Michael Carrick is expecting another tough test as Boro travel to Portsmouth in the Sky Bet Championship.
Ahead of our meeting at Fratton Park, here are some of the key points from Carrick's pre-match press conference...
ON THE SEASON...
I think the dynamics of a season change as you go through it, and you knock each chapter off as you go through it. We find ourselves now at a stage with a clear focus on the league. In many ways, it simplifies things only focusing on one thing and taking it game by game and understanding what that brings and what is at stake. You have got to use that feeling, emotion, enjoyment and excitement to fire things up. I’m really looking forward to it as it’s all ahead of us and we will attack it with everything we have got. You try to put yourself in a position where something is possible and at the moment we are in a position where anything is possible, so I’m really excited about what is ahead. It’s up to us to go and do something about it.
ON PLAYING AT FRATTON PARK...
I’ve played down there a number of times, and I really like it. I enjoy the feel of the stadium. I think the supporters create a really good atmosphere when the team is playing. They are high-energy and quite aggressive, and that is something we have to deal with. We are looking forward to the challenge they are going to throw at us.
ON POMPEY...
Particularly at home, they have had some really good results. They have scored four goals a couple of times this season and they make it a tough place to go and get a result. We know the style of play and what kind of game they want. It’s up to us to adapt and be flexible with that and cope with it and imprint our mark on it as well.