Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has revealed his delight with his side's defensive record this season, but has stressed the importance of finding the net to improve their goal difference.

Karanka's men are fourth in the Championship after 42 games in the campaign, and only trail leaders Bournemouth by two points.

However, the North East outfit have an inferior goal difference to the other three teams chasing automatic promotion, despite their dominance at the back.

Karnaka told reporters: "We have 22 clean sheets this season, it's amazing because it means that the team is working very well. It's not just the keeper, it's not just the defenders when you have kept more than 20 clean sheets because all of them are working very hard.

"But we have to win the games and take our chances at the other end. Against Rotherham we won 2-0, but we could score four or five goals and at the end that could be very important."

Middlesbrough next face playoff-chasers Wolverhampton Wanderers in their Championship clash on Tuesday.