Tension mounting at Middlesbrough

Form slipping
The Teesside team face more potential embarrassment on Tuesday night as Nuneaton Borough AFC – who lie 98 league places and four divisions below their opponents – travel to the Riverside stadium for an FA Cup third-round replay having deservedly snatched a draw in the sides' first meeting ten days ago through Gez Murphy's last-minute penalty. They will be in optimistic mood against hosts who have not won in the Premiership since 20 November, and have taken only four points from their last eight games to slip to 17th in the table.

Crucial period
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren acknowledges that fortunes must improve fast, saying: "This is the time you earn your wages. There's always pressure when results are going against you, but we have to be able to handle it. We have to beat Nuneaton, and then we have to get back to business in the league. We've got some very big games coming up."

Inexperienced side
Injuries forced McClaren to field an inexperienced lineup against Arsenal – Boro's heaviest loss since a 7-0 reverse against Bristol Rovers FC in 1955 - with eight products of the club's much-heralded youth academy featuring. "I said to all the youngsters after the game, they are going to be great players and in football you are going to get hits," he said. "They've had a big hit at a young age, but it will only make them better players. If they come through it, it will improve their character."

Riggott role
Chris Riggott, at 25 one of the more experienced names involved on Saturday and set to continue as captain while Gareth Southgate recovers from an ankle injury, believes the more experienced players must help out their younger team-mates. "I'm one of the senior players, and you do feel an extra responsibility, you have to set the young lads an example," he said. "It was a great feeling to lead the lads out on Saturday, and although it all turned sour, you've got to be positive."

Defensive aim
Middlesbrough's domestic travails – they have kept just three clean sheets in 21 Premiership matches - have been in marked contrast to their serene progress in the UEFA Cup, where they are yet to concede a goal in six games. "In the UEFA Cup, we've defended well as a team and, although we've not played free-flowing football, we've got the results," Riggott said. "In the league, we're not keeping sheets and that should be our priority, it's vitally important. We need to take our defensive form in Europe and translate that to our league form."