AITOR KARANKA has been backed to keep Middlesbrough in the Premier League by the man he prevented from celebrating victory at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro’s impressive defensive record is only bettered by teams occupying a top six place in the Premier League, meaning they are treated with respect no matter who the opposition is.

During the last two weeks they have only conceded one goal against Tottenham and Everton: a penalty which Harry Kane converted. Teams know Boro are a tough nut to crack at the back.

Middlesbrough are regularly criticised for a lack of adventure going forward because Karanka’s style is for his team to defend in numbers and get men behind the ball, often leaving Alvaro Negredo isolated up front.

That is highlighted by Middlesbrough’s goal return of just 19 this season, and they are the only side in the Premier League yet to hit 20.

Boro remain in a spot of bother ahead of a crucial run of seven league fixtures where five of them will be against teams in the bottom half of the table after Saturday’s FA Cup visit of Oxford United.

But Everton boss Ronald Koeman is convinced Boro's resilience and determination to keep teams out will eventually be good enough to keep them up.

Koeman said: "Middlesbrough are difficult to beat and that's a quality and gives confidence to a team. Maybe attacking-wise OK ... they need to support strikers and be strong.

“In my opinion they're strong enough to keep their position in the Premier League.

"Of course you need to score to win games but they are difficult to beat, they showed that. That they can clean sheets means, in my opinion, they're strong enough to stay in the Premier League.”

Middlesbrough have not won in the Premier League since beating Swansea City 3-0 before Christmas and that is a run stretching back eight matches.

The stalemate with Everton was their tenth draw this season - more than any other team.

After the game on Saturday, midfielder Adam Clayton suggested confidence was still high and that even last season’s promotion winning season was not one where Middlesbrough would place attacking aspects above the defensive side of the game.

Karanka delivered top-flight football by leading Boro to an automatic promotion place behind Burnley. It brought an end to a seven-year stint in the Championship.

His efforts and the players’ work was honoured on Sunday night when Middlesbrough was named the team of the year at the North-East Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year Awards at Ramside Hall.

Chief executive Neil Bausor was in attendance to receive the trophy. Bausor said: "I'd just like to thank everyone for this recognition on behalf of Aitor and everybody else at the club.

"We had seven years of tough times and our success was down to commitment, effort, dedication as well as fantastic support from the fans. The fans were fantastic last season and continue to be so again this season.”

Left-back George Friend, meanwhile, should be fit to be considered to play against Oxford on Saturday after recovering from calf trouble.