Boro return for Mowbray will provide tough test
BLACKBURN boss Tony Mowbray expects a stern test against Middlesbrough today despite their defensive problems.
Boro, Mowbray’s boyhood team and a club he both played for and managed, will be without the suspended Daniel Ayala after his red card in the defeat to Sheffield United earlier this week.
Fellow centre-half Aden Flint also looks set to miss out after hobbling off with a hamstring problem at Bramall Lane, leaving Tony Pulis stretched in defence.
Despite such important absentees in the back line, Mowbray believes the visitors will still prove to be a solid proposition to break down.
“I think they are defensively very strong, they still have some good players,” he told the club’s official website.
“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 back line 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 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 boss Pulis, whose side are sixth in the Championship table, insists they must “get on with it” at Ewood Park.
The Teessiders are only ahead of Frank Lampard’s Derby County on goal difference alone and will have to improve their form if they are to hold on to their spot in the play-off positions.
Boro’s loss in Sheffield was their first league defeat since Boxing Day and will look to bounce back.
“It is going to be difficult on Sunday. 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,” Pulis said at his prematch press conference.
“We have got what we have got and must get on with it. The important thing is that whoever