KARANKA HAILS HIS THREE-MAN DEFENCE
WATFORD 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 0: CHAMBERS AND GIBSON SALUTED AFTER BORO SHUT-OUT
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka saluted his newlook defence – after a clean sheet at Watford.
Boro failed to score for the eighth time in the Premier League this season at Vicarage Road, but Karanka was happy with a point.
The Spaniard adopted a back three against the Hornets, with Calum Chambers, the England international on loan from Arsenal, and Ben Gibson earning special praise from the Boro boss.
“It was a good game for Calum and Gibbo because both of them are young and to play against strikers like [Abdoulaye] Doucoure, [Troy] Deeney and [Stefano] Okaka and to fight for every single ball, and every single second ball, and to have that maturity was important for both of them,” he enthused.
“They both have a really, really good future.”
Karanka, whose side are four points above the drop zone after 21 matches, added: “It is a good point.
“We were better in the first half and they were better in the second half.
“We knew that it was going to be a difficult game. We tried to play our style in the first half, but in the second we knew that they are a strong and mature team and the only thing we could do was to defend.
“We have problems with teams like Watford where they play long balls, with strong players up front, but we were really good today.”
Cristhian Stuani went closest to scoring for the Teessiders, but Watford had the better of the match, sourning a number of good chances.
“It was maybe not the best to watch but for us it was a good game,” added Karanka.
“We showed once again we are a consistent team.
“It is true that I would like to have more chances, as we did in the first half.
“But in the second half, Watford were very strong, very physical, and we had to defend well.”
Watford beat Boro at the Riverside earlier this season, but Boro showed they had learned from the last meeting.
“When we play in our style we create chances,” said Karanka.
“But it is difficult in places like this when you are playing against a mature, physical team they control the tempo of the game.
“We have added one more point and it’s a game we will learn from in the future.”
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri insists he is not feeling the strain, despite seeing his team’s winless league streak extend to six matches.
Watford’s Italian owners have earned a reputation of being ruthless when it comes to the turnover of managers.
“With regards to the pressure I can tell you now with a smile on my face, that I put on myself every day since I train for over 20 years,” Mazzarri said. “We played very well and when a manager sees that his team has played very well he is happy.”
Watford’s campaign has been beset by a number of injuries and goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes became the latest victim when he limped off with a back problem.