Manchester United v Middlsbrough Preview

Aitor Karanka will come up against his old mentor José Mourinho when Middlesbrough travel to Manchester United on New Year’s Eve.

The Boro manager was Mourniho’s assistant for three years at Real Madrid but this is the first time that they will have faced each other as managers.

Karanka, who earned his first managerial job on Teesside three years ago, admitted that he is looking forward to facing his old master but said ‘for 90 minutes’ the pair must put their friendship to one side.

“The first game I looked for was the first game of the season, because it was our debut back in the Premier League,” said the Spaniard.

“But the second one was Man United. It will be a special moment for me and for my players.”

Karanka has always spoken extremely highly about Mourinho, who was appointed at Old Trafford in the summer following his departure from Chelsea.

“For me, I spent three amazing years with Jose at Real Madrid and I learnt something from him every day. He is one of the best in the world,” added Karanka

“But it’s football and the points are really important for us. For those 90 minutes, you can’t be friends.”

Even so, the Boro boss will still share a drink with his old friend after the match.

“We will share a glass of wine or beer after the game, but no doubt one of us will be happier than the other.”

Team News

Boro defender Antonio Barragan will miss his first game of the season after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Burnley.

That could mean a recall for George Friend who returned to training a couple of weeks ago.

Viktor Fischer remains out with a knee injury, which the Dane sustained before Christmas.

Wayne Rooney missed United’s victory over Sunderland on Boxing Day and remains a doubt with a thigh injury.

Luke Shaw will also be absent, though Mourinho revealed that the defender is "not far" away from a return.

The Opposition

United have clawed their way back into contention for a Champions League spot after a run of five victories in a row.

Things didn’t go to plan for Mourinho earlier in the season, after United lost the Manchester derby which was immediately followed by a shock defeat to Watford.

A couple of weeks later, Mourniho was humbled by his former side Chelsea, who trounced United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

However, Mourinho is too good a manager and United too many good players to remain in a slump for the whole campaign.

Their switch to a 4-3-3 system, which has seen Michael Carrick return in midfield, has yielded more from record signing Paul Pogba, who has registered one goal and two assists in his last three games.

United have also tightened up their leaky defence, with Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo forming an unlikely partnership at the back.

One To Watch

At 35, Ibrahimovic remains one of the hottest strikers in Europe and his goal in the 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Boxing Day took his league tally up to 12.

The potent Swede has scored four in his last three games and, with players behind him beginning to click, he is bound to bag a lot more this campaign.

Last Time Out

Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0 (1-3 on penalties) – 28/10/2016

Boro recorded a memorable upset when they visited Old Trafford last year, as they knocked Louis van Gaal’s side out of the League Cup.

Aitor Karanka’s men matched their hosts for 120 minutes before the game went to penalties in front of 10,000 traveling Boro fans.

Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missed, sending Boro through to the quarter-finals.

Late Gray Volley Sinks Boro

Burnley    1    Middlesbrough    0

                                      Gray 80

Middlesbrough were undone by a late Andre Gray volley as they suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Burnley on Boxing Day.

In a game which lacked obvious quality, referee Craig Pawson dished out 11 yellow cards in a match with saw more tackles than attempts on goal.

Even so, Boro appeared to be heading for an admirable point in the first top flight meeting between the sides for over 40 years.

That was until Gray’s winner 10 minutes from time, when the striker fired home Sam Vokes’ knock-down and the ball squired under Boro goalkeeper Victor Valdes – who should have done better.

The result means that Sean Dyche’s side have leapfrogged Boro in the Premier League table, yet Karanka’s men are still four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Boro boss made just one change from the side which convincingly beat Swansea at the Riverside eight days earlier, it saw  Cristhian Stuani replace the injured Viktor Fischer.

It was almost turned into an inspired decision and Stuani should have opened the scoring
with just 12 minutes on the clock.

The Uraguian forward was sent through on goal by Antonio Barragan’s pass. Stuani then allowed the ball to bounce before striking a shot on the half volley, however he failed to hit the target.

At the other end Valdes had to be alert to keep out efforts from Ashley Barnes and George Boyd but neither side was able to wrestle full control.

Boro did start better after the break, though keeper Tom Heaton remained relatively untrobled.

The visitors registered their first shot on target after 60 minutes when Ramirez curled a free kick straght at Heaton.

However, Burnley delivered a late sucker punch though Gray’s strike, as Boro slipped down to 15^th in the table.

Burnley v Middlesbrough Preview

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka is looking forward to facing another ‘direct rival’ when his side travel to Burnley on Boxing Day.

Boro moved up to 14^th in the table after beating Swansea last weekend, however the Teessiders are still just one point ahead of the Clarets, who sit two places behind Boro in the Premier League table.

The trip to Turf Moor will be Boro’s first game in a busy Christmas schedule, which will see Karanka’s men play three games in the space of eight days.

However, the Spaniard insists that his players are ready for the week ahead.

“This week has been a normal week, we’ve had more days to prepare after the last game (against Swansea) and everything is better.”

Karanka described the 3-0 victory over the Swans as his side’s “worst performance of the season” in his post-match press conference but the Spaniard believes that his side’s experience delivered a positive result.

“The main thing is to have that experience (in the Premier League), like against Swansea we weren’t at our best but we won the game.”

“In September or October we would have lost that game,” he added.

Team News

Boro will be without Viktor Fischer, who has started the last four games, after the Danish international suffered a knee injury against Swansea.

Karanka confirmed the winger will be side-lined for the next “two or three weeks.”

Burnley don’t have any fresh injury concerns ahead of their Christmas schedule.

Sean Dyche’s side will be without fullback  Matt Lowton, though, after the defender picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Tottenham.

The Opposition

Since their promotion to the Premier League, Burnley have relied significantly on their home form to stay away from the bottom three.

Sean Dyche’s side have accumulated 17 points after 17 games, one less than Boro, however 16 of those have come at Turf Moor.

Their only defeats on home turf have come against Arsenal and Manchester City, yet the Clarets dismal away form has left them just three points above the relegation zone.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Clarets, who have scored just 16 goals all campaign, that is the same number as Boro. Only Hull have registered less in the top flight.

Dyche’s side have dropped to 16^th in the table after back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Tottenham. Their last win came on 10 December when they recorded a significant 3-2 victory over Bournemouth.

One To Watch

Michael Keane

Keane earned his first England call up back in October and many have tipped the 23-year-old defender to make a permanent step-up to the national side.

Like Boro centre-half Ben Gibson, Keane has played all 17 league games since his side’s promotion to the Premier and the defender hasn’t looked out of place in England’s top flight.

Keane has made 143 clearances and 27 blocks in the first half of the campaign. He also chipped in with a goal in the Clarets 2-0 victory over Watford back in September.

Last Time Out

Burnley 1 Middlesbrough 1

Michael Keane’s header in injury-time rescued a point for Burnley when the sides met in a promotion six-pointer back in April.

A win for Boro would have put Aitor Karanka’s side within touching distance of promotion, and the visitors opened the scoring thanks to Jordan Rhode’s 70^th minute finish.

However, Keane’s late equaliser left the promotion race in the balance with three Championship games to go.

In the end both teams were promoted automatically.

Team I Would Play

(Picture from Gazette Boro)

 I would make two changes from the 3-0 victory over Swansea. Viktor Fischer is injured so I would bring in Adama Traore, who provides pace and directness going forward.

As well as Fabio has done at left back, if George Friend is fully fit I would bring him back into the side after his excellent performances earlier in the season. 

  

Negredo Double Sees Off Swansea At The Riverside

Middlesbrough    3    Swansea    0

                                      Negredo 18 29 (Pen)

                                              De Roon 59

Middlesbrough climbed four points clear of the relegation zone thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory over Swansea at the Riverside.

Alvaro Negredo’s first half double gave Aitor Karanka’s side a commanding lead and visitors never looked like recovering when the Spanish striker netted his second with a 29^th minute penalty.

Marten De Roon added a third mid-way through the second half, sending Boro up to 14^th in the table ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.

The hosts started slowly, after Karanka had made one change from the side which lost 3-0 to Liverpool on Wednesday night.

It saw the influential Gaston Ramirez return in place of Adama Traore, who dropped to the bench.

However, Boro almost fell behind after just three minutes, when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s dipping effort was palmed away by Victor Valdes.

It took 18 nervy minutes before Boro finally adjusted to the situation and Karanka acknowledged the pressure that his players were under after the game.

The hosts took the lead when Adam Clayton made a rare burst forward and was fed by Ramirez’s pass. When Clayton reached the edge of the penalty area he checked back and delivered a low cross for Negredo, who lashed the ball home with a first-time finish.

The burly striker received an opportunity to add to his tally when his team mates caught Swansea off guard with a quick throw-in on 29 minutes.

Adam Forshaw used his initiative to charge into the Swansea penalty area, where he was bundled down by Jordi Amat’s weary challenge. Negredo made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors rarely threatened after that and their defence was breached again when De Roon poked home Ramirez’s inviting cross.

Valdes was forced to save Fernando Llorente’s late header but it was too little too late for the visitors.

Middlesbrough v Swansea Preview

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has urged his side to forget about Wednesday’s defeat to Liverpool and concentrate of this weekend’s ‘important’ clash against Swansea at the Riverside.

After back-to-back defeats, Boro sit 17^th in the league and are one place above the Swans, who have not won away from home since the opening day of the season.

Karanka admitted that Liverpool were “much better than us”, but the Spaniard believes that his side can recover ahead of their third game in the space of a week.

“Liverpool in the second half were much better than us,” said Karanka in his pre-match press conference.

“It was a really tough game but we have to forget about that and keep going.”

Boro are the lowest scorers in the league after 16 games with just 13 goals, but Karaka isn’t worrying about his side’s lack of goals.

“Playing the way that we are playing with our circumstances and creating chances we will score goals,” said Karanka.

He admitted that this Saturday’s game against a direct opponent will be a “really important”, however Karanka doesn’t want to put too much pressure on his players.

Despite conceding 12 goals in their last four games, the Swans have also scored nine and Karanka is warry of the threat that Saturday’s opponents could pose.

“The main thing for us is to try and be as organised as we can because they are a very dangerous side.

“We have to try and play like we did against Hull.”

Team News Left back George Friend could return for Boro after recovering from a knee injury.

Fellow defender Calum Chambers suffered a shoulder injury in the second half against Liverpool, however the centre half, on loan from Arsenal, has been passed fit to play.

Karanka also confirmed that Gaston Ramirez will face a late fitness test after missing the last two games with a foot problem.

Swansea Defender Federico Fernandez and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng are both doubtful with toe injuries. Both players missed their side’s defeat to West Brom on Wednesday

Even so, manager Bob Bradley has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to the Riverside.

The Opposition

After winning promotion from the Championship back in 2011, Swansea quickly established themselves as mid-table Premier League side. However, their top-flight status is under threat this campaign.

The Swans sold captain Ashley Williams and top scorer Andre Ayew in the summer and have struggled to replace them.

After picking up just four points in his first seven games, Italian manager Francesco Guidolin was sacked and immediately replaced by former USA manager Bob Bradley.

It was a tough start for the American, who failed to register a win in his first five games in charge.

Bradley’s first win was no ordinary one, as the Swans came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 5-4 in a Premier League classic.

Their form has been erratic since, losing 5-0 to Tottenham before beating Sunderland 3-0. On Wednesday night Swansea suffered a 3-1 defeat to West Brom, as they remained in the bottom three.

One to Watch

Gylfi Sigurdsson

The Icelandic playmaker has been Swansea’s most influential player by far this season.

Sigurdsson has been directly involved in 10 of Swansea’s 20 league goals this campaign, contributing with five goals and five assists.

He can create chances from deep and arrive late in the penalty area to add a goal threat. He is also extremely dangerous from set plays.

Last Time Out

Swansea 1 Middlesbrough 0 – 12/12/2012

An unfortunate own goal from Seb Hines nine minutes from time settled a League Cup quarter final four years ago.

Tony Mowbray’s Boro side had matched their Premier League opponents in a cagey game at the Liberty Stadium.

However, they were undone by a late corner when Hines glanced a header into his own net.

Liverpool Outclass Boro At The Riverside

Middlesbrough    0    Liverpool    3 

                                                             Lallana 29 68

                                                         Origi 60

Middlesbrough were outclassed and outplayed at the Riverside on Wednesday night, as Liverpool inflicted the Teessider’s heaviest defeat of the season.

Two goals from Adam Lallana, either side of a neat finish from Divock Origi, completed a comprehensive victory for the visitors, who moved back up to second in the Premier League table.

In total Boro managed just two shots on target, as Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who replaced the culpable Loris Karius, barely had a save to make.

Boro were boosted the return of striker Alvaro Negredo, however the potent Spaniard was left isolated upfront for most of the night as the hosts struggled to break out of their own half.

Negredo was one of two changes made by Boro manager Aitor Karanka after Boro’s 1-0 defeat away at Southampton on Sunday.

The other saw Adama Traore return to the side, as Jordan Rhodes dropped to the bench while Cristhian Stuani missed out altogether.

The early exchanges played out as many would have expected and despite being the away side Liverpool monopolised possession.

Boro’s game plan, as it was against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, consisted of getting men behind the ball and making themselves difficult to beat, while trying to pose a threat on the break.

Liverpool passed and probed but for 29 minutes Karanka’s men gave the visitors little space in the final third.

Eventually though, Klopp’s rampant side, who are the highest scorers in the league this season, made the breakthrough when Nathaniel Clyne found space on the right and the full-back’s cross was headed home by Lallana.

In contrast Boro are the division’s lowest scorers, with just 13 goals in 15 games. It was clear to see why, and even Liverpool’s vulnerable defence was barely tested.

Mignolet was one of two changes made by Klopp following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at home to West Ham.

The keeper only had one challenging save to make in the first 45 minutes, when Viktor Fischer tried his luck from a tight angle but Mignolet palmed the ball to safety.

The second half was a far more one-sided affair and Liverpool’s passing was crisp from the restart.

On 60 minutes Klopp’s side gave themselves breathing space when a neat move full of one touch passes calved open Boro’s backline wide open.

This time Lallana turned provider and his low cross from the right was met by Origi, who made no mistake from close range.

Lallana added a third seven minutes later when he was found unmarked in the penalty area before hammering the ball past the helpless Victor Valdes.

Still Boro struggled to win back possession and at times Liverpool knocked the ball around as if it was a training session.

Karanka’s side will surely receive more licence to attack when they host Swansea on Saturday. The result leaves Boro 17^th in the table and they will need to show far more ambition going forward if they are to stay out of the bottom three.

Boufal Strike Gives Southampton Victory Over Boro

Southampton    1    Middlesbrough    0

                                         Boufal 53

Sofiane Boufal’s fine strike gave Southampton all three points against Middlesbrough at St Mary’s, as Aitor Karanka’s side dropped down to 16^th in the table.

Boufal, who signed for the Saints for £16 million in the summer, provided a rare moment of quality when he received the ball from James Ward-Prowse and lashed a vicious effort past Victor Valdes on 53 minutes.

After that, Boro failed to register a shot on target and their patched-up forward line of Jordan Rhodes, Viktor Fischer, Christian Stuani rarely threatened Southampton’s charmed backline.

Once again Karanka’s men were disciplined and well-organised at the back, however this was also a reminder why they are the Premier League’s lowest scorers after fifteen games.

Their chances weren’t helped by injuries to Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez, who scored the only goal of the game in the victory over Hull last time out.

That forced Karanka to make two changes, as Rhodes and Stuani came into the side.

Southampton manager Claude Puel made five changes from the side which lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in their last league game.

The Saints were also knocked out of the Europa league on Thursday night and there was more than a hint of anxiety around St Mary’s in the opening exchanges.

After a quiet start to the game, Boro almost took the lead when a loose pass from the hosts sent Fischer though on goal. The Danish international was forced wide of the goal by Virgil van Dijk but still managed to round goalkeeper Fraser Forster. However, after finally managing to sort his feet out, Fischer’s finish lacked power and was blocked by Saints captain Jose Fonte.

Southampton responded when Jay Rodriguez forced Valdes into action, however there were still several boos from the home fans at half time.

Puel made a tactical change at the interval, replacing Dustan Tadic with Nathan Redmond.

It proved to be an inspired decision and eight minutes after the re-start the hosts took the lead through Boufal’s brilliance.

Boro offered little going forward after that, and the visitors could have fallen further behind when Rodriguez scooped Redmond’s cross over the bar from close range in stoppage time.

Southampton v Middlesbrough Preview

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka described Monday night’s victory over Hull as “massive” and hopes his side can sustain their momentum when they take on Southampton this weekend.

The Saints will have to recover from their Europa League exit on Thursday night when a 1-1 draw at home to Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva saw them crash out of the competition. However, Karanka isn’t focusing the opponentions busy schedule.

“I don’t know (If playing on Thursday will make a difference) I know that we will face a really good side and it will be a tough game but I would prefer to focus on ourselves,” said the Boro boss.

Karanka also stated that his team showed “they can do more than just defend,” after dominating possession against an injury-hit Hull side.

Boro had earned plaudits for their defensive performances, which earned them impressive draws away Arsenal and Manchester City, however their lack of creativity upfront had been a cause for concern.

“I had to defend my team after some games against the big sides but against Leicester and Hull we showed we know how to play with the ball, it’s not the same playing Arsenal or Manchester City away from home and playing Hull at home”.

The win moved Boro up to 13^th in the league, four points clear of the relegation (before the start of the weekend).

Team News

Karanka confirmed that Gaston Ramirez, Alvaro Negredo and Jordan Rhodes are all doubts after picking up knocks, all will be assessed before the game.

The Boro boss also revealed full-back George Friend is training with the team again but still needs to build up his fitness, meaning he is unlikely to feature.

Southampton’s top scorer Charlie Austin will miss the game after suffering a shoulder injury against Hapoel Beer Sheva on Thursday.

The Opposition

Southampton are just one place above Boro in the table (at the start of the weekend) with 17 points from 14 games.

New manager Claude Puel has contemplated three competitions in his first few months in England, and it could be argued that the Saints’ run to the League Cup semi-final and their European exertions have affected their league form.

Puel often deploys a 4-1-2-1-2 formation with a diamond in midfield but his side have found goals hard to come by, scoring just 13 in 14 games.

Alternatively, Southampton’s defence has been one of the best in the in division, particularly their centre-back pairing of Jose Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk.

Even so the Saints’ backline was breached three times last weekend, as they were beaten 3-0 by a struggling Crystal Palace side.

One To Watch

Virgil Van Dijk

The Dutch centre half has been one of the best defenders in the league this season and has formed a robust partnership with Southampton captain Jose Fonte.

Van Dijk reads the game well and is a threat in the air from set plays. He is also comfortable with the ball at his feet and often starts his side’s attacks from the back.

Last Time Out

Middlesbrough 2 Southampton 1 – 21/4/2012

Boro postponed Southampton’s promotion party back to the Premier League when they beat the Saints at the Riverside on the penultimate day of the season.

Billy Sharp gave the visitors the lead after just 47 seconds but Boro equalised though Nicky Bailey’s deflected shot.

A point would have earned Southampton promotion however they were denied 13 minutes from time when Merouane Zemmama swept home a brilliant free kick.

Middlesbrough v Hull City Preview

Middlesbrough will make their ‘Monday Night Football’ debut when they take on Hull City at the Riverside tomorrow night.

Aitor Karanka’s side sit 16^th in a congested league table, just one point ahead of Hull, who lie three places lower after 13 games.

The visitors, who only had 13 fit players three weeks before the start of the campaign, played through extra time and penalties last Tuesday as they knocked Newcastle out of the League Cup, however the Boro boss isn’t taking tomorrow’s opposition lightly.

“We know from last season it’ll be a difficult game,” said Karanka in his pre-match press conference.

“We have to avoid the risk of complacency thinking we’ve been playing well or that Hull have injuries. We have to think it’ll be a tough game and focus on us.”

The Spaniard was complementary about his side’s recent away performances but admitted that Boro need to start picking up points, especially at home.

“We have to focus on the way we are performing as if we can play against really good teams and should have won, we have to keep playing in the same way at home.”

Team News

Karanka confirmed that full back George Friend is the only injury concern ahead of the game, stating that “the rest of the players are ready.”

That means defender Daniel Ayala could return after a recent ankle injury.

Hull striker Dieumerci Mbokani will start his three-game ban after being sent off again Newcastle on Tuesday.

Fellow striker Abel Hernandez is an injury doubt, as is Shaun Maloney, however midfielder Ryan Mason could return after missing the Newcastle game though illness.

The Opposition

After winning the play-off final in May, Hull were dealt a detrimental blow when manager Steve Bruce left a month later.

To make matters worse the Tigers suffered several injuries over a terrible summer, which left them with only 13 fit players just three weeks before the start of the season.

For that reason, they were inevitably many people’s favourites to go straight back down to the Championship, however caretaker Mike Phelan guided his side to back-to -back victories over Leicester and Swansea at the start of the season.

Phelan was subsequently rewarded with the job on a full-time basis, yet things have been much trickier since then.

After taking seven points from their opening four games, Hull went on to lose their next seven, which included a resounding 6-1 thumping away at Bournemouth.

A vital victory over Southampton at the start of the month may have stopped the rot for Phelan’s men, however a 3-0 defeat against Sunderland and a draw at home to West Brom has seen the Tigers slip back into the bottom three.

One To Watch

Robert Snodgrass
The Scottish international has been Hull’s talisman this season, with six goals in all competitions.

Snodgrass scored the winner on the opening day of the season against Leicester and salvaged a point with a late free-kick away at Burnley.

He is a threat from set-plays and can arrive late in the box to add an extra goal threat.

Last Time Out

Middlesbrough 1 Hull City 0 18/3/2016
David Nugent’s last minute winner gave Boro a vital three points over their promotion rivals when the sides met at the Riverside earlier this year.

With ten games remaining in the Championship promotion race, just one point separated the two sides ahead of the Friday night fixture.

Both sides cancelled each other out until stoppage time when Albert Adomah’s cross was nodded home by Nugent, sending the Riverside into raptures.