Source: Northern_Echo
Bates hoping for a boost from big crowd
MATTHEW Bates revealed he is excited to be part of the new era at Middlesbrough and hopes the arrival of Tony Mowbray will bring a great atmosphere back to the Riverside.[LNB] Bottom club Bristol City travel to Teesside for Mowbray's first game in charge with Boro just two points ahead of their opponents.[LNB] Attendances at the Riverside have been well below par after a poor start to the season but the Boro faithful are likely to turn out in numbers to mark the start of a new era at the club and Bates admits it will give the players a massive lift.[LNB] It will be brilliant. I've spoken to a lot of people and friends and everybody I know seems to be going to the game,'' he revealed.[LNB] I've had more texts and calls asking for tickets than I normally get.[LNB] It would be great to get a good atmosphere going and I'm sure it will lift the players and the management.[LNB] We are looking for three points, and with two home games it couldn't be a better start for the manager to come into.[LNB] Hopefully there will be a good atmosphere and a great crowd.[LNB] I've heard rumours of what the attendance could be and I'm hoping everyone comes along and gets behind the team and the new manager.[LNB] Two wins in the last ten games have left Boro in the relegation zone, just two points above today's opponents.[LNB] But Bates is hoping the side can take inspiration from other teams who have gone on to get promoted after disappointing starts in the past.[LNB] There's no hiding from the league position we're in.[LNB] It's not where we want to be or the fans want us to be we've got to stick together and keep going and turn the results around,'' he said.[LNB] We're only ten points off promotion and it's still a massive season and there's plenty of games still to play.[LNB] If you pick up a couple of results you can turn the table around.[LNB] I think a few years ago, Sunderland were bottom of the league after ten or 15 games and went on to get promoted, so we've got to take inspiration from that.[LNB] We still see ourselves as promotion contenders and we've got to aim high to get to that position.[LNB] It's a big game. We're in a bad situation but there's still a massive chunk of the season to go.''[LNB]
