Aitor Karanka hopes experience will help Middlesbrough against Burnley

Aitor Karanka is hoping familiarity will give Middlesbrough an advantage when they play Burnley on Boxing Day.

Burnley have won 16 of their 17 points this season at home, with only Swansea, Arsenal and Manchester City leaving Turf Moor with maximum points.

Boro have lost on only one of their previous six visits to Burnley and Karanka hopes that previous experience will help his side.

"I expect, like always on that pitch, a tough game, and especially this season when they have won 16 of their 17 points in the table at home," Karanka said. "We know that they are a really strong team.

"We have experienced playing there because since I have been here, we have played there twice, so we know it's going to be a tough game.

"They are a direct opponent in the table at the moment, so we have to think it is a really important game for us.

"For me, it's good because I know them. But we have a few players who weren't here last season, for example and they need to watch them and they need to know how strong they are and how competitive they are.

"We have been training in this way this week and I will show them videos and we will compete as we do in every single game."

Burnley pipped Boro to last season's Sky Bet Championship title, but the 14th-placed club are currently two positions and one point ahead of them in the Premier League table.

However, both remain too close for comfort to the drop zone as they attempt to ensure their stay in the top flight lasts longer than one campaign with Karanka admitting survival is his only priority.

"Every single team has to take advantage of their home games," he stressed. "You know their style until this moment is successful for them because last season they won the Championship, this season they are on 17 points.

"Their aim this season is the same as ours, so I think they are doing well and they know their good things."

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