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.