Adam Clayton says bumper Boro crowds give players a massive boost

Adam Clayton believes opponents will struggle to live with Boro when the home players are backed by a bouncing Riverside Stadium.

This afternoon’s clash with Nottingham Forest will see a season’s best attendance turn out to support Aitor Karanka’s men.

Clayton insists bumper crowds are a massive boost to the players and a sign that the club is heading the right direction.

Attendances at the Riverside are steadily improving in line with Boro’s climb up the Championship table.

The home clash with pacesetters Bournemouth attracted 22,390 while more than 18,000 fans turned out for the visit of Blackburn.

Sales for the Forest game have broken through the 30,000 barrier, comfortably beating last season’s top attendance of 23,679 for the November visit of Bolton in what was for Karanka’s first home game in charge.

“When you see the fans getting excited then they can see something is happening on the field and if we can keep them coming by doing well on the field it is going to be a joint effort,” said Clayton.

“If we’re taking massive numbers away from home and fill the Riverside after Christmas it’s only going bode well for the performance.”

The 25-year-old midfielder believes the fans have already helped the players on the pitch, particularly away from home.

Boro took almost 4,900 fans to Wigan and more than 3,500 to Huddersfield.

“When we went away to Wigan I think it was the crowd got us the equaliser, which is another point on the way to where we want to be,” said Clayton.

“I don’t think we would have got it without that.

“And when we played Bournemouth at home, when there was 22,000 in the ground, that made a massive difference so if we can get more crowds like that I don’t think many teams will be able to handle it if we play like we know we can.”

Clayton, signed from Huddersfield in August, has been winning rave reviews for his performances in the heart of Boro’s midfield.

“It’s nice to read the stuff that people write when I’ve done well,” said the modest Mancunian.

“But I just try to do a good job for the team.

“I’m just pleased that people are seeing that I am performing all right and hopefully those performances can continue both for me personally and for the team and we can go places with it.”