Brentford v Middlesbrough Preview

It’s a case of getting back down to business for Aitor Karanka and his Middlesbrough team, who take on Brentford in tonight’s Championship game.

Boro may have been knocked out of the FA Cup after losing at home to Burnley on Saturday. But there is no question that the league is their priority this season, with Karanka’s side sitting four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.

The Boro boss did express his disappointment after being eliminated from the competition, in which Boro unforgettably beat Manchester City last campaign.

“I was disappointed because our performance especially in the first half was really good but to lose concentration in specific moments was really bad for us and we paid for that by losing the game”

Losing concentration hasn’t been a regular problem for Boro this season and they still haven’t conceded a goal in their last eight league games- that’s over 700 minutes of football.

Last season Boro did a memorable quartet over Brentford, winning twice in the league as well as both legs of their play-off semi-final.

Even so both of Boro’s victories at Griffin Park were by a single goal, the last of which came when Fernando Amorebieta scored a stoppage time winner in a 2-1 win.

Expecting another tough game this time around, Karanka made reference to the tight pitch saying it is not “as big as we would like to play”

He also confirmed that the club were working to replace players in the January transfer window following the departures of Bruno Zuculini and Jack Stephens who returned to their parent clubs after loan spells.

“We need one more midfielder and one more defender” said Karanka but he couldn’t confirm that the club were close to signing anyone soon.

Team News

Boro's Fernando Amorebieta
(Picture from www3.pictures.zimbio.com)

Karanka said he would make a late decision on whether to include Fernando Amorebieta after the defender limped off during the cup game at the weekend. Apart from that Boro have no new injury concerns and will be expected to recall a number of players who were rested on Saturday.

Brentford midfielder Jota is a doubt due to a calf injury while defender Andreas Bjelland and striker Scott Hogan are both out with long-term knee injuries.  Josh McEachran was on loan at Boro in 2013, but has since signed for the Bees and could play against his former club.

The Opposition

December was a decent month for Brentford after appointing new manager Dean Smith at the end of November. The Bees have overcome their early season wobble and now find themselves in a comfortable mid-table position, five points outside the play-offs.

However there have been signs of a New Year hangover. After losing to Birmingham in the league, they were them dumped out of the cup by League One Walsall, who Smith used to manage. Even so the Birmingham defeat was only their second in 10 games and The Bees are still yet to lose on home turf with Smith in charge.

Brentford's Alan Judge
(Picture from www.3.pictures.zimbio.com)

One To Watch

Alan Judge

There have been a couple of rumours in recent weeks linking the 27-year-old midfielder with a move to Middlesbrough, and it’s easy to see why. Judge has added goals to his game this season and is currently the Bees’ top scorer with 10 in the league.

In recent weeks Judge has been deployed in the ‘number 10 position’ behind the striker, often Lasse Vibe who scored against Boro when the sides met at the Riverside earlier in the campaign. Judge will most likely come up against Boro’s midfield enforcer Adam Clayton in what could be a key battle.

Last Time Out

Middlesbrough 3 Brentford 1

Boro moved up to second in the table after beating the Bees at the Riverside in September. Cristhian Stuani put the hosts ahead on 34 minutes, before Lasse Vibe capitalised on a mistake from Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopulos to equalise after half-time. Stuani then put Boro back ahead with just over 20 minutes to go before Albert Adomah completed the scoring.

Team I Would Play 

4-2-3-1
GK Dimi Konstantopulos
RB Emilio Nsue
CB Daniel Ayala
CB Ben Gicson
LB George Friend
CM Adam Clayton
CM Grant Leadbitter
LW Albert Adomah
RW Cristhian Stuani
CAM Stewart Downing
ST David Nugent