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After Boro reaffirmed their top two credentials by winning at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, opposition boss Dougie Freedman was quick to applaud the Teessiders.

Freedman even tipped Karanka’s men to win the Championship title, after being suitably impressed by Boro’s show at the City Ground.

It’s becoming a common trend - Freedman is not the only manager to lavish praise on Aitor Karanka’s side this season.

Boro have put in some eye-catching displays already this year to suggest that May’s play-off final defeat has long been forgotten - or if not forgotten, then temporarily blocked from memory.

So what have other opposition managers said about Boro this season? We take a look:

Simon Grayson (Preston)

“We’ve limited Middlesbrough to hardly a shot on target, which is some achievement given the players they’ve got.

“We knew Downing would play in that No 10 position so (John Welsh) was ultimately told to be around him as often as possible. But he wasn’t told to follow (Downing) everywhere on the pitch as we could pass people on.

“They’ve got other good players who can hurt you, but our midfield three had to make sure they stayed close to (Grant) Leadbitter, Adam Clayton and Downing.

“You look at their squad, they pass the ball and we knew we had to let them have it at times, but also we knew we could hurt them with our play.

“We were really solid through the middle of the pitch because (Boro) like to play through you, and the gameplan was carried out really well.”

(Image: Action Images)

Neil Lennon (Bolton)

“I’m sure it’s great for the Middlesbrough fans to see a chairman - who’s been fantastic for them down the years - having a right good go.

“But with it comes an expectation. You spend all that money and there is a pressure to perform too.

“(Boro) were good last year and made the play-off final, and they’ve spent money (this summer) which they’re entitled to do.

“I thought Middlesbrough looked the stronger team and won the majority of the 50/50 balls.

“If you come away to anyone in this league you have to compete and we didn’t. I take responsibility for the way I set the team up, but it can’t have been all down to that.

Paul Clement (Derby)

“They have started well, they have a good squad of players and they have added quality (this summer).

“I am sure Middlesbrough will be challenging this season for promotion.

“I have not met (Aitor Karanka) before. As I arrived at Real Madrid, Aitor left.

“I look forward to meeting him. Our doctor, Brian English, worked with him at Middlesbrough last year and he is supposed to be a terrific guy.

“I look forward to playing against his team and having a glass of Rioja after in the manager’s office. Having said that, I am not sure we have got any Rioja, I’ll have to check!”

Steve Cotterill (Bristol City)

“They’re a really good team full of good players, and have great strength in their squad.

“They’ve got good, experienced players and a wonderful budget to be able to bring them here.

“Today we have come up against a completely different outfit who, if they don’t gain automatic promotion, they will certainly be in that top six.”

“Their replacements weren’t bad were they? They’re a good team and they’ve got a good squad. You’ve got to use your squad.

“Hopefully that will give us the confidence we need. This result will surprise some people in the Championship.”

(Image: Arfa / Griffiths Photographers)

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Burton)

“Boro have got real quality and they have players who can decide little moments, manipulate the ball. We had to work hard to be close to them and earn the respect to take that ball off them and hurt them.

“They have that kind of quality like Stewart (Downing) to bring on off the bench, they have that kind of know-how.

“They also kept calm, even when they were losing. They didn’t panic and they moved the ball, but we also kept calm and compact and worked from our shape.”

“Middlesbrough is a team and a club that I’ve got fond memories of. I know the club really well. The team itself is totally different to the days I was there but it’s a club I love.

“I spent two great years there and the fans have always been brilliant to me.”

Carlos Carvalhal (Sheffield Wednesday)

“First of all congratulations to Middlesbrough, we played against one of the strongest teams in the Championship.

“But we feel like we only played for 45 minutes. We played very soft, we didn’t play well and gave the ball to our opponent. That 45 minutes was bad for us.

“In the second half we made it more difficult, it was a strong reaction (from the players) and we created some opportunities.

“We didn’t let the opponent pass the ball into the midfield and we scored a goal, which was the most difficult thing.

“The lesson we must learn is that we need to play from the beginning like we did in the second half, and don’t give 45 minutes to the opposition to start to play. That’s what we need to take from this game.”

Karl Robinson (MK Dons)

“Stewart Downing showed everyone why he’s been bought for £5m.

“But do you know what, forget the goal, it’s his work ethic, his hunger and desire to run around a football pitch.

“But Nugent and Downing, the two marquee players on the pitch probably, I think they’ve showed everybody why they have been good players because their work ethic is equally as good as their quality.

“I think Leadbitter and Clayton in the midfield are both very good players as well but I thought them two really showed why they’ve done what they’ve done.

“We don’t have the quality of Middlesbrough so we need to be honest with ourselves first and foremost, but I’ve seen Boro play the last four games and they really dominate teams and carve people open at will.

“I think you’ve seen them (Boro) be a lot more potent and creative than they were today so my players need to take credit, I think.”

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Marinus Dijkhuizen (Brentford)

“The quality of finishing from Middlesbrough was much better than the quality of finishing from us.

“That was the big difference. Also, they bring a lot of quality from the bench. It is always harsh but it’s about goalscoring and they are a very good team.

“Maybe they had a bit more pace on the ball and more quality and they can bring quality from the bench, their right side was very good.

“I thought they were maybe the better team. We had two or three chances but you have to score goals.”

Dougie Freedman (Nottingham Forest)

“The difference between Boro and any other club is they’ve spent a lot of money over the last two and a half years, but there’s a lot of consistency there.

“When you have it, like I had it at Palace, it just rolls.

“Because of that consistency the manager isn’t just getting money to spend but getting the right players.

“They have a fantastic balance in their squad and that is why I believe they will be champions, because of consistency.

“My opinion is when you’re bringing players off and putting Downing on the wing, it’s not just quality coming on but the balance isn’t messed up.

“They have that style of play. A manager who knows that in the last 10 minutes Gibson is going to head it, Ayala is going to head it.

“All of that helps towards promotion.”