Here it is – the long-awaited BoroGuide Christmas Special! It is second only in stature to the great Morecambe and Wise and we’re looking to draw in an audience of 18 million on BBC 1 later this evening. Granted, we’ve checked the schedules and there appears to be a mistake in that we’re not listed. But we’ll just assume that we’ll be wedged in between Dr Who and Eastenders as planned.
For now though, if we take Christmas to be a metaphorical dinner of festive fun and glad tidings, the starter was somewhat watery and totally unappealing. Yes, Brentford. How it was a disappointment to not get our pre-Christmas fill in west London. Do you recall that dreadful song – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas? That image is rain, grey and moody skies.
But let’s put that behind us and gather in the Lamex’s warm glow tomorrow afternoon for the visit of Coventry City. Now, the Sky Blues are on the march and are a different proposition to when we won at the Ricoh. Smiffy said back at Doncaster shortly after that he wanted to be between sixth and 10th in the league by Christmas. Well, he got his wish and now let’s power on.
Filipe Morais returns for the first of two home games this festive period and it would be a jolly nice outcome to emerge from them with six points. We did say that about two games ahead of Brentford, and that only gave us three. But we’ve not unwrapped our presents at this point yet on Christmas Day and we hope our desire for vouchers that grant Boro’ wins have found a way into the wrapping paper.
* Yet again, we come with a disclaimer to this blog. In an absolute twist of joy and fortune, we found ourselves the subject of a hack on Christmas Eve and it looks to have affected all previous blogs – including Old Toffees. We’ve been unable to restore them yet, but hope it will be possible once we have other things apart from food, drink and escaping the house to think about.
FIFA 13 Verdict:
We try and maintain realism with this feature, but the beaming sunshine made sure it was already questionable before we even started this game. With Brentford rained off, it looked as if the extra rest had done Boro’ a favour. Stevenage thought they’d scored on 13 minutes when a Robin Shroot came off the post to Marcus Haber; however, the striker was deemed to be offside when scoring.
The lead did come shortly after; Lucas Akins with some good work down the right enabling Shroot to cut in and finish with authority. Not to be outdone, the visitors exerted some real pressure towards the end of the first half and only some last-ditch defending prevented the equaliser going in. It was almost a relief, with that in mind, that Boro’ were able to double their lead early in the second half.
Making his return from injury, Filipe Morais made his presence felt with a thundering goal on 56 minutes. Given a little too much time to himself, he came inside from the left and let rip from 20 yards. Again, it spurred Coventry into action but Boro’ were defiant at the back and it paid dividends when Akins made the points safe with two minutes left with a similar strike to Morais.
FT: Stevenage 3-0 Coventry City (Shroot 20′, Morais 56′, Akins 88′)
Bookmakers’ Verdict:
Most of the money at the time of writing looks like it has gone in Coventry’s direction; that considering they’re without a league defeat since mid-November. That has pushed them to the favourites’ pedestal, with the 17/10 offered by BetVictor your best at the moment. That said, there is some similarities in the prices for home and away victories across the board – Boro’s best price is 7/4 with BetVictor.
For the first goalscorer, Robin Shroot is available at eights with a couple of bookies’. Filipe Morais is making a welcome return and, if he starts or even plays, you can get him at 14/1 with Bet365 if you get in early. The shortest prices for the result revolve around a win by a single goal for either team, or 1-1. For our FIFA score, you’re looking at between 22/1 and 30/1 depending on establishment.
Last Season:
No previous meetings for Stevenage v Coventry
Team Tarot (4-2-3-1):
Arnold
Gray
N’Gala
Roberts (c)
Comminges
Tansey
Dunne
Akins
Shroot
Morais
Haber
