It has taken some time but Aitor Karanka, the first non-English manager to take charge of the club, has guided Boro to automatic promotion and Premier League football next season.
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But mutual faith was emphatically restored as Cristhian Stuani’s early goal paved the way for Boro to claim the 1-1 draw they required against promotion rivals Brighton in order to book their return to the top-flight after a seven-year absence.
Another free-kick led to Dale Stephens’ equaliser, heading across goal at the back post after Brighton had begun the second period in full flow.
The 31 year old former England global winger re-joined boyhood club Middlesbrough last summer for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of £5.5 million which included a £1.5 million clause should Boro achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Grant Leadbitter’s joy at getting the promotion job done goes beyond the relief of avoiding the play-offs. “I said the day I signed that if I came back and we got promoted that would be the best”, he said.
The Teessiders will now be looking forward to next season, as they look to establish themselves as Premier League regulars.
“As I’ve said before, this group of players, this crowd, this chairman deserves to be in the Premier League again”.
Karanka demurred, maintaining it was a red card challenge but revealed that, despite a nasty gash to a shin, Ramírez would be “fit enough to celebrate”. Hull City, who will be joined in the play-offs by Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough or Brighton, could also still win an immediate return this year.
The Spaniard said: “I have three more years here”.
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Burnley’s celebrations during the match were marred by protests from Charlton fans, with the game being constantly interrupted as a number of flares were thrown onto the playing area and a fan ran onto the pitch.
