WITH Middlesbrough now four points off the pace at the top of the Championship, fans can take heart from Aitor Karanka’s impressive Friday record ahead of their crucial fixture with Queens Park Rangers.

The Boro head coach has led his side out on a Friday on five previous occasions, boasting a 100 per cent record with just one goal conceded.

After suffering a reality-check against Hull last time out, making it a sixth consecutive Friday win is vital for Aitor Karanka who comes up against an out-of-form and managerless QPR side that have leaked 24 goals already in the league this season.

JONATHAN BARBER looks at Aitor Karanka’s five Friday wins in charge of Boro which fans can take inspiration from ahead of a must-win game:

Middlesbrough 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Boxing Day, 2014

Karanka’s first Friday victory came in front of a jubilant sell-out crowd against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day to keep pace with the Championship front-runners.

After a frustrating and goalless first half, George Friend headed Boro in to the lead in the 53 minute and when Kelvin Wilson was sent off for Forest , victory was comfortable for Boro.

An emphatic finish from Jelle Vossen, his first Riverside goal, and a Grant Leadbitter penalty sealed an impressive win.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Wigan Athletic
April 3, 2015 

Boro had to wait four months for their next Friday game, a crucial Good Friday victory against relegation-threatened Wigan.

The win propelled Karanka’s side to the top of the Championship table with Patrick Bamford’s early goal enough for the three points.

It was a nervy win for Boro who had to withstand some second half pressure from the Latics.

Dimi Konstantopoulos made a smart save to deny Marc-Antoine Fortune an equaliser.

Norwich City 0-1 Middlesbrough
April 17, 2015

In an outstanding defensive display, Boro held on for a vital Friday night win against Norwich to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive. After a flying start from Aitor Karanka’s side, Alex Tettey headed into his own net to give Boro an early lead. Jonny Howson missed a great chance for the Canaries to equalise but heroic performances from all around the pitch saw Boro over the line. Patrick Bamford should have doubled Boro’s lead but sliced his effort wide and after a tense finish, Boro held on.

Brentford 1-2 Middlesbrough
May 8, 2015

After narrowly missing out on automatic promotion, Boro took an enormous step towards the play-off final with a nail-biting first-leg victory over Brentford. Jelle Vossen headed Karanka’s side into the lead and was then denied a second goal by Bees goalkeeper David Button. With Boro looking comfortable, a howler from Dimi Konstantopoulos gifted Andre Gray a second half equaliser for Brentford. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until unlikely hero Fernando Amorebieta’s deflected strike sent the travelling fans wild and kept up Karanka’s perfect Friday record.

Middlesbrough 3-0 Brentford
May 15, 2015 

Aitor Karanka’s fifth Friday victory was also arguably his finest moment as Boro head coach to date. With a first-leg lead to defend and a terrific atmosphere at the Riverside, Boro took the game to Brentford and Lee Tomlin’s final goal for Boro set his side on their way to Wembley. Kike’s well taken strike early in the second half all but sealed Boro’s play-off final spot and Albert Adomah linked brilliantly with Tomlin for a terrific third goal that killed off the Bees completely. The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations amongst the sell-out crowd and Boro were going to Wembley.