Karanka targets Boro FA Cup run after battling win

Middlesbrough eventually broke down Sheffield Wednesday and eased through to the FA Cup fourth round, but manager Aitor Karanka insists he needed to shake his side into action at half time.

The Premier League side looked laboured against their Championship opponents in the opening period, and Karanka’s stern words clearly did the trick after the break as goals from Grant Leadbitter, Alvaro Negredo and Marten de Roon saw them safely through, despite having Daniel Ayala sent off.

The win was Boro’s first in four games and just their second in ten as they continue to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League.

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

But, despite sitting just two places and four points above the drop zone, Karanka is desperate for a strong FA Cup run.

“In the second half it was completely different,” Karanka said. “I told them at half-time that I thought we were playing a friendly game, and for me the FA Cup isn’t a friendly, it’s a really important game.

“In the way we’ve been preparing for the game this week, wanted to play this game. It’s sometimes difficult against a team in a lower division to get the right mentality, but in the second half we went to the pitch with the right attitude.

“Even when we lost Dani everyone was consistent, committed, fighting for every ball and that was the main thing.”