Jazz Richards says Huddersfield Town must take up where they left off against Blackpool when they chase a first win at the Riverside Stadium tonight.
Town haven’t tasted victory on Teesside since New Year’s Day 1986, when Middlesbrough were based at Ayresome Park. Joey Jones sealed a 1-0 win in the original Division II (now Championship), and fellow defender Richards would love a repeat.
“What we’ve got to do tomorrow is start like we played in the second half, when we had Blackpool on the back foot,” said the on-loan Swansea man, looking back at Friday’s 1-1 draw.
Town, beaten on all three previous league and cup visits to the Riverside, head up the A19 in eighth place, having gone unbeaten in four league games.
After Saturday’s 2-0 loss at leaders QPR, Tony Mowbray’s Boro are 18th, without a win in seven and still chasing their first home victory of the season at the sixth attempt.
But Richards warned: “Middlesbrough’s always a tough place to go. We have to stamp our authority on the game, and if we do, we can get the three points.”
Richards credited manager Mark Robins for Town’s turnaround in form after a poor first half against Paul Ince’s Tangerines.
He explained: “That’s what the manager’s here for. He’s paid to see that things are not going right and make the changes that get a result and he did that.
“After their goal, we were told to get tighter and get a foothold in the game. We then had a further talk about it at half-time.”
The stalemate was Town’s third in those four unbeaten league games, and Richards added: “We’ve got to be a bit more clinical by turning some of these draws into wins.”
James Vaughan will be aiming to add to his 10-goal tally after scoring the equaliser – before missing a late penalty.
Richards said: “On another night he might’ve had a hat trick, because the linesman probably made a mistake with the goal that was ruled out.”
As he prepares for a fourth Town appearance, the 22-year-old pointed out: “There’s quality throughout the side.
“The manager has shown he’ll give younger players a chance and the playing philosophy is similar to Swansea’s.
“Against Blackpool in the first half we got stuck playing the long ball a bit too much. But we really caused them problems when we started passing it.”
Boro will be boosted by the return of skipper and centre-back Rhys Williams from a ban, although Argentinian forward Emmanuel Ledesma remains suspended.
Manager Mowbray has doubts over defenders Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and Seb Hines (knee) and Dutch forward Marvin Emnes (groin).
