[h=3]Albion boss could get favour from Spanish pal[/h]12:03pm Tuesday 22nd April 2014 in Sport By Andy Naylor
Oscar Garcia (right) and Aitor Karanka, side by side at the Amex during Middlesbrough's 2-0 win last month
Albion boss Oscar Garcia could get a helping hand from a former international team-mate tonight.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka insists his mid-table side will not be taking their foot off the pedal against the Seagulls' play-off rivals Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
The sixth-placed Seagulls are sweating on the result of Reading's game in hand, hoping Middlesbrough win or draw to keep the Royals below them.
Boro's own hopes of maintaining a late dash evaporated with Saturday's home defeat by Millwall but Karanka, a Spanish under 21's and 1996 Atlantic Olympics team-mate of Oscar's, said: "If someone is thinking we are going to Reading to play a friendly game they are wrong. The best way to forget Saturday’s game is to win at Reading.
"To make that happen I am going to work hard every day because we will be playing a team who are trying to get into the play-off positions.
"It is a very important game. Reading are playing for the play-off positions and the first thing we must do is respect the competition so we must do everything we can to win the game."
Former Albion loan striker Paul Dickov, manager of relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers, hopes to have influential midfielder Richie Wellens and defenders Lucal Neill and James Husband back from injury for Reading's visit on Saturday.
Original article
Albion boss Oscar Garcia could get a helping hand from a former international team-mate tonight.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka insists his mid-table side will not be taking their foot off the pedal against the Seagulls' play-off rivals Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
The sixth-placed Seagulls are sweating on the result of Reading's game in hand, hoping Middlesbrough win or draw to keep the Royals below them.
Boro's own hopes of maintaining a late dash evaporated with Saturday's home defeat by Millwall but Karanka, a Spanish under 21's and 1996 Atlantic Olympics team-mate of Oscar's, said: "If someone is thinking we are going to Reading to play a friendly game they are wrong. The best way to forget Saturday’s game is to win at Reading.
"To make that happen I am going to work hard every day because we will be playing a team who are trying to get into the play-off positions.
"It is a very important game. Reading are playing for the play-off positions and the first thing we must do is respect the competition so we must do everything we can to win the game."
Former Albion loan striker Paul Dickov, manager of relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers, hopes to have influential midfielder Richie Wellens and defenders Lucal Neill and James Husband back from injury for Reading's visit on Saturday.
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Original article