CLAYTON BACKING BOSS TO KEEP BORO UP

ADAM CLAYTON insists the Middlesbrough players remain united behind Aitor Karanka in the battle for survival.

Clayton’s thoughts turned back to Boro’s grim relegation fight after their FA Cup defeat to City and he dismissed talk of splits in the camp.

The midfielder claims last season’s promotion campaign makes everyone believe they can pull clear of the drop zone, despite their run of just four points from their last 10 league games.

“There are no chinks between Aitor and the team,” he insisted. “I don’t think it can get any harder than it was at the end of last season.

“That was a tough, tough time when there were rumours he was ready to leave the club.

“All the palaver went on with 10 games to go. But we then went six unbeaten and got across the line.

“The strength in this group, the togetherness, what we have been through, all helps.

“I tweeted the other day that when you go through things in life with people, you get stronger.

“The amount of things we’ve been through together, the arguments we’ve had, the amount of love everyone has given each other, have made us a very strong group.” Middlesbrough have not won in the league since December 17 and Clayton claims Sunday’s clash with Manchester United was always much bigger than their Cup quarter-final with City.

“We wanted to get to Wembley, but that game is more important,” he said. “We just need to get a win and try to turn everything that is negative into a positive.”