Yes, yes; we know. August 2024 ended a week ago and we’re playing catch-up. But here’s how things stack up after four league assignments for Boro’. Truth be told, the month of August can be a funny one. In 2024, we had the aforementioned four league outings – and a couple of cup ties to occupy us. By contrast, we were six league fixtures in two seasons ago. In 1992-3, however, September got started with just a trio of league matches ticked off. And you can also argue that, when it comes to comparisons, what can you really learn so early in a campaign? Not to mention the whole ‘comparing apples to oranges’ nature of Boro’ history.
Still, we’re going with it. And can’t believe the last time we did this was for February??
League One comparison at this stage
Football is about fine margins and some of our results so far this term could’ve been so different had we not spurned some great chances. The fact of the matter, however, is that we’re enduring our second-worst start to a League One campaign. On the flip side of that woe is the equal fact of the matter that it’s only our fifth attempt. Had it been our second-worst effort in 15, 20 or even 40, then we’d have much to be musing upon. In 2011-2 and 2012-3 respectively, we were still unbeaten after four league matches. We had a positive goal difference of +2 in three of those five campaigns. But we’ve always had a win on the board at this point of a League One season.
FACT:
Goals – and specifically the lack thereof – is our main problem so far this term. Before this season, our worst return had been four goals in the first four fixtures of term; recorded both in the 2012-3 and 2013-4 seasons. Our current return is HALF that – and represents a piss-poor average of 0.5 goals per game. We can’t even rest easy on our defensive record. Sure, three goals conceded is not bad. It never is when you are tracking at less than a goal per game in your own net. But Gary Smith‘s side had only let in twice by this stage in 2012, while three goals was the Goals Against total for us at this point last year. It is, as we say, fine margins.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 2023-4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| 2012-3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| 2011-2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 2024-5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 2013-4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | -2 |
Are there any notable lookalike seasons?
Yes. Obviously. But we’ll come down from our high horse now. Nine times now have Boro’ accumulated four points from their opening four league matches. Mind you, we need to disregard both 1981-2 and 1983-4; the United Counties League still using an archaic two-points-for-a-win system back then. Out of the rest, the one thing that leaps out again is the goal count. We don’t want to labour the point here, but this year’s return is the worst of the lot. THAT SAID, we’re only one goal worse off than in 2014-5 (when we made the League Two playoffs). Also, three goals is the fewest we’ve conceded when we’ve been on four points from four games.
FACT:
When it comes to Revs, you have to note the consistency. His first full season in charge first time around was the 2020-1 campaign. And it was one in which we had one win, one draw and two defeats from our opening four. Would you believe it. Mind you, a 3-0 home win over Oldham Athletic did give our goal tally a more substantial twang to it.
Do we also mention that Teddy Sheringham‘s managerial career with us started out with one win, one draw and two defeats? No? OK.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1981-2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4* | 2 |
| 2020-1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2016-7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994-5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 4 | -1 |
| 1983-4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4* | -1 |
| 2024-5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 1987-8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | -2 |
| 2015-6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | -3 |
| 2014-5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | -3 |
The best and the worst after four games
On three occasions, Boro’ were quick out of the blocks; returning a perfect record from the opening four league outings. The first two were successive seasons; the 1984-5 campaign marking our debut in the Isthmian League and the 1985-6 campaign ending in promotion up from Division Two North. In the case of the former, a return of 14 goals (at an average of 3.5 per game) is the marker that’s yet to be bettered. As for the latter, we didn’t quite make double figures in the For column. But the Against column had yet to be bothered, which was also how it was at the start of the 1999-00 campaign under Dickie Hill; the last and most recent time we were a flawless from four fixtures.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1984-5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 10 |
| 1985-6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 9 |
| 1999-00 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 8 |
So, what are the worst returns we’ve so far posted from four league matches in 45 attempts? Well, we’ve never been yet to get off the mark. That’s something, innit? No matter that, we’ve twice come out of the traps as if we’ve gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson; Boro’ posting a mere single point in both the 2008-9 and 2019-20 seasons. In terms of goals scored, these are also the only two bedfellows to our current season. As for the context, Graham Westley‘s return as boss in 2018 got off to a dismal start with three heavy defeats. Yet, at least we found the net on two occasions. Dino Maamria has nothing to write home about with our impotent opening to the disastrous 2019-20 season.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -4 |
| 2018-9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | -6 |
Main photo: Jim Steele/Stevenage FC
