Birmingham v Middlesbrough: We are more ready for season's finale than last year '“ Karanka

No Boro fan needs reminding of the dramatic and ultimately gut-wrenching events that transpired in their final Championship game on the road in 2014-15 at Fulham, when the Ross McCormack-inspired hosts beat Aitor Karanka’s side 4-3 to consign them to the play-offs.

Around 5,000 visiting fans will pack out the away end at Birminghamtonight hoping for a spot of karma after Craven Cottage last term.

Several Boro players who featured in that costly defeat will line up at St Andrew’s, with Karanka admitting the disappointment of events at the end of last season, allied to the play-offs, will drive on his side.

He said: “The players who were here last season know and the players who have come here this season are more mature.

“The players are really calm and excited, because they want to play. We are better than we were last season and we are more ready than we were last season.”

Boro have won just once in 18 outings at St Andrew’s since 1978 and copped a painful FA Cup quarter-final exit there in 1975.

But they have ended hoodoos at a number of other venues this season, including Portman Road, the City Ground and Hillsborough.

Adam Clayton is walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the club’s final two games of the regular season. He is on 13 bookings and cautions against Blues and final-day opponents Brighton would automatically trigger a three-match ban.

Last six games: Birmingham LWLLDD, Middlesbrough WWWWDD.

Referee: S Hooper (Wiltshire).

Last time: Birmingham 1 Middlesbrough 1, February 18, 2015; Championship.