For the first time in nine years, the 2023-4 campaign saw Boro’ take up residence in League One and out to ruffle more feathers. Under the leadership of Steve Evans, the previous season saw us defy expectations. In fact, it ended up being a ruddy good effort; one that ended in second position in League Two and getting us promoted to the third tier of English football. And this is where you’ll see how much we made of that chance as the 2023-4 League One season unfolded.
But what of this talk of ruffling feathers?
Well, we didn’t exactly make too many friends in League Two. Many of them we’d leave behind. In their place, we’d pick up an array of new foes to vanquish; from the likes of Burton Albion then managed by former Boro’ gaffer Dino Maamria to the fallen FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic. And we just love proving people wrong and trashing reputations whenever we get the chance. The question was whether we could do so; our last time in League One ending in dismal fashion.
As far as the cup competitions were concerned, our first assignment was a Carabao Cup clash with Watford; the chance to elevate ourselves to the number one team in Hertfordshire.