Monk in warning over galvanised Wearsiders
GARRY Monk has described Simon Grayson’s sacking as “mind-boggling” – but admits it has made Middlesbrough’s job harder today.
The Black Cats will arrive at the Riverside without a manager or a win in their last 13 Championship matches.
But Monk expects the dismissal of Grayson and his assistant Glynn Snodin to have a galvanising effect. Billy McKinlay has been placed in caretaker control, along with former Boro defender Robbie Stockdale.
“It’s now going to be difficult,” said Monk, who opted to join the Teessiders in the summer when both clubs were looking for new managers after relegation from the Premier League. “Sunderland will come strong regardless of what situation they are in. It’s another difficult game for us.
“Sometimes, well quite often, the form book is thrown out of the window. We know Sunderland will come and give us a fight.
“We need to match that and then be at our best to take three points and go into this next international break in good heart.
“I think it’s a great shame what happened to Simon Grayson, he’s a good man and a good manager, and I know Robbie Stockdale came through the academy here, that often happens in football. But to be honest, my only concern for this game is three points and giving our fans a performance.
“They deserve that, we know our performances at home sometimes haven’t been good enough. Let’s put that right in a game we’re all looking forward too.”
“At home, we haven’t given our fans what we have wanted before and this is another motivation for us.
“We want to try and finish a good week and make it a great week.”
Boro themselves had been in poor form, no wins in six putting Monk under pressure, until back-to-back victories at Reading and Hull City. Meanwhile, Sunderland were losing to Bristol City and drawing with Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light.
“Every team suffers difficult periods and there will be ups and downs throughout the season at some point for every team,” Monk commented.
“The corrections we’ve asked the players to take on to the pitch have shown in the performances.
“It was important we showed how together we are, which we did and picked up six points. But we have to make sure this weekend that we put in the same level of performance and desire and take that into the derby game. We know there’s a long way to go.
“It’s a big game at the weekend, a derby. Form goes out the window a lot in these games.”