Lee Tomlin believes Boro face their toughest game of the season so far this afternoon.
Bournemouth visit the Riverside for a top versus second showdown.
The Cherries claimed pole position on Tuesday by virtue of a 2-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday. Boro’s 4-0 destruction of Norwich on the same night earned them second place, but they trail Bournemouth on goal difference.
Tomlin believes the hosts have what it takes to win but knows they’ll have to be at their best against Eddie Howe’s team.
“I played against them last season, and for me, with the way they played football, they were the probably the best team in the league,” he said.
“I think this is going to be the toughest game we’ve had so far. I’m not saying that the rest of the teams aren’t good enough, and obviously every game is tough, but as long as we’re at it, we’ve got a great chance.
“I think people probably don’t think of them as one of the top teams because of the names they’ve got.
“They’ve got players from lower leagues or whatever, but they’re all really good footballers and they’ve been together for a year or two now and that’s enabled them to gel a lot more.
“They play really good football but we do too.”
Tomlin doesn’t think the outcome will have a significant impact on the battle for promotion, adding: “For me, it’s still early doors.
“I just think it’s a massive game. Everyone’s probably going to say that it’s a massive six-pointer and this and that, but after this there’s still 28 games to go.
“There’s still an awfully long time to go. If we stick to what we’re doing, we’ve got a good chance.”
Whatever the outcome of today’s game, Tomlin believes Aitor Karanka has done a superb job since his appointment as head coach 12 months ago.
“He’s meticulous in everything he does, and that’s why he’s worked at Real Madrid and under Jose Mourinho – he’s that good,” said Tomlin.
“He’s worked at Real Madrid and played for them too, and he’s such a good manager. If you’ve been dropped or rested, he’s always prepared to tell you why.
“You can be the man-of-the- match one game, but then you can be out of the side for the next one because he doesn’t think that game is quite right for you. He’s just unbelievable.”
Today’s top of the table encounter is expected to attract the biggest Riverside attendance of the season so far and that’s something Tomlin relishes.
In fact, he’s been blown away by the intensity of the Boro support.
“I don’t think people realise how much it helps us with a loud following,” he said.
“At the away game at Rotherham it was unbelievable, and I remember the first game I came to watch with the club was away at Doncaster and I was gobsmacked to see what they were like - I just couldn’t wait to get going.
“They just have to carry on doing what they’re doing, and it’s the same with us.
“We’re a team, not just us as players, it’s the fans and staff as well. We’re a team and we just have to stick by one another no matter what.”
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