Middlesbrough want to put up the barriers at the Amex – and make amends for what they saw as a controversial home defeat.

Aitor Karanka’s side have leaked five goals in two games in the last week to blemish their impressive defensive record.

Karanka reckons Boro used the 1-0 reverse to the Seagulls in December to help shape a run which took his side to ninth in January.

They have slipped back to mid-table after winning just one of their last 12 games.

But they have been hard to beat and tough to score against until the 3-1 home defeat to QPR last Saturday and a 2-2 midweek draw at Huddersfield.

The Teessiders felt Matt Upson’s late headed winner at the Riverside came from a corner which should not have been awarded.

Karanka said: “I think that game was very important for us. From that day, we changed a lot of things. We went one month and only lost once in the league.

“For this, I think that game was important for us to see how difficult it is to win. I have good memories about that game because of what we did after.”

Boro welcome back influential midfielder Grant Leadbitter after a two-game ban and he is expected to start in place of Nathaniel Chalobah.

Danny Graham and Kei Kamara compete for the striker’s role in a 4-2-3-1 set-up, Albert Adomah is their man to watch with 11 league goals and five assists.

Adomah produced two great finishes, albeit aided by woeful passes by opponents, to secure the 2-2 draw at Huddersfield (see video).