Sam Hall

Tuesday night in November, cold, dark, most probably damp and the faint smell of the pies and pints wafting up through from the concourse. It’s what hardcore fans live for, nothing is better than being able to actually see your E-I-O as your breath frosts over in front of your eyes. Your nose becomes red, your arms are held tightly to your side, when a goal is scored it’s a Johnny Rotten jump. You pogo around for 20 seconds and get straight back to clasping your hands together, breathing in to them and peering over your thumbs while you watch the action unfold. In a cold’ slightly empty stadium though the slamming of chairs seems much louder. The moans of fed-up fans reverborate while your heart continues to sink. It’s a hotbed of emotion. It’s midweek football.

West Ham are currently second in the league, while we lay just behind Cardiff in fourth. Sam Allardyce’s team have come on slightly from the beginning of the season, while we seem to be steadily trudging along, not pulling up trees but at least loosening the roots. We must be at our best to beat West Ham, we share the best defence in the league with them, but with that we are also the draw team. We have drawn 8, won 8 and lost 2. We need to set that straight, make sure that we keep the draw numbers below double figures for as long as possible. West Ham have the best away record in the league, and are looking for a fourth successive away win on the road, which could take them to the summit of the Npower Championship.

Barry Robson, Scott Mcdonald and Marvin Emnes are due to be assessed later today, to check whether they are truly ready to get out and play. Emnes overcame a slight injury to face Posh, but produced very little. It could be time to give the Dutch frontman a little time to rest. The worry is with McDonald though; he has been in his best form of the season in the past few weeks, with 3 goals in 3 games it is vital he keeps playing so as to carry on his own little mini run. I myself would like to see a start for Ogbeche, yet I could be persuaded to see Nimely play a little more. Both of these fringe players have suffered since they have come in, game time has been restricted due to Mowbray not wanting to disrupt the balance that Emnes and Mcdonald had formed. Just as it looked that maybe the Aussie striker should be dropped he begins to score goals. Not only has Nimely had little game time since his arrival from Manchester City, but he has been forced to play wide right or wide left; taking him away from the action that we brought him to get involved in. Where Barry Robson is concerned I don’t think we need to worry, yes he has been one of the most influential players so far, but I really have confidence in the midfielders on the sidelines. We have  some top-class midfielders to choose from in: Richard Smallwood, Julio Arca, Faris Haroun and Malaury Martin. The latter two I would think to be the best bet to come and stand in for the combative Barry Robson.

Last time at home we conceded some sickening equalisers, with the ball constantly bouncing around in the penalty area, no-one committing themselves to make a game saving challenge. When Mowbray first arrived, he tried to address our inability to defend a lead, seeming to do so with great effect. However  it seemes to be back as it reoccured against Peterborough too. Hopefully we can return to the foundations that Tony laid, take it back to basics and not let ourselves get carried away with early season form. We need to keep things basic if that got the job done, we are no Barcelona, we will not score more than you if you score 5. Basic stuff.

Up The Boro.