Cup defeat must not derail promotion bid

TONY MOWBRAY has ordered his Middlesbrough side not to feel sorry for themselves ahead of today’s Riverside Stadium match with Wolves after their gruelling midweek exertions at Swansea.

Boro unluckily bowed out of the Capital One Cup at the quarter-final stage through a late own goal conceded by Wetherby-born Seb Hines, at the Liberty Stadium, where a frustrating night was compounded by a number of players picking up injuries.

Following a lengthy trip back to Teesside from South Wales in the early hours of Thursday, Boro had precious little time to prepare for the arrival of Stale Solbakken’s side, who have won their past two Championship games.

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But while the preparation is far from ideal, manager Mowbray wants Boro to show their character and cast aside their fatigue and disappointment at missing out on a place in a cup semi-final in the best possible fashion.

He also knows that claiming a positive result against Wolves would help make up for the poor loss to Bristol City last time out at the Riverside.

Mowbray said: “We have to find the same intensity against Wolves and they will know we have had a tough midweek game. The Swansea result has gone now, so we have to look to try to go again.

“We cannot dwell on the Swansea game. We did not get through and it is back to our bread and butter. Whoever plays will be very competitive for the team and we have to get a result.”

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Mowbray will carry out a roll call of fit players this morning ahead of this afternoon’s game, with the Boro chief admitting the away dressing room at Swansea was like a “hospital ward” after his side’s narrow defeat.