Subs: Adrian, Ogbonna, Browne, Quina, Fernandes, Fletcher, Oxford
Given the number of players still injured (or on strike), Slaven Bilic doesn’t have too many options today, so I suspect we will see few changes from the team that played in the second half against Palace. However, given that Carroll, Byram and Feghouli have all got knocks, it’s possible that one or more of them won’t feature from the start. It may be that Fernandes or Oxford come into the team to play some part in the match. I think we’ve all been impressed by Fernandes, and Oxford must be chomping at the bit to get some game time.
If other results go our way, we could be up to ninth by the end of tomorrow. But let’s not count any chickens. Middlesbrough are not a bad side and will be tough. Goalscoring has been their problem (ring a bell?) but defensively. We’ve let in 35, they’ve let in 22. But they’ve only scored 17 goals in 21 games, the worst record in the Premier League.
I’ll be watching the match at Lucky’s Bar in Washington DC. If you’re in town, come and join me! I’m flying back to London this evening and I really don’t want to spend 7 hours thinking about the three points that might have been.
COYI!
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