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MIDDLESBROUGH v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - ALIADIERE: NO GLOOM AND DOOM AT THE BORO
Jeremie Aliadiere insists Middlesbrough's struggle to pull away from the bottom of the Barclays Premier League has not affected morale in the dressing room.
Boro, without a win since the first day of September, desperately need to start picking up points if they are to avoid a winter of discontent.
Defeating Tottenham in Saturday's encounter at the Riverside Stadium would certainly be an ideal way to return to winning ways.
And French striker Aliadiere insists the Boro squad has the required talent and determination to climb away from 17th in the table.
He said: "We all know we are in a difficult situation at the moment and we know we need to get points now and to start winning games, but the atmosphere in the dressing room is the same as before.
"We've got the ability in the team to be higher in the table, let's hope we can turn things around and climb the table. We all want to fight to get back on track and get points on board."
The problem, claims Aliadiere, is simple. Boro are not scoring enough goals and are conceding too many.
So far, the defence has been breached 22 times in 11 Premier League games while Gareth Southgate's men have so far averaged one goal per game.
Aliadiere, who opened his Boro account in last Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford, added: "If we can start conceding less goals we've got a better chance of winning because then if we do score a goal it should be enough.
"If we're strong at the back and defend well we will get better results. Of course we've got the ability to score goals, it's just maybe we need a bit of luck and when that comes we will score more regularly."
Despite Boro's disappointing start to the season, the 24-year-old summer signing from Arsenal is loving life in the north east.
After years desperately trying to break into Arsene Wenger's side and enduring unsuccessful loan spells, Aliadiere is thriving in an environment where he is regarded as a first-team fixture.
"I am enjoying it here," he said. "I play every game, which is what I wanted and why I came here. Of course I would prefer some better results and to win more games and to be in a better situation in the table.
"We should have done better with the players we've got."
Boro will not be back to full strength in the attacking department tomorrow.
Mido has been denied a chance to prove Spurs were wrong to allow him to leave in the transfer window after failing to shake off a groin problem, meaning Tuncay Sanli and Aliadiere will be charged with leading the line.
Julio Arca and Emanuel Pogatetz are still a few weeks away from a return.
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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