Aitor Karanka is adamant that the league is Middlesbrough’s
main aim this season despite having a Capital One Cup quarter final against
Everton next Tuesday.
Boro travel to Huddersfield this Saturday placed third in
the league, following the Teessider’s dramatic victory QPR last weekend.
Karanka expressed that he was really pleased with the
performance and attitude shown by his players in that game, that despite not
recording a shot on target until Grant Leadbitter’s stoppage time penalty.
It was also a late Leadbitter penalty which proved the
difference between the sides when Boro visited the John Smith’s Stadium.
Huddersfield have found results difficult to come by at the
start of this campaign and are only out of the relegation zone on goal
difference.
They recently appointed ex Borussia Dortmund coach David
Wagner as their new head coach, but since his unveiling The Terriers have lost
to both Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday.
Team News
Boro are without their captain Leadbitter, who picked up his
fifth booking of the season against QPR, so is therefore suspended.
Adam Forshaw remains side-lined with an ankle injury while
Fernando Amorebieta has just come back from a hamstring problem. Christain
Stuani looks like he has returned to full fitness and played 20 minutes last weekend.
Former Boro striker Ishmael Miller (groin) and Joel Lynch
(hamstring) are both ‘huge doubts’ for Huddersfield according to the clubs website.
Forward Harry Bunn is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the
season against Sheffield Wednesday, while Mustapha Carayol is ineligible to
play against his parent club.
Stats and Facts
Huddsefield have won just one of their last 12 matches
against Boro dating back to 1986, their one victory came at the John Smith’s
Stadium in 2013.
On each of the last six occasions when Boro have scored more
than once against Huddersfield, one player has struck twice (Lee Tomlin, Grant
Leadbitter, Albert Adomah, Scott McDonald, Mikkel Beck and Fabrizio Ravanelli)
(BBC Sport)
Key Players
Boro’s Key
Adam Clayton
 |
| Boro's Adam Clayton (Picture from www.mfc.co.uk) |
A recent supporter’s survey, done by Middlesbrough’s Gazette,
showed just how important Clayton has been for Boro this season. The poll asked
‘who has been Boro’s best player so far this season’ and there were two players
who dominated the vote, with Clayton and Daniel Ayala scoring 33.5% and 48.5% respectively.
Clayton, who played for Huddersfield up until the summer of 2014, has been the
heart of Boro’s midfield by protecting the back four and starting attacks. He
will be without regular midfield partner Grant Leadbitter for this game so will
have to adapt against his former club.
One To Watch
Emyr Huws
 |
| Huddersfield's Emyr Huws (Picture from cdn.images.express.co.uk) |
Boro fans may remember the cracker Huws scored against the
Teessiders when playing for Birmingham two seasons ago. The Welsh international
has a strong shot from distance and is Huddersfield’s joint top scorer with
four this season. The midfield battle should be an interesting one to watch with
Huws and ex Boro midfielder Dean Whitehead potentially coming up against
Clayton and Bruno Zuculini
Form
Huddersfield
Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 L
Leeds 0-3 L
Reading 2-2 D
Burnley 2-1 L
Derby 1-2 L
Middlesbrough
QPR 1-0 W
Hull 3-0 L
Rotherham 1-0 W
Charlton 3-0 W
Manchester United 0-0 [1-3 on penalties] (Capital One Cup) W
Prediction
Huddersfield 0
Middlesbrough 2
Huddersfield are low on confidence at the moment and haven’t
won in the league for five games. As long as Boro don’t become distracted by
their Capital One Cup quarter final, they should have enough quality to take
all three points.
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