MX23RW : Friday, November 29 11:48:45| >> :120:17413:17413:

Aitor Karanka: 'Middlesbrough cannot get carried away after bright start'

Aitor Karanka admits that Middlesbrough have "started really well" this season, but warns that tougher tests lie in wait over the coming weeks and months.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has warned his players to keep their feet on the ground following an unbeaten start the season.

The Smoggies have taken five points from a possible nine on their return to the Premier League, earning draws against Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion while also seeing off Sunderland.

Karanka has strengthened his ranks since Boro's last outing, a well-earned stalemate at The Hawthorns, by bringing in versatile defender Calum Chambers on loan from Arsenal to help cover at the back.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his side's return to action at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Karanka told reporters: "Sometimes in the market you can find bargains. We were waiting for the right player and Calum Chambers ticks all the boxes

"We have started really well but we can't get carried away because we know how difficult this league is. I prefer to arrive at my desk with this headache to choose my team. The attitude of the players is really good and I am really pleased.

"Crystal Palace are experienced and have a good manager. But we have to focus on ourselves and play in our style."

Boro head into the fourth round of Premier League fixtures sitting sixth in the table, four points off the division's early pacesetters at the top.

ID:280888: cacheID:280888:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2408:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Calum Chambers during a training session ahead of the Champions League clash between Arsenal and Barcelona on February 22, 2016
Read Next:
Chambers joins Middlesbrough on loan
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds17105231121935
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
3Burnley179622161533
4Sunderland1796226121433
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough178362920927
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn167452017325
9Millwall166641914524
10Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
11Swansea CitySwansea176471615122
12Bristol City175752021-122
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
14Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
15Derby CountyDerby175572122-120
16Luton TownLuton175391829-1118
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff174491526-1116
22Hull City173681623-715
23Queens Park RangersQPR172871526-1114
24Portsmouth152671628-1212


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!