Let's kick things off with 3 points

MIDDLESBROUGH must break with tradition if they are to hit the ground running against Swansea City tomorrow.

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In their last five opening games of the season, naturally all of them in the Championship, Boro have scored just three goals.

They did break one mould last term when they beat the Swans 1-0 on the opening day, albeit thanks to a penalty from Emmanuel Latte Lath. This was the first time Boro won their first game since Aitor Karanka’s side beat Birmingham City by 2-0 in 2014 with goals from Dani Ayala and Kike.

The plain truth in all season openers is that both sides are up for the game and full of adrenaline. As a result they often tend to cancel each other out. The only really entertaining Boro opening game in the modern era came in Jonathan Woodgate’s first game in charge, which was away to newly-promoted Luton Town in 2019.

The game ended 3-3 but even then it felt like a defeat, because James Collins scored an equaliser for Luton in the last few minutes, while earlier Britt Assombalonga had missed a penalty for Boro.

Boro had finished seventh in the Championship the previous season. So hopes were high that they could push on and finish in the top six.

Unfortunately after Kenilworth Road, Boro struggled badly for wins. They eventually managed to stay up only following the arrival of Neil Warnock for the final few games.