Pulis convinced Championship promotion race will be close-fought all the way

Posted Friday, October 05, 2018 by PA

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis is braced for the promotion race to go to the wire.

Boro host Nottingham Forest on Saturday lying in a three-way tie for top spot between Leeds and Sheffield United, with West Brom just a point behind.

Wolves won the title by a distance last season but Pulis does not see an outstanding team ready to emulate them.

“I don’t think anybody will run away with it like Wolves did last year,” he said at his post-match press conference in midweek.

“Everybody is close to the top six. Irrespective of what the start has been or what hasn’t been, it’s such a relentless season.

“Everybody will be looking and thinking ‘we’re only a few points away from this and that’.”

Saturday’s clash sees Forest boss Aitor Karanka return to a club he managed for three-and-a-half years.

“It is a really nice game for me, going back to the place which gave me the opportunity to start my career,” Karanka told a press conferencec.

“There are a lot of good people who I want to see again, and I have a lot of good memories with them.

“I always look forward to it as they gave me the chance to start my career but everything has changed now and I hope to beat them on Saturday.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed defender Barry Douglas will miss their game against Brentford.

Douglas was forced out of Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Hull due to a hamstring injury, but Bielsa hopes the left-back will not be sidelined for long.

Brentford, five points behind Leeds in sixth, welcome back Ollie Watkins and Saïd Benrahma.

Sheffield United face Hull at Bramall Lane while West Brom host Reading.

Aston Villa, who sacked Steve Bruce in midweek, head to struggling Millwall with Lions striker Lee Gregory buoyed by a late equaliser which snatched a point at Forest on Wednesday.

“Last season we beat Leeds United 4-3 away from home in a great game, and it’s games like that which can just turn your season around,” Gregory told the club website.

“So hopefully we can now kick on against Aston Villa on Saturday – a game we cannot wait for now – so we can get back to winning ways.”

Elsewhere Birmingham welcome Rotherham, Blackburn head to Bolton, Norwich host Stoke, QPR face Derby, Ipswich travel to Swansea and rock-bottom Preston take on Wigan.