RUDY GESTEDE returns to the scene of his one and only Premier League victory, with the Middlesbrough camp hoping lightning strikes twice at the Vitality Stadium.

The Benin international holds the unwanted record of suffering the longest run since enjoying a victory in the English top-flight.

The defeat to Arsenal last Monday means Gestede’s winless stretch in the Premier League has extended to 42 matches.

Bournemouth was the venue of his one and only victory at that level, and he scored the winner 18 minutes from time to help Aston Villa to three points in August 2015.

How Boro could do with that again this time around, with head coach Steve Agnew adamant the club’s £6m January buy deserves his run to come to an end.

Agnew said: “He's a great lad and he puts everything into every day, and of course we would love him to score the winning goal, but then that goes for any of the players.”

From Gestede’s 46 games at the top level he has lost 32, but has looked hungry to impress during his first few months at the Riverside. He has had his chances too, and scored in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

He will be still wondering how he didn’t score the winner at Swansea earlier this month when Alvaro Negredo set him up for a late header from close range.

Agnew said: “Rudy has been really good from day one, a top professional. He works hard every day and always asks for extra work on whatever he needs to improve on. He is fully focused on getting the result at Bournemouth.”

One thing that could benefit Gestede and his team-mates is that Boro are creating more chances under Agnew than they were before Aitor Karanka left the club.

Official Premier League stats show Negredo having to wait less time for a shot these days. Under Karanka he averaged a shot every 49 minutes in the Premier League, whereas in the last five matches that is down to just under 15.

The Spaniard’s average minutes per shot on target has also come down from 148.2 to 40.4; highlighting how Agnew is attempting to make his side more dangerous.

Agnew said: “I've not seen that, but what I would say is that there has been work gone in and it's not just Alvaro, it's been the strikers in terms of how we create more chances, how we score a goal and how we pass, play, cross balls into dangerous areas.

“That's been evident on the training ground. What I would say is we haven't got the goals to back that up but those statistics would make sense to me.

“We just need to, whether it's Alvaro or one of the other strikers, we need to now make sure we get contact more regular or we need to provide more crosses or passes into the dangerous areas for them to score.”

Boro have still struggled to find the net and have not won a game in the league since before Christmas.

Agnew said: “It’s difficult to put your finger on why it has not gone in. We would like to see that final touch more frequent.”

And, given the record of Gestede, Agnew must contemplate whether or not the former Aston Villa and Blackburn man’s fortunes can change.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “I've not selected a team yet but I know what the strengths and weaknesses are of Bournemouth.

“I think that is more important than the stats being thrown around. I, or we, understand the strengths and weaknesses and if it's scoring a goal we're looking at Bournemouth's weaknesses and what we need to do to score a goal.

“Bournemouth are a very good team, they have brought themselves from lower divisions and established themselves in the Premier League, and that is very difficult because we have found out this season.

“They play an attacking style of play, and through coming through the divisions they have continuity running through the club. We had a good performance this season against them, it’s looking ahead to Saturday though and not back. It will be a really difficult game.

“They have done terrific. They will see this as home advantage to give them a little more security. I have no doubt this will be a really tough match, but equally I am determined to come away with what we need.”