Town will be looking to play the role of party poopers at Middlesbrough tomorrow and put the brakes on their opponents’ seemingly relentless march towards automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Beaten play-off finalists last year, Boro are the current Championship leaders and boast a formidable home record, having conceded just seven goals in 21 league fixtures at the Riverside.

Town striker Brett Pitman, who netted for previous club Bournemouth against them at the Goldsands Stadium last season, warned: “They’re good. They don’t concede many goals and they’ve got real threat so it will be a tough game.

“They’re obviously at home but when we played them down here we were well in the game and played well until they got their first goal. They are at the top of the league for a reason — you’re not there at this stage of the season by luck.

“Midfielders Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter protect their back four and they don’t really go anywhere.

“Their full-backs attack and the two central midfielders are a bit of a shield. That’s why they don’t concede many goals. They’re organised and I think they base their attempts to win on keeping clean sheets.

“We’re going up there aiming to win the game and hopefully try to spoil their party. I’d prefer us going there needing to win to get into the play-offs to be honest but we’ll do all we can to spoil their party.”

Pitman is Town’s joint-leading scorer alongside Daryl Murphy on 10 goals, scored in 45 appearances — 28 starts and a further 17 as substitute — in all competitions, and was asked if he was disappointed not to have started more regularly in his first season at Portman Road or that when he has it has often been in a wide role rather than through the middle.

He said: “Not really, no. I’m happy to play wherever the manager asks me to play. Obviously, every player wants to start every game, but we’ve got four or five really good strikers here so it’s not going to happen all the time.

“When you are on the bench and then come on you have to try to make an impact and the majority of times I’ve done that.”

Meanwhile, Pitman believes loanee Liam Feeney, recruited from Bolton until the end of the season when he will be a free agent, has probably made enough of an impression for manager Mick McCarthy to consider signing him on a permanent deal.

He added: “I think he’s done well. He’s come into a new club and a new environment, and I think he has fitted in well. I’m sure he has made a good impression on the manager.

“I think he’s played most games since he’s been here so he’s obviously doing something right. It’s hard for me to say whether he’s going to be offered a deal here or elsewhere — all I can say is that I think he’s done well.”

Photo: Action Images

martin587 added 12:48 - Apr 22 Then prove us all wrong,but it's too late now.!!!
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GiveusaWave added 12:50 - Apr 22 Bit late in the day for language like this. Where was the fiery warrior spirit for the game against Fulham? If we'd won that we would have a glimmer of hope right now.
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jas0999 added 13:06 - Apr 22 Too little too late. Only chance is if pressure gets to their players. Boro have been ambitious and deserve to be where they are. We will go there and defend I suspect. Bore everyone to death and try to Nick a winner.
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TimmyH added 13:13 - Apr 22 Yep! by bringing them down to our level...parking the bus, hoping that Sears, Feeney and Co. can occasionally catch them on the break (in other words stagnating the game).
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ArnieM added 13:16 - Apr 22 11 man "defence" with copious hoof ball it is then! Proud to be a Town fan , no longer!
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MattinLondon added 13:24 - Apr 22 I think that Pitman is quite a good technical player.
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Warkys_Tash added 13:32 - Apr 22 No one cares, it won't make no difference to us Town fans, we have lost interest. It's a dead rubber.
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floridaboy added 14:16 - Apr 22 Can see a good tonking on the way tomorrow If they can keep it to 4 they will have done well! Rhodes hat trick on the way.
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battyblue added 16:13 - Apr 22 Spoil there party in your dreams .
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Suffolk_n_Good added 16:25 - Apr 22 Bit late in the day for this kind of talk, should of pulled your bloody fingers out against Bolton.......
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NSL added 11:26 - Apr 23 Well you'll to stop playing like an absolute donkey then won't you! Obviously quoting straight out of the book of Mick.
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Seasider added 12:28 - Apr 23 Must say as its a dead rubber from our point of view,not bothered about result.A thrashing would put Mr Invincible, who only the other day was saying how well he had done with the club punching above their weight,under a bit of pressure I suppose;but wouldn't hasten his departure.A win and he would be even more big headed than he is now. Hoping he will go for the Villa and/or Celtic jobs;but this is only wishful thinking,as he has a cushy number here,and would be under more pressure at these bigger clubs.

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