. "He has the league's top scorer in his pocket. He's still a class act and our best centre-half."

If Woodgate isn't fit on Saturday, 21-year-old youth product Ben Gibson is likely to start. "Ben has come into the team and done a solid job during a difficult season where we haven't been performing defensively as a unit."

"Gibson doesn't look out of place at all coming up against some of this division's best strikers", "He's physically strong, not uncomfortable with the ball at his feet, he can head a ball and, boy, can he tackle", "He can look long with easier options on, pumping it forward and giving away possession."

"Kenneth Omeruo looks strong in the challenge, but his distribution needs work. When he heads the ball, it can go in any direction, but he heads it very far. I'm not 100% sure even he knows where it's going." The 20-year-old Nigeria international joined on loan from Chelsea in January.

"Omeruo had a very good performance against a dangerous Leeds team, and barely gave them an opportunity", "He won very few headers and looked uncertain on the ball, but very few players went past him on the floor."

Central Midfield

"AK has tried a lot of players in various positions but hasn't come up with the solution yet", "Our system is reliant on movement from midfield, but we don't attack when we are set up like this", "It's not a poor tactical system, but our players don't seem to be clicking with it."

Nathaniel Chalobah

"Chalobah passes it pretty well and gets stuck in when needs be." The 19-year-old holding midfielder joined on loan from Chelsea in January after having being on loan at Forest before Christmas. "He is tidy with the ball at his feet. He closes down well off the ball and holds his position well in front of the defence."

"A few times he tries to get ahead of the attacking three, but it hampers our ball retention in the centre", "He has a decent touch", "He's a runner and plays the simple game really well. When he tries to do the complex stuff, he fluffs his passes and gives the ball away."

"It can take him 10 minutes to get into the game but his quality is shown", "Chalobah was second to every ball against Wednesday, but shrugged a few of their players off the ball late in the game. He looks okay in possession, but has a habit of attempting back heels for no apparent reason."

Grant Leadbitter

"I'm astounded that Grant was dropped. He is better than Dean Whitehead in every department." The 28-year-old former Sunderland and Town player did not play against the Owls, having "played like Xavi's twin" against Leeds. "He had a really good game."

"We need Leadbitter doing all the ugly work that keeps a midfield ticking over", "He's not out there to provide the flair. He's another of the solid players who has done alright for me", "I don't understand why he isn't playing. He's arguably our best player this season."

He seems to have found a natural role playing in a more withdrawn midfield position. "He looks more comfortable playing deeper. He plays some lovely raking balls to start attacks and is always available as an outlet to take pressure off defenders."

He will always divide opinion. "I don't doubt Grant's commitment. I do doubt his quality and decision-making", "I'm not too upset he's been dropped. He has gone from underrated to massively over-rated, and has been a permanent feature of every failed Boro team in the past couple of years."

The lack of a good number 10 is seen by many fans as a major reason for Boro's goal drought. "If we're going to stick with this system, why not play Lee Tomlin?", "It's not exactly throwing him in at the deep end, and AK is struggling to find anyone who is effective in that position."

The 25-year-old former Peterborough frontman is now a permanent signing and has hardly featured in recent games, but he came off the bench against Leeds. "Much ado about nothing, but he clearly has tidy feet and an eye for a pass", "He won one corner and I never saw him again."

Jacob Butterfield

"Butterfield doesn't really have the pace to play as a number 10, but he's more than capable technically", "He's always looking to make things happen", "He looks pretty damn decent and is our best forward thinking player by a long way", "He was our most dangerous player against Leeds."

Some fans question the creativity of the 23-year-old former Barnsley player. "He had a great chance to make a telling pass for Adomah down the wing. Instead, he took too long and under-hit the pass, losing possession", "He's tidy on the ball but ineffective in an advanced position."

"Butterfield makes good runs but then turns backwards or loses the ball", "I rate him, but just not as a number 10 in our formation", "His questionable positional sense and lack of strength in the challenge would make him doubtful further back in midfield."

Wide Midfield

"Our three attacking midfielders aren't doing what they're supposed to do and support the lone man." Karanka has prioritised team-work, ability out of possession and consistency ahead of individual ability, creative flair and inconsistency when picking his wide players.

"Mustapha Carayol has been very inconsistent, blowing hot and cold. Maybe he needs a kick up the backside to remove the complacency that has plagued our players since relegation." The 25-year-old ex-Bristol Rovers winger was dropped after being "awful against Watford".

"Carayol must have done something really bad for Karanka to leave him out after the form he had been showing", "He has been our best attacking outlet in recent games." He is now back in the squad for Saturday's game because of his "impressive reaction in training".

"Emmanuel Ledesma was good when he came on against Leeds." The 25-year-old Argentinian and ex-Walsall player is widely praised for his "outstanding" passing, "He has an eye for a pass, but was invisible other than tripping up Cameron Stewart to give away a dangerous freekick."

"We were warned about Albert Adomah. He can be brilliant but then he just goes missing. It seems as though he has now gone missing", "Adomah's game seems to have completely fallen away under Karanka", "I think that he might still be struggling with that ankle injury."

Against the Owls, the 26-year-old former Bristol City right-winger "barely got the ball, but always looked to beat his man and get the ball into the box when he did. He covered Varga well defensively", "Adomah was the only one making runs for Butterworth to find."

Curtis Main

"What is Main's position? He isn't a winger. He isn't a striker. He's like a blob with wavy hair. He probably thinks a regista is something you get at Nando's." The 21-year-old former Darlington frontman has played on the right flank in recent games.

"There has to be a reason he's getting played", "He's not a winger in any shape or form. He's shown no evidence of beating a man and putting good balls into the box. He has to have more than just being or having a good engine."

"He is an example of defending from the front, but needs a little more composure on the ball", "He follows AK's instructions very well, even though he lacks quality and doesn't score many goals", "He puts in an absolute shift", "Varga struggled at right-back when Ledesma replaced Main against Leeds."

Kei Kamara

"I'd take a blind three-legged sheep ahead of Kamara", "How the hell does he warrant a place in the squad after one of the worst footballing appearances ever last week (against Leeds)?" Fans have been severe in their criticism of the 29-year-old Sierra Leone international left winger or frontman.

"He did nothing but slow down our attacks", "He looks sluggish, and is afraid to run with the ball or try a risky pass. He has developed a habit of jumping way too early for a header, heading the ball 30 yards up in the air and not contesting the second ball", "He has a good leap, and that's it."

The former Sporting Kansas City player "opts to take ten touches before squaring the ball, taking all the impetus out of our attacks", "He offers no help to Friend defensively", "He repeatedly got the ball and turned back towards his own goal when he has yards of space to run into."

Strikers

"It's not Karanka's fault that he inherited the worst strike force in the division", "Seven games without a goal suggests that they can't do what he wants", "We look static", "We have absolutely no cutting edge up front", "Against Leeds there was no concerted pressure."

Danny Graham

The 28-year-old former Swansea striker "doesn't back himself to chase or win a battle for the ball", "Graham just seems like his confidence is low".

Graham rejoined the Teessiders on loan from Sunderland on transfer deadline day. "We lacked a quality goalscorer and Graham hasn't yet filled the void."

"He hasn't been getting the service, so for some to say he's garbage is naïve", "He will come good but he just isn't getting the chances", "He's often far too isolated", "He never wins anything in the air, but he lacks the service out wide."

Boro Fans' Views on ITFC and the Game

"Can we organise some arrows behind the south goal versus Ipswich to show the players where the goal is?" The majority of their fans see no more than one goal in this game. "I can't see past a 0-0 or 1-0 loss sadly", "Daryl Murphy will probably win it with a header. He always does."

"As long as we score a goal, I will see it as a step in the right direction." Their optimists aren't brimming with confidence, and there is an understandably apathetic mood given their recent results. The news that Carayol is likely to be in their squad has been welcomed.

"I have this weird feeling we'll win a penalty in the second half and that Leadbitter will have something to do with it. It won't be a pretty game to watch", "I really can't see us losing this and I'm confident we can end our drought here. It will be scrappy, and there'll only be one goal in this."

"Judging by initial reaction on their forum they seem to think they'll set up defensively and play for a draw or a lucky goal from a set piece", "The general consensus was that Paul Taylor would cause us problems, but at the same time Aaron Cresswell would be a threat at set pieces."

Websites

The busiest Middlesbrough forum is One Boro.

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 10:18 - Mar 7 Well Ive made a few quid backing us to draw away this season and my money will be down again tomorrow. 0-0, 1-1 its nailed on. Mind you a draw here and a win at Yeaovil should be the minimum MM sets out for. Thanks Harry
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StuartBrett8 added 10:28 - Mar 7 I hope we smash them, top work Harry :)
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SE1_ITFC added 11:12 - Mar 7 An insightful post, as ever. Thanks very much!
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Tractamatt added 11:37 - Mar 7 Excellent stuff Harry, not sure how this is gonna turn out but with Taylor and Williams running at them and Murphy's heading ability I feel we should be ok.COYB
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cookra added 12:42 - Mar 7 Highlight of the week has not dissapointed once again. Great read I can see another clean sheet for town lets hope the boys up top can do the business again! COYB!!!
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ericclacton added 15:10 - Mar 7 Blimey Harry sounds a bit like safe breaking scoring against them,This fixture always reminds me of 1981, we lost 2-1, and the title in the bargain.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 16:24 - Mar 7 Do you know what I always love about these articles, Harry? It's the insight they give into the reality of being a fan at each club. I think it's very easy to get wrapped up in your own club's shortcomings and be deceived into thinking that life must be rosy for so many of your competitors. But we only see a fraction of what really goes on. We might fear a quality player on the opposing side, but the opposition fans will know if he is out of form and where he is lacking. We might think other clubs have more decisive tactics or are more active in the transfer market, only to discover that opposition fans probably feel just as frustrated as we often do with certain directionless displays and missed transfer targets. The grass may not be greener, even if it seems like it. Even fans of the best clubs will find a reason to moan. At a time like this, perhaps we can take solace in the fact that our moans are no longer anywhere near as significant as many of our rivals.

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blueboy1981 added 18:32 - Mar 7 ....... I think the long pre season quip applies to us to - unless we somehow can now win 3 on the bounce - and realistically that just will not happen.
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bluemagic74 added 19:35 - Mar 7 7 points 3 2mor and at yeovil and a draw wid wigan and happy days
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HarryfromBath added 00:00 - Mar 8 NoCanariesAllowed, I couldn't agree more with you on how reassuring it is to see other teams supporters having a pop at their players, especially when their owners have splashed out high salaries to secure their services. I was nervous about Kei Kamara last weekend, but the comments chosen were actually at the politer end of the spectrum. One of the things I take away most weeks is just how fortunate we are in having a management team with the experience and cold judgement of Mick and Terry. Someone on the forum last week compared Lee Clark to Paul Jewell, having a decent enough squad, but completely failing to make the best of the players at his disposal. I love your safe-cracking comment, Eric, but a small part of me bizarrely thinks there may be goals in the game. They are possibly missing both keepers and Woodgate, and we may see the adventurous Carayol on the wing. We have Taylor coming into form, plus Williams and Ebanks-Blake for additional firepower. Cue a 0-0 draw! Thanks everyone for chipping in once again with your thoughts and comments.

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