Championship 21/02/2026 - Build-Up: Middlesbrough v Oxford United

[Northstandboy]

Riverside Stadium
Saturday 21st Feb 2026 @ 1500

 

[WE Yellow]

Cumming

Spencer
Makosso
Davies
Brown
Currie

Mills
McDonnell
Brannagan
MPH

Lankshear

Ingram, Long, Roosken, Helik, Vaulks, Donley, Jin-Woo, Placheta, Harris

Likely that one of Konak, Donley or Davies will have to miss out on this one - good squad planning!

 

[Fanatica]

Irony is that it stands to reason that this is the type of game we’ll get a result in.

That said, 4-0 Boro.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Upset incoming!!

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Cumming
Spencer Makosso Brown Currie
McDonnell Brannagan
Donley
Mills Lankshear MPH

None of this 5 at the back nonsense. We looked so much better in the 4213 formation, so I hope Bloomfield sticks with it!

2-1 Oxford.

 

[Berliner]

Probably the usual... give a good account of ourselves, concede mid-way through the first half. Come out bright, get caught on 75 minutes for a 2-0 loss.

 

[Sarge]

play like we did yesterday plus get a few shots off on target, with hopefully a consistent team of match officials, MB hammers 'traditional' Wcombe dark art application into every squad player, oh, and wear our yellow kit ( or even black) and we'll get all 3 points , 1-2 away win

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Cumming
Spencer, Long, Brown, Currie
McDonnell, Brannagan
Mills, Donley, MPH
Lankshear​

 

[Boris]

Upset incoming!!

I've already been upset far too many times this season

 

[Ox4Eva]

They may be thinking its only little Oxford and we could get something!

 

[holdsteady]

Hopefully they pick up 16 injuries tonight against Coventry, then a couple more during the week in training. Other than that I just hope its a decent performance and we can maybe nick a point.

 

[EastStandKieran]

This is the sort of game our unpredictable team could win BUT it's more likely we will lose

3-0

 

[holdsteady]

This is the sort of game our unpredictable team could win BUT it's more likely we will lose

3-0

We haven't beaten a title challenger away over the last two seasons, we really struggled against the top four last season on the road but have managed a point away to Coventry and even a goal away at Ipswich (our only goal away in such a game) so it would be far more unpredicatable than we have been.

I think you are probably closer with the 3-0 unfortunately.

 

[EastStandKieran]

We haven't beaten a title challenger away over the last two seasons, we really struggled against the top four last season on the road but have managed a point away to Coventry and even a goal away at Ipswich (our only goal away in such a game) so it would be far more unpredicatable than we have been.

I think you are probably closer with the 3-0 unfortunately.

Yes but we've beaten Bristol city on the road and we've also beaten Leicester on the road got a point like you say at Coventry on the road

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

Cumming
Spencer, Long, Brown, Currie
McDonnell, Brannagan
Mills, Donley, MPH
Lankshear​

Good side strong midfield. Fast attack

 

[Ox4 yellow]

Cumming

Spencer
Makosso
Davies
Brown
Currie

Mills
McDonnell
Brannagan
MPH

Lankshear

Ingram, Long, Roosken, Helik, Vaulks, Donley, Jin-Woo, Placheta, Harris

Likely that one of Konak, Donley or Davies will have to miss out on this one - good squad planning!

Can't see having 3 defenders on bench.........who knows

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Cumming
Spencer, Long, Brown, Currie
McDonnell, Brannagan
Mills, Donley, MPH
Lankshear​

What’s Long done recently other than a stinker v Norwich at centre back to justify starting over Makosso?

 

[TailsWeWin]

What’s Long done recently other than a stinker v Norwich at centre back to justify starting over Makosso?

It’s a Gilbert/Egg decision.

 

[holdsteady]

Yes but we've beaten Bristol city on the road and we've also beaten Leicester on the road got a point like you say at Coventry on the road

Don’t think Leicester are a top team, they are really doing a good job of making that win look less special since we went there.

A win on Saturday would be our best result in 25 plus years, I doubt it’s worth looking yet but I do wonder when we would have got an away win against a side so high up last?

 

[Essexyellows]

Its the start of the unbeaten run.

Hopefully a few Boro players get knackered/red carded tonight and they put out a weak team because its only Oxford.

Its a great night out up there.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

A win on Saturday would be our best result in 25 plus years, I doubt it’s worth looking yet but I do wonder when we would have got an away win against a side so high up last?

Forest won the league on 94 points that season.

 

[SteMerritt]

Forest won the league on 94 points that season.

That Joey second goal

 

[Steve Gilbert]

What’s Long done recently other than a stinker v Norwich at centre back to justify starting over Makosso?

I feel more confident with Long at CB than Makosso.

Disclaimer: This is my own opinion and not those of anyone else, including @Scotchegg

 

[holdsteady]

Forest won the league on 94 points that season.

Best win since this one then. Just the small matter of actually doing it now.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Cumming
Spencer, Long, Brown, Currie
McDonnell, Brannagan
Mills, Donley, MPH
Lankshear​

Surely Jin Woo over Mills?

 

[Joey]

Surely Jin Woo over Mills?

Mills has to be our first choice winger. When he's off it he's really off it but he is regularly put most dangerous outlet. If I were a striker he'd be the winger I'd want to see in the lineup as you know he'll get the ball in the box and you can be pretty confident of when it's coming in.

In that line up if you wanted to get Woo in then I'd do it for Donley and move MPH inside.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Surely Jin Woo over Mills?

In an away game against top of the league I would trust Mills more than I would Woo.

 

[Northstandboy]

Cov v Boro about to kick off!

 

[Boris]

Boro are obviously worse than us. We're going to smash them on Saturday

 

[McXal]

Assume the Cov fans (who were SLATING him after their 0-0 draw with us) are happier with Haji Wright today!