John Powls: Bernie was right - Boro need to rely less on guts to get the glory

In the last round of the top trio tussle the Rams and Cherries opened the door to the top of the division with two points apiece dropped.

Boro could only match them with a down-to-ten-men comeback one-all draw at Brum but now deservedly top The Championship by a point.

As Special K has said, it’s now about staying there.

I’m with Bernie in thinking that’s going to mean his charges playing a good deal better than they have recently and relying less on the guts for the glory.

Despite mostly coming out on the right side of narrow margins, grind it out Boro haven’t been at their best of late with the return of ‘only play one half’ and no clean sheet so far in February.

Karanka said as much about Wednesday’s game and Leadbelter confirmed there’d been ‘harsh words spoken’ at half time.

The ten men that played like eleven improved after the break and forced an equaliser with the best piece of football in the match.

The magic moves were conjured by a skipper and scorer one-two with a neat BamBam finish.

Now usually error free, Big Ben must be sick of the sight of St. Andrew’s after conceding a pen in each of Boro’s last two visits – both draws when they should have won.

Dimi is helped up by Ben Gibson after being shown the red card

Dimi did down Donaldson who’d latched on to Gibson’s loose back pass but it was a pen and a yellow card, not the red flourished by Mr Coote and that was far from the only inconsistent and incorrect decision from the ‘Karankagate’ ref.

Having been tail end Charlie in the last sequence, the Sky schedules give Boro the chance to set the Saturday agenda.

Can they enjoy their newly won status and use it to help craft a win in front of a big and partisan crowd and the cameras?

They could then relish a feet up table-topping afternoon knowing that the best the chasers can do is hold station and improve their relative goal difference.

Boro owe Redfearn’s recently improved Leeds one after the late Elland mugging in August.

With little time for R&R or tactics work on the training ground I think that a go with what you know 4-2-3-1 is best.

With Dimi suspended, Mejias will start again and, unless Woody is available or Kalas considered, it’ll be Ben and Ken ahead of The Spaniard.

Karanka has choices for both full back flanks, though Fredericks’ form is strong and Gorgeous won’t want to give way.

Clayts will return against an old club to partner Leadbelter in the engine room and BamBam’s goals get him the start.

If Tomlin is in the side from the off, it has to be on the basis that he delivers 90 minutes as well as service and strikes and that means he has to be at ten, not out wide.

Karanka’s Men are at their best with true width in the attacking midfield three.

With Adomah – who needs to get goals - and Reach – who needs to hit the line and cut back - rested last time both should start for the league leaders.

Yes, that’s the Mighty Reds!

C’mon Boro!!!