Steve Agnew positive about the fate of Middlesbrough

Football Update: Boro’s boss has seen two of his former clubs, Sunderland and Leicester, defy the odds to avoid relegation in previous years.

Now he wants Boro to follow in their footsteps.

To achieve his unlikely target, his goal-shy side will have to win as many games in the next month as they have in the entire campaign so far, starting against Arsenal at the Riverside tonight.

“That win we’ve been waiting for can literally change a lot of things and affect other teams as well,” said Agnew.

“So that’s what we’re aiming for.

“It’s happened in recent seasons with Sunderland and Leicester so why not us?”

Boro have not won a league game since mid-December and while they’ve shown more attacking intent since Agnew replaced Aitor Karanka last month, they’ve picked up just two points out of six games under him.

Agnew said: “There have been little spells in games when I’ve thought, that’s the stamp I want to put on things and the way I’d like to perform both in and out of possession.

“Obviously, I’d like more but when you change things, it does take time.”

Boro held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates in October.

Gaston Ramirez is fit again and back in the squad and Agnew is calling for the Uruguayan and speed merchant Adama Traaore, who both caused the Gunners problems that day, to turn it on again.

“They’ve got the pace and technical ability to go past opponents and are creative so they’re the kind of players we need to perform and test Arsenal,” he said.

“There is no fear in this group. We’re ready and no we need that win sooner rather than later.”

Category: Football