Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Derby County

Happy new year one and all! Hope you all had a good one and also that you've all sobered up by now

It's been a big week this week, what with the Ipswich game, Hendrick's world class goal (which I still haven't seen yet ), and of course the Rolling Stoned gig attended by my old dad and I - I would fully recommend them to anyone looking for a decent Stones tribute act

The week is about to get even bigger, what with this rather significant six pointer (yes I'm dragging that up from the past ) looking ahead of us - if we play this right, it could be an immense boost to the inevitable success of our season - rather that than we forget how to kick a football and dissolve ourselves into oblivion for the 90 minutes (yeah I know how to use long words, I do English Lit you know )

Posting this a day early as tomorrow me and the old man will be journeying down to Middlesbrough to see a match; not sure which one we'll go to yet so watch this space Gets me out of doing homework at least, eh?

Shackell is likely to be back from his brief ankle injury so will be available for selection, and Carson is also nearing a return from his back issues - might this cause any issues in team selection, or does Clement consider Grant solid enough for now (despite Grant considering himself to be Manuel Neuer during the Ipswich game and being very wrong).

Middlesbrough have Nugent back from a suspension but are still missing a couple of defenders, Abella and Baptiste, due to injury.

Oh, and a final plea to anyone who has not voted yet, please head on over to View's thread to do so - the votes will be finalised, counted, checked, anlaysed, rigged, tampered with, etc. imminently (or tomorrow, I don't know). Vote for me and Iwas, or I'm going on strike and you'll have to deal with View's match threads for the unforeseeable future

And 666, no longer fret over events of the past. I've moved on and am ready to welcome you back into the match thread club once again. I forgive you.

When the time comes, can I count on Moj to report the teams for the benefit of the masses?

COYR! 🐑

#666orIwas4JA606DCFCPotY2k15 #NSRforPresident