Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka believes that it will be tough for his side to remain at the top of the Championship table for the rest of the season.

A 2-1 victory away at Blackpool moved the club one point ahead of both Bournemouth and Derby County, but Karanka has acknowledged that it will take a big effort from his team to remain top of a "difficult" division.

The Spaniard is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "We are working to stay top obviously, but this league is very difficult. It's hard to be in that position.

"There are all the teams that are going to be fighting in the same way like us but we have a very good squad and a very good atmosphere in the team. If we think everything is done now, we are making a very big mistake."

The North-East club switch their focus to the FA Cup this weekend when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.