Aitor Karanka wants victory over Middlesbrough to dispel the cloud of “atmosphere and negativity” hanging over Birmingham City.
Scott Hogan’s first-half strike earned a deserved win for the Blues, who had taken just one point from six games on arrival at the Riverside.
That miserable run included a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Neil Warnock’s side in the reverse fixture on December 19. This time, though, it was Covidhit Boro who were outclassed as the Blues turned in their most complete performance of the campaign.
“I am very pleased because I always said this group of players should be higher in the table,” said Karanka, who guided Middlesbrough to promotion from the Championship in 2015-16.
“The table does not reflect the effort we put in. I think – and I hope – this game will be a reflection of the future. The first 35 minutes we played very well with the ball, and when we had to defend, we did it well against a very good team. The players were really committed.
“The biggest challenge for me here has been the atmosphere and negativity. I thought I had fixed it at the start of the season, then we found ourselves in the same situation. In that way, this is a very important result.”
Denne historien er fra January 17, 2021-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 17, 2021-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'd still want to keep Pat on side
Patrick Bamford has always been a player who divides opinion amongst Leeds supporters.
WHITES & THE BLADES SPEED ON
LEEDS and Sheffield United maintained their pace at the top of the table with comfortable home victories - but Sunderland slipped off the summit.
BAILEY: WE'LL GIVE POPPIES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE
OWEN Bailey knows exactly how pumped up seventh-tier Kettering Town will be when Doncaster Rovers roll into ramshackle Latimer Park today.
TOWN EARN THEIR CORN!
HARROGATE mon Weaver breathed a sigh of relief after his side edged past Gainsborough Trinity at a rain-sodden Exercise Stadium.
OH MY JOSH - O'S KEEPER IS THE HERO!
RICHIE Wellens praised keeper Josh Keeley as Leyton Orient reached the third round following a dramatic win over National League Oldham.
'IT HASN'T BEEN MY WHOLE FOCUS AND THAT HELPED ME
SHAUN Barker never attempted to conceal the fact that he had no burning desire to play football.
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
