AFTER suffering a disappointing defeat against Wolves on Tuesday night, Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka sees Saturday’s visit of second-placed Watford as the ideal game to test his team’s mettle.

Boro suffered their first defeat since August at Molineux and go into the game one place and two points behind the Hornets in third position.

Karanka wants to see his players bounce back from their midweek disappointment and believes a game against fellow promotion contenders offers the team a chance to put things right.

“It's a good game to forget our last performance and it's a good test for us because Watford are a team that are above us and they are a very good team,” the Boro boss said.

“I think it will be a very tough game because they have a very good squad, they have built a very good team.

“They are a consistent team with very good players and that adds up to a very difficult game for us.”

And with four points separating the Championship’s top six at the moment Karanka admits there is more than just three points on offer from this weekend’s game.

He said: “It's important because I hope to be in the highest position at the end of the season.

“So if you play a team in a similar position to you, you have to try to beat them because it is more than three points.

“If you win it's more than three points to you and if you lose it's three points that you don't have.

“So we're going to try and win the game in the knowledge that if we win then perfect, if we lose we have another game next week.”

Adam Clayton will be assessed ahead of the game after he missed the 2-0 loss to Wolves with a head injury.

If he is fit Clayton will come in for Grant Leadbitter, who is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.

Meanwhile, Boro have allowed Luke Williams to join Scunthorpe United on a month-long loan deal.