Tees

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Middlesbrough held third-place Burnley to a goalless draw on Sunday to see them keep their spot in the top six.

But while the points were shared between the two promotion-chasing teams, Boro defender Dael Fry feels his side displayed a higher quality.

"They're a good team, a top side in the division, but coming off the pitch, I said to the lads, 'I think we are a better team than them'," Fry told BBC Radio Tees.

"Over both games we had against them over the season, we defended well and we created chances.

"There's no reason we can't kick on now and challenge."

Boro fans will be especially pleased to see their club come out with a clean sheet, having led Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at half-time on Boxing Day before throwing it away as the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

The 27-year-old, who featured in the entire match against the Owls, said that result came as a "shock" but that the negative emotions served as a reminder.

"To concede three goals in the second half, we were all disappointed, and we knew against Burnley that we had to be on our mettle," Fry added.

"There's no reason we can't do that every game, we just need to be more consistent.

"No matter who we play, we've got to be 100% committed."

You can listen to the full post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.

The final Championship fixture of the weekend features two promotion-chasing teams as Middlesbrough host Burnley on Sunday evening.

The sides drew 1-1 in an entertaining reverse tie at Turf Moor in early December but seventh-placed Boro have faltered a little since then, winning just once and letting slip a three-goal lead at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

By contrast, the Clarets are flying high in third place, a point behind table toppers Leeds United, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches with a clinical away win over second-placed Sheffield United.

• Middlesbrough are winless in six league games against Burnley (D3 L3) since winning 1-0 in December 2015 under Aitor Karanka.

• Burnley won 2-1 against Middlesbrough at the Riverside last time out in 2022-23 – they've never won consecutive away league games against them.

• Middlesbrough have won their final league game of the year in each of the past three years, winning 2-1 in every game – against Blackpool in 2021, Blackburn in 2022 and Huddersfield in 2023.

• Burnley lost their final league game of the year 3-2 against Aston Villa in 2023 but haven't done so in consecutive years since between 2005 and 2010 (six in a row).

• Burnley manager Scott Parker has one win in five Championship meetings with Middlesbrough (D3 L1), winning 1-0 win Fulham in January 2020. His five games against them have produced just four goals (2 for, 2 against).

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

Image source, Getty Images

What do Boro need?

Boro have a potential issue at right-back where Anfernee Dijksteel is entering the final six months of his contract and Luke Ayling has struggled to hit the heights of last season's loan spell, while Tommy Smith remains a long-term injury absentee.

Recent injuries to Aidan Morris and Hayden Hackney showed the strength in depth in central midfield may need to be augmented if a promotion push is to be sustained, while the right side of attack may need reinforcing too.

What business are they likely to do?

So much depends on what happens with Emmanuel Latte Lath. Ipswich tried to sign him at the end of the summer window and Boro are braced for renewed interest in the Ivorian.

If he leaves it will only be for a figure that suits the club, with the money then being used to buy a replacement and augment other areas of the squad.

It also wouldn't be a surprise to see some fringe figures depart if the interest is there. Dan Barlaser and Isaiah Jones are two players who would surely interest other Championship clubs if they were available.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

January 2023 put rocket boosters under Michael Carrick's squad just a couple of months after replacing Chris Wilder.

Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey dovetailed perfectly with Chuba Akpom and Ryan Giles to help propel Boro to the play-offs where they drew a blank against Coventry in the semi-final.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

Latte Lath is an obvious talking point but the player Boro coaches and fans alike would be devastated to lose is Ben Doak. The winger is on a season-long loan from Liverpool and everyone on Teesside is praying they don't recall him.

How key is the window?

Right now Boro have their strongest squad for years. It was built with the express intention of challenging for automatic promotion and to this point Boro have underachieved in that regard.

Some freshening up in the right areas may help unlock the potential that is undoubtedly there.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick was at a loss to explain how his side gave up a three-goal lead and drew 3-3 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Finn Azaz's double and a goal from Ben Doak had them three up after 30 minutes and seemingly cruising towards three points.

But three goals in 14 second-half minutes, which also included a red card for Boro defender Rav van den Berg, saw the Owls stage an incredible comeback.

It meant Carrick's team slipped out of the Championship's top six.

"There were so many good things in the first half to be in a position like we were in and be in a commanding position going into the second half," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"To let the game unravel and get away from us that quickly, it can't happen. It's pretty obvious to say that, but it can't happen.

"It went so quickly and we made some bad decisions, didn't react to it too well and then a couple of deflections and they score the goals, but it can't happen."