Middlesbrough v Reading - tough travel schedule can be the motivation for Warnock’s men

Overcoming the odds has also been a defining theme of his long managerial career as well and facing the Championship’s current top two over the coming seven days – in a week which also incorporates two lengthy road trips – is something which he relishes.

First up is a Reading side who are setting the pace at the top of the table along with Bristol City, who Boro visit on Tuesday – with fans of both clubs having loved to hate Warnock over the years.

A teak-tough week ends with a trip to Warnock’s former club Cardiff City next Saturday.

The Boro chief said: “This next week is probably the most difficult we will ever get.

“We have got Reading who have played four and won four and if Bristol beat Barnsley, they will have played five and won five and then we go down to my old club Cardiff, who got in the play-offs (last season).

“You are not going to get anything as difficult in this league.

“But I am really looking forward to it. I think it is great to play against the top clubs and see how you come out, really.

“There is a lot of travelling and I did ring the Football League fixtures guy to ask him how they came about.

“Is it just picked out of a hat because I imagine anyone with common sense would not imagine going to Bristol City, moving the kick off back to 7.45pm on a Tuesday night and coming back at whatever time in the early hours and then having to go to Cardiff on a Friday...

“It is quite ridiculous really and just as well the fans are not allowed in at the minute because it would be too much with all that driving.

“He (the EFL representative) did see that it may be a problem for us, but that is all he said. He did not say he would try and fix it.

“He almost said: ‘It’s only you, Warnock, so you can have all that rubbish..’

Just as Warnock will be hoping to prove a point or two over the next week, you can bet your bottom dollar that he will remind his players to use the itinerary as a motivational tool as well.

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