Middlesbrough v Bristol City – Neil Warnock pushing Boro to make most of home comforts to ensure SkyBet Championship safety

A lifelong Sheffield United supporter, Warnock – who featured on a clip which went viral earlier this week when he exchanged pleasantries with some Boro fans while out cycling – enjoyed a passionate joyride at his boyhood club when he successfully managed them in the Noughties.

His time at the likes of two other working-class clubs in Cardiff City and Crystal Palace were also rewarding and just as he seemed like a natural ‘fit’ there, so he appears to be at Boro, traditionally regarded as the lesser member of the north-east’s ‘big three.’

For the story to be extended beyond this month, it is highly likely that retaining the club’s Championship status must be achieved first.

But his time at Boro appears to have whetted Warnock’s appetite and the future will become even more alluring if they stay up.

He said: “It is alright talking about if we go down we might come straight back.

“That is rubbish. We do not want to go down. We have to make sure that does not happen. Everything here is geared for success.

“The lads have got everything except slippers in the dressing room.”

After a reviving victory at Millwall, Boro would be forgiven for wishing they were on the road again with their last five wins having all arrived on their travels.

Instead, they face a managerless Bristol City side who secured their first victory in 10 games against Hull in midweek.

City reside in mid-table and have little on paper to play for, but Warnock is wise the dangers of a team who were firmly in play-off contention until a drop-off cost Lee Johnson his job recently.

On City, who have lost just once in seven league visits to the Riverside – winning four times – Warnock added: “They have got a good group of players.

“Similar to Middlesbrough, they have got a chairman who loves the club and wants to do well for the area. And they have spent a lot of money.

“We know how talented they are. We are fighting for our lives and have to get something out of the game.”

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