Sunday 18 December 2016 08:19, UK
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka insisted that points were more important than performances after his side beat Swansea City 3-0 at the Riverside on Saturday afternoon.
The win saw Boro move up to 14th in the Premier League, four points from safety, with striker Alvaro Negredo back in the goals with a first-half double.
However, despite not hitting their straps, Karanka was adamant the three points were more important than his team's actual display.
"We are very pleased as for us, every single point is massive, especially after the last two games against Southampton and the second half against Liverpool was not so good, so we needed to win the following game against a direct opponent," he said.
"I am really pleased because when playing not at our best - it could even be our worst performance this season - we won 3-0 and sometimes the points are more important than the performance.
"Even without creating many chances, we still won 3-0, the third game in one week and this league is very demanding and without the experience and how committed everyone is in this group, I am really pleased for them as they deserved to live one game like today."
Next up for Middlesbrough is a trip to face Burnley on Boxing Day, a team Karanka and his players know only too well after jostling with them for automatic promotion to the Premier League for much of last season.
"It is the perfect start to Christmas, but now we have three days to recover because they deserve to enjoy it and we have another important game against Burnley next Monday," said the Spaniard.
"It is another important game and we have experience of playing them from last season. We know they are a very strong team, especially at home, so now we have to recover and adding points is the main thing and we are looking forward to the game.
"I am excited about every single game here as we have been working very, very hard for three-and-a-half years to be in the Premier League. And for us it is unimaginable to play every game, to add experience and compete against the best teams in the world and to be in the position we are now is really good."
