Source: Northern_Echo
Premier League return will bring Boro's fans back
TONY MOWBRAY has admitted that the only way to get the Riverside turnstiles ringing again is to earn promotion back to the Premier League.[LNB] Just 17,567 attended Middlesbrough's 3-1 victory over Birmingham City yesterday, which saw Mowbray's side reach third in the npower Championship table.[LNB] The win was Boro's fourth on the bounce in all competitions, after a midweek victory at Barnsley followed a win at Leeds a week ago.[LNB] Since Mowbray's appointment in October 2010, attendances at the Riverside have stayed roughly consistent, and the Boro manager is satisfied that at least the atmosphere on Teesside has lifted now that the football team is winning games.[LNB] He said: "It was evident when we arrived the match-day experience here wasn't what it should be and we had to try to get it back to what it was. There's probably a lot of fans at home looking out for the result every night[LNB] "Maybe only us being in the Premier League will bring the supporters back. The lads here are hopefully in the pub now telling their mates who didn't they need to get back here, because we're giving it our best shot."[LNB] After Adam Rooney's first-half penalty, goals after the restart by Barry Robson, debutant Faris Haroun and Malaury Martin gave Boro a well-deserved win.[LNB] And Mowbray hailed the impact of his new signings, who were both picked up on free transfers in the summer. He said: "We started a bit flat and a bit sloppy but we managed to keep the tempo high to cause them some problems. I'm pleased that Faris made an impression. He's a fantastic willing kid who gets into some good positions. He's shown he can adapt quickly[LNB] "You've got to search the market to find the right ones to fit the chemistry of what you've already got.[LNB] Matthew Bates captained the side during a week where the Eaglescliffe-born defender was again linked with a move away from the Riverside to Premier League new boys Swansea City. Mowbray admitted that his summer dealings may not yet be over.[LNB] He said: "I'm not over conifdent there won't be any significant out-goings in the next week or so. The balance for me is that if the right offer comes in for the right player and we can use the money to strengthen other areas and benefit the team we will look to do that. If we are in a position where we need to sell a player to buy a player, we'll do that.[LNB] "The situation with Matthew has gone quiet, to be fair, Swansea have had their own games, and any conversations we might have had have gone quiet. Whether they're looking elsewhere whether it's a waiting game I don't know. Matthew's played three games since that speculation started and we've won them all and he's played his part."[LNB] Haroun was a second-half replacement for Scott McDonald, who limped off at half-time with a hamstring injury. With only one fit striker in Marvin Emnes, Mowbray is however reluctant to throw his new signing into the fray too soon. "Scott nicked his hamstring so we're down to one fit striker now, there you go but we scored three goals, Mowbray said.[LNB] "Faris took his goal well and he gets involved and gets from A to B very fast. We are looking forward to giving him some game time to settle into the English game. It's a different kettle of fish to the Belgian game. It's same for Malaury, who didn't play a competitive match due to injury last season, but I like his technicality.[LNB]
