Ben Gibson full of positivity

Defender Ben Gibson is feeling positive about Middlesbrough’s chances of turning around their play-off tie with Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Boro fell to a 1-0 defeat on home soil when the two sides battled it out in their play-off semi-final first-leg meeting on Saturday.

Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak netted the only goal of the game to hand the travelling side the advantage ahead of the return leg at Villa Park.

The Teessiders put in a decent display but ultimately failed to find a way through a well organised and disciplined Villa.

Gibson, who wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Grant Leadbitter, is refusing to allow the defeat to play on his mind and insists Boro will head to their rivals full of positivity as they go in search of a spot at Wembley.

He said: “We know it won’t be easy, we know that they’re going to make Villa Park a cauldron, and we know everyone will be backing Villa to get to Wembley, I don’t mind that, we don’t mind that.

“We’ll go there and we’ll give it our best shot, it’s the kind of occasion you play the game for, we know they’ve sold out. Brilliant. Bring it on.

“The [Middlesbrough] fans were phenomenal and it’s a shame we couldn’t get that goal for them. There’s lots to be positive about and we are all looking forward to Tuesday.”

Boro are priced at 3.40 to win the second-leg, while the draw is available at 3.10, and Villa can be backed at 2.25.