Alex Neil: 'I don't think any game is going to get any bigger than the one on Friday night'

As two promotion candidates prepare to collide in a game that could well determine who will be playing in the Premier League next season, Norwich boss Alex Neil admits: "I don't think any game is going to get any bigger than the one on Friday night."

Boro's trip to Carrow Road is certainly perfectly poised. The Canaries, in second, have won five on the bounce and will have one foot in the top flight with a win over their rivals.

But Boro, buoyed by two impressive displays this week and six points better off, will look to halt Norwich's momentum in a crunch six-pointer at the top.

Former Hamilton boss Neil, who has done a sterling job since replacing the axed Neil Adams in the Norwich hotseat, is calling on the Canary Road faithful to give Boro a raucous welcome.

"We need to make sure the place is rocking for the players, and hopefully we'll go and give a real good account of ourselves," he said.

The Norwich gaffer praised his side for overcoming two tricky away ties at Bolton and Leeds and, like Aitor Karanka and Eddie Howe, is targeting a maximum points return from the remaining fixtures.

Boro players celebrating against Norwich in the reverse fixture earlier this season

"Anybody looking at the last two games for us, especially with them being so close together, we knew it was going to be tough," Neil told the club website after the 2-0 win over Leeds on Tuesday night.

"The run they've been on since I came in, it's really difficult to replicate.

"We've got three left and we've got to try and win them as well.

"If we do, I'm more than confident that we'll be in the Premier League."

Leeds held the in-form Canaries until the break at Elland Road and Neil said his side showed "real bottle" to come out on top.

"How we won the game speaks volumes about their squad, their togetherness and how much it means to them," he said.

"We weren't at our best in the first half, but the response in the second half was excellent.

"I posed a few questions to them in terms of how much we actually wanted it. You've got to ultimately do enough.

"I think they answered the questions and more, all the credit should go to them."

Norwich are two points ahead of Boro in second place and three in front of Watford, who take on Nottingham Forest tonight.