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MIDDLESBROUGH v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - ALIADIERE: THIS TIME IS BETTER
Jeremie Aliadiere believes it is better that Middlesbrough are playing Tottenham before the anticipated Juande Ramos effect takes hold.
Spurs' new manager will take charge of his first Barclays Premier League match at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, where a struggling Boro side await.
Ramos saw Spurs beat Blackpool 2-0 in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night, their first win since victory over Gareth Southgate's side by the same margin in the previous round.
And former Arsenal striker Aliadiere knows his new team face a tough challenge on Saturday.
"It's going to be a very difficult game," admitted the £2million summer signing.
"Obviously, Spurs are in the same situation as us, they need points and so do we, so obviously we will have to fight until the last minute."
Asked if he thought Ramos would make a difference to struggling Spurs, he added: "He's won things and, when you look at Sevilla, in Europe they have done well; he's a great manager. We need to win on Saturday before they start to play really well.
"They are a good team and they've got good players, even if they are not in a good situation at the moment like us."
Boro have lost six of their last seven games and last won on September 1, when they overcame Birmingham 2-0, but Spurs have also yet to record a league win on their travels this season.
Aliadiere was sorely missed by Boro after he was sidelined for five matches due to a hamstring injury suffered at West Ham.
He had shown glimpses of adding some much needed attacking flair to Boro's rather pedestrian attack before breaking down at Upton Park.
One thing lacking was a goal, but the 24-year-old finally broke his duck for his new club in his comeback game last weekend at Manchester United.
Later, there was a worrying moment for the Boro bench when he slowed up and started grabbing the back of his leg, but it turned out he was simply suffering from cramp due to a lack of first-team action.
"In my head, it's a relief to score because, if you're not scoring, you're thinking about goals all the time instead of just relaxing, so now that I have scored I can be more free and not think too much about it," Aliadiere added.
"I feel I am more relaxed now in training and in front of goal and, the next time I get a chance, hopefully I will score again."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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