Boro will be a test for Tony
Blackburn v Middlesbrough Today, 1pm
kept just three clean outings since then. A y list isn’t helping. ng thought in every nd is that the absence maker Jack Grealish is sting them dear.
They are now seven points off the playoffs. But both Bristol City and Middlesbrough who occupy the two final slots have two games in hand. And on t hi s BLACKBURN’S Tony Mowbray expects a stern test against Middlesbrough despite their defensive problems.
Boro, Mowbray’s boyhood team and a club he both played for and managed, will be without Daniel Ayala after his red card in the defeat to Sheffield United earlier this week. Fellow centrehalf Aden Flint also looks set to miss out with a hamstring problem.
Despite such important absentees in the backline, boss Mowbray (above) believes the visitors will still prove to be a solid proposition to break down.
He said: “They are defensively very strong, they still have some good players. Dael Fry is one of them, Ryan Shotton is another. George Friend is a very experienced defender and they have midfield players who can drop into the backline if needed.
“They’ve been so good away from home because defensively they are very strong and they have players in midfield who have quality and can pick the right pass.
“Up top they have a £15million striker (Britt Assombalonga) who they have had on the bench for a lot of the season. They are a very experienced, physical team who know what the game is about.”
Boro gaffer Tony Pulis, whose side are sixth in the Championship, admitted: “It is going to be difficult.
“We cannot hide away from the fact that we will be missing a lot of influential players, but we have got to go there and give it our best shot.
“We have got what we have got and must get on with it.”