We Are Middlesbrough

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says his side will not be distracted by the ongoing issues between the Blackburn Rovers supporters and their owners as they head to Ewood Park on Friday evening (20:00 BST).

Rovers fan groups have asked senior club officials to steer clear of Blackburn's remaining games this season amid discontent over the club's management.

Carrick acknowledges the tense atmosphere surrounding their opponents could affect the game but believes the side just need to have "tunnel vision" to find success.

"It's not really for us to get caught up in or almost think about too much.

"When you go away from home, most of the time it's about managing the atmosphere and trying to get up in the game or take control of the game.

"It's more about us and preparing for the game, training right, improving on last week and the game is going to take care of itself."

Boro will still be hampered with injuries, with much-needed defenders not ready to make the trip.

Dael Fry and George Edmundson are "getting there" but won't be ready for Friday, while Luke Ayling "isn't totally written off" but could be out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

Listen to the full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds

"Now the talk on the training ground is going to be 'we have to do our best every day'," Middlesbrough left-back Neto Borges tells BBC Radio Tees.

"We saw now in the second half, what we can do and that's the mentality we have to carry on."

Paul Addison and Neil Maddison are joined by Boro fan Dana Malt to discuss Middlesbrough's second-half comeback against Oxford United and how hopes for a place in the play-offs have been revitalised - but can the team keep the fans believing over the next seven games?

Includes post-match interviews from Borges and boss Michael Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Eight games to secure the play-off place that was viewed as the bare minimum, both inside and outside the club last August.

Middlesbrough's season has been baffling to fans and media alike.

Michael Carrick's side sit just three points outside the play-off positions yet have managed to lose 14 games already (the most in the top eight) and recently emerged from a five-game losing streak.

They boast the third-most potent attack in the division and week after week we hear opposing managers talking about Boro's squad being one of the best in the division.

Yet many fans have long since given up on the play-offs and rail against any talk of reaching them as the stuff of fantasy.

Faith in Carrick was severely tested during a run of seven defeats in eight in all competitions between January and mid-February but recent times have seen Boro win three from five to keep the top six in sight.

The fact they did so in the midst of a defensive crisis has served as grist to the mill for both supporters and critics of the Boro boss alike.

When Dael Fry limped off in the closing stages of Boro's 1-0 defeat at Swansea City, it left Middlesbrough in the position of not having a single fit senior centre-back at the club.

With Rav van den Berg out with a troublesome knee injury and George Edmundson also sidelined with an ankle problem it meant full-back Neto Borges and midfielder Jonny Howson had to fill in.

Another makeshift centre-back, Luke Ayling, has also been sidelined with an ankle injury which might keep him out for the rest of the season.

It's a run of bad luck to be sure, but was it foreseeable? Well yes, because when Matt Clarke was allowed to join Derby County in January without being replaced the Boro boss was asked if he was concerned about a lack of depth in that position?

His answer was he didn't need another centre-back as three was probably going to be enough and Howson and Ayling could fill in if required.

So much of Boro's play-off prospects now rest on the shoulders of Howson and Borges. The pair put in sterling performances against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town before the international break but Howson is just back from injury too and the 36-year-old played both games without participating in a single training session.

With games at Blackburn Rovers and at home to Leeds United on the horizon the need for one or more of Fry, van den Berg or Edmundson to return is pressing.

Image source, Rex Features

At the top end of the pitch the loss of Liverpool loanee Ben Doak to injury has impacted Boro's attacking play. As has the departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath, sold to Atlanta United in January for a club record fee.

His replacement, Kelechi Iheanacho has yet to convince and hasn't scored since arriving at The Riverside. Boro need him to find his feet quickly to support Tommy Conway.

Despite the many issues they face, Boro are well capable of having a good shot at the play-offs. They still have talented attacking players like Finn Azaz, Delano Burgzorg and Conway while Hayden Hackney has delivered five goals from midfield.

Boro's final match is away to Coventry City. For that game to matter they have to string a winning run together, starting at home to Oxford United this Saturday.

If Carrick's side do make it into the play-offs they'll definitely have gone the long way round.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz scored his first international goal as the Republic of Ireland beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Uefa Nations League play-off.

The 24-year-old converted from close range after 21 minutes in Plovdiv as the Republic came from behind to take a slender lead into Sunday's second leg.

"[Troy Parrott] put it on a plate for me, so I'll say thank you to Troy for that. It was a great ball from Robbie [Brady] too and I just had to be in there," Azaz told RTE.

"It was probably the easiest goal I have ever scored; I don't score many headers so I'm glad to score one tonight."

Avoiding defeat in the return fixture in Dublin at the weekend will see the Republic of Ireland retain their status in League B.