Source: Eurosport
Cooper: Goals will be key
First-team coach Colin Cooper is backing Middlesbrough to make it out of the Championship at the first attempt if they can add goals to what was a "solid" opening performance against Sheffield United.
Cooper is confident Boro have enough quality in their ranks to secure promotion this term and feels they will give themselves a great chance if they build on the goalless draw at home to the Blades.
He told the club's official website: "From my point of view as an ex-defender we looked solid as a team, but we are going to get out of this league by scoring goals and winning games.
"If we can match teams for physicality the way we did on Friday night then with honest hard work and endeavour we think, and I think we're right in thinking, that we might have a bit more quality than a lot of teams in this division."
Speaking about recent signing Leroy Lita, Cooper added: "I'm pleased he wants to make an impression within the club and on the fans. His career has been stop-start for the last couple of years. What we have been impressed with is Leroy talking about scoring goals all the time, it's all he talks about.
"He's asked for extra practice, extra sessions to get up to speed, and other players need to be kept up to speed as well. The main reason we organised a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday was that Leroy asked us if we could arrange a game."
