Ghana winger Albert Adomah hopes Middlesbroughà can put on a show for their home supporters this season to build on last seasonââ¬â¢s strong Riverside record.
Boro had the joint-best home form in the division last year, along with Bournemouth and Ipswich, and won the most matches (15) out of any of the Championship big-hitters.
That form is something Aitor Karankaââ¬â¢s side will be desperate to replicate this time around, if they are to banish their play-off heartbreak and end a seven-year stay outside of the Premier League.
Boro got their home form off to the best possible start last Saturday with a commanding 3-0 win over Bolton â⬓ something Adomah and co will be hoping to repeat when Bristol City arrive on Teesside this weekend.
ââ¬ÅHopefully we will entertain the supporters at home this season,â⬠Adomah said.
ââ¬ÅHaving players like Stewy Downing coming back home, the supporters love it, and that can only help us going forward.
ââ¬ÅThe fans adore him. He could have stayed in the Premier League, but to choose to come home and help his local side, hopefully heââ¬â¢ll benefit from it and weââ¬â¢ll benefit as well.
ââ¬ÅHeââ¬â¢s teaching us stuff and hopefully (Cristhian) Stuani and (Diego) Fabbrini, all the new signings can help us.ââ¬
Boroââ¬â¢s home match with newly-promoted Bristol City this Saturday will take on extra significance, as the club plan to mark the 20-year anniversary since moving from Ayresome Park to the Riverside.
August 26 marks two decades on since Boro fans witnessed a thrilling start to a new dawn, as the Riverside era begun with a 2-0 win over Chelsea. Goals from Craig Hignett and Jan Aage Fjortoft delighted the home faithful and secured the three points for Bryan Robsonââ¬â¢s Boro, as the new stadium swung open its doors to the Premier League.
Saturdayââ¬â¢s clash with Steve Cotterillââ¬â¢s City falls four days before the actual anniversary, but 20 years on and itââ¬â¢s Premier League football that Boro are craving to enjoy once more.
Karanka has already bolstered his ranks with seven new faces this summer, and Boro remain open for further business before the transfer window shuts in 13 daysââ¬â¢ time. However, the Boro head coach believes the squad currently at his disposal is already a far stronger outfit than the one he had this time last year.
ââ¬ÅWe are much, much better than at this point last season as Patrick Bamford wasnââ¬â¢t here, Jelle Vossen wasnââ¬â¢t here, and we didnââ¬â¢t have a right-back,â⬠the Spaniard said. ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s much better now than it was at this point last season. We have more experience. ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢m never going to say the players that I have now are better than those I had (last season), but now we have more experience in the team.ââ¬