MICHAEL CARRICK has urged his Middlesbrough side to ‘embrace’ the stage ahead of two matches which will have a significant bearing on a thrilling battle for automatic promotion.
Unbeaten in eight, Boro, who still have a slim play-off chance, visit Portman Road in a game which followers of Leeds United will also have an eye on.
The Teessiders, whose side contains Leeds loanees Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood, then welcome United a week on Monday.
Carrick said: “We’ve got to just embrace it when you are playing football to achieve something.
“That’s not pressure, that’s what we live for and something we are in it for. I cannot see that as a negative.
The Boro chief added: “I think the job he has done is not far off unprecedented in terms of the amount of points they have got from where they have come from to the teams that have come down and are challenging in the top three and size of them and their squads, quality and money involved.
“I’m not surprised, he’s good at what he does and I’m pleased for him. (But) We’ve got something to play for and will be doing everything we can for us to win the game. But I hope for his sake they find a way and they pull it off as he’s done an unbelievable job.”
