John Powls: Boro must rediscover their mastery of the shut-out as well as hitting the net at the other end

Boro go in to the all-important run in of the most competitive and unpredictable Championship campaign ever right in the mix but with more six-pointer head to heads to face than any of the others in the eight team field, starting tomorrow.

With the exception of the on a roll Canaries no other side has real momentum and there's no guarantee that they haven't peaked too early either.

So, it's still all to play for with many pundits predicting that it'll be nip and tuck all the way to the wire in a twist and turn 10 game tournament.

Karanka's men can steal a march on the rest with a win in tomorrow's 12.15pm televised Tractor Boy encounter.

To do that and return the favour of the reverse fixture they'll need to address the issues at both ends of the pitch that have dogged too many of their recent performances and have led to them being bottom of the top quartet tied on 66 points.

Put simply, they must rediscover their past mastery of the shut out at the back and get goals at the other end.

Action Images/Alan Walter

Lee Tomlin and Kike look dejected after Nottingham Forest's second goal

With the unaccustomed luxury of a week at Rockliffe to work on those, Boro's head coach will try to ensure his charges take on his coaching in a way he was frustrated they didn't at The City Ground.

I expect that, classically, he'll have started his preparation and planning at the back.

Results show that Dani Ayala has been a big miss from the centre of the back four and although he is back in full training it might be judged too big a risk to re-introduce him tomorrow from the off.

Unfortunately, his long lay off coincided with a dip in form for Omeruo with Woody bench warming since he got fit again.

I've seen enough of Tomas Kalas to be convinced he's a quick, competent and committed defender but also that his physique, technique and positional play make him much more a right back than a centre back.

The lad was honest enough to own up to the individual errors that cost against Forest and he was far from alone in rick-making.

Overall, he's done well enough as an individual but I think the back four balance has suffered with him in the middle and the unit has, evidently, been less effective as a result.

So, for tomorrow, if Dani's fit to start that's great but if not I think that Woody's calm know how should get the nod if Ken's form means he can't partner Ben ahead of Dimi.

Daniel Ayala

Kalas should shift to right back with Gorgeous on the left and an engine room of Leadbelter and Clayts completing a tight back seven.

As for the goal getting, with Tomlin at No.10 Boro are at their best with width either side of him.

The wide attacking midfielders will also need to track back to help their full backs win and hold the right to play against a McCarthy side who never shirk a shift or a scrap.

For that reason and with Uncle Albert on the left, I'd consider Nsue for wide right if Karanka can't be convinced that Adam Reach will do a job.

It may even be that Muzzy Carayol can get a few minutes if Boro have a grip on the result and the space appears for him to exploit with a manageable risk to his recovery.

After all the fruitless fuss over Rhodes leading nowhere, it's then down to who of the current roster has the best shot for the striker slot.

Though I think he's better playing off a line leader, I'd back Bam-Bam to do best in finding the space and hitting the target up against an Ipswich back line more tuned to getting tight to a big man.

C'mon Boro!!