History repeating as Boro and Cherries collide

On November 1, 1986, Bruce Rioch’s Boro and the Cherries, then managed by Harry Redknapp, met for a top-of-the-table Division Three encounter at the old Ayresome Park, with the hosts recording an emphatic 4-0 victory, thanks to goals from Archie Stephens, Bernie Slaven, Gary Hamilton and Stuart Ripley.

That win enabled the Teessiders to leapfrog their south-coast promotion rivals into top spot and that is the aim for the current Boro side this weekend.

In 1986-87, both sides went on to clinch automatic promotion, with Bournemouth squaring the ledger on Boro by triumphing 3-1 in Dorset and going on to lift the title.

Both sides will not be complaining if that is the final outcome of the table come the Spring, but given the notoriously unpredictable nature of Championship form and fortune, nothing can be taken as read from one game to the next.

Boro head into the match on a high after a 4-0 drubbing of Norwich City, equalling their Riverside result against Brentford on September 20.

While grounded head coach Aitor Karanka is synonymous for not looking too far ahead, he acknowledged Tuesday’s win had a psychological element attached to it.

He said: “It means more than three points as it was a direct opponent and to beat them and get three points gives us more confidence.

“We need to keep going in the same way, as it is going to be another very difficult game on Saturday.”

“That game is the type of game you want to play in.”

Cherries manager Eddie Howe, whose side moved top after their seventh straight win in all competitions in a 2-0 success at Sheffield Wednesday, has stoked up the fires by claiming Boro “want to be them.”

Howe, whose side lead Boro on goal difference said: “It is going to get harder now because we are the scalp that everyone wants.

“When you are the league leaders everyone wants to be you; no one more so than Middlesbrough.

“It will be a real test, but we can look forward to it.”