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Aitor Karanka accepted that Middlesbrough FC’s promotion prospects have been strengthened further following Burnley and Hull City’s latest slip-ups.

But the Boro head coach insists other results will count for nothing unless his team continue to deliver on the pitch.

Last night’s 3-0 home win over Huddersfield saw Boro move to within one point of the Championship summit, as league leaders Burnley were held to a 0-0 draw with Cardiff.

Brighton kept pace with Boro after an impressive win at Birmingham, but Hull City are now seven points adrift of Karanka’s side after a hefty 4-0 hammering at Derby County.

When asked about the automatic promotion battle, Karanka agreed that it’s getting increasingly tight at the top - but says the race for the Premier League “depends on us” rather than on results elsewhere.

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“The most important thing is our games as if other teams are losing and we are losing then it’s the same,” Karanka said.

“We have to think about ourselves and know we’re in a really good position. It all depends on us and when we play like that it’s difficult to beat us.

“Yes (it’s tight at the top after latest set of results) but we have a game-in-hand and it all depends on us. We must keep going in the way we’re playing now, showing our consistency and our confidence.

“We’re in a good position, but this league is tough. Today everything is white, but on Saturday everything can be black.

“The team have arrived at an important stage of the season in a good way, we’re confident on the pitch and consistent.”

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Boro host one of the season’s surprise packages, Preston North End, this weekend at the Riverside, and Karanka is well aware of the threat that the Lilywhites will pose.

Simon Grayson’s side held Boro to a goalless draw at Deepdale on the opening weekend of the season - and with the added pressure with only seven games remaining, Karanka expects a stern test.

“We’ve won the last three, we’re playing at home again and everyone thinks it will be an easy game,” Karanka said.

“But in this league there isn’t an easy game. We have to know how hard it has been to get into this position since we started in August.”