Middlesbrough FC: 'Keep going, keep playing' - Mikel tell teammates

Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel in action for Middlesbrough

John Obi Mikel admits there’s nervousness about Boro when they play at the Riverside – but has called on his teammates to be fearless on home turf in the remaining weeks of the season.


Boro ended a run of four straight defeats at the Riverside with a much needed victory over play-off chasing rivals Hull City on Saturday and will look to build on that when Stoke City head for Teesside this Friday.

Mikel says Boro are trying to play “the right way” and is urging his teammates to be bold and confident in possession and not scared of making mistakes.

"It’s normal to make mistakes. We have to accept it, they don’t want to see us give the ball away.

“But we can’t play a game without giving the ball away as a team. It happens."

Mikel added: “I wouldn’t say to the fans to come and not (criticise). They have their opinion, if they want to scream that’s fine. But we as players shouldn’t let it affect us, we have to keep doing it and playing.

Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher were both guilty of missing chances, and yet the strikers have scored the goals that have secured two big wins for Boro against Bolton and Hull after the dismal defeat at Swansea a little over a week ago.

“I keep speaking to Britt all the time and Fletch,” he said.

“They have to continue.

“They need someone to say to them, ‘keep going, keep playing, if you make a mistake don’t put your head down."

“Sometimes it’s not going in but they have to keep doing it.”