Aitor Karanka tells his Middlesbrough players they deserve promotion

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has told his players they deserve to be playing in the Barclays Premier League next season.

The Teessiders sit in third place in the Sky Bet Championship table with only goal difference separating them from an automatic promotion spot as they head into the final two games of the campaign, away to Fulham and at home to Brighton on the final day.

However, having seen his team beat Rotherham, Wolves and most significantly, Norwich inside a week, Karanka is convinced they deserve to make it to the big time.

He told the Evening Gazette: "We will fight until the last second. We have two games left and we have to wait and see if there is a mistake, but I am very proud of my team."