Pressure continues to pile on Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka as the gap between his side and the bottom three has narrowed to just two points. In particular, injury concerns in key areas will be weighing on Karanka's mind as Saturday evening's kick-off against Spurs approaches.
Midfielder Gaston Ramirez hasn't played the past three matches due to a knee problem and is not likely to appear against Spurs. The main worry, however, is his sacred defensive line-up, with left-back George Friend still not back to training after picking up a knock. Loan defender Calum Chambers, who has slotted in well and contributed to the Teessiders' accolade of conceding the fewest goals in the bottom half of the league, is recovering from a fractured foot.
After Karanka's unsettling outbursts regarding the club's transfer window activity (or perceived lack of it, from his point of view) have had the 'Boro faithful on edge. His comments about both the fans' attitude and the January window seemed to have little visible effect on his players, who were positive and bright during the midweek 1-1 draw with West Brom.
Despite falling to an early goal from former protege James Morrison, the crowd and team both rallied and 'Boro won a penalty to draw level, also putting forward a good account of themselves for the rest of the match. Whether they can approach an away fixture at high-flying Tottenham is another matter.
Karanka's side seem to have a real unfortunate knack of meeting teams just as they begin to surf the crest of a goal-scoring and points-collecting wave. Spurs did draw with Sunderland on Tuesday and are likely to have sharpened up since then; they will relish the opportunity to get themselves even further along their hopeful challenge for the title.
Adama Traore continues to be the beacon for beleaguered 'Boro, his injections of pace and movement a real tonic to his teammates' lethargy. In the past couple of games, Traore has started on the left wing to excellent effect but this has been reduced by Karanka switching him over to the right for the second half. Whether this tactic is employed to confuse opponents or keep Traore closer to the dugout for instructions, it isn't working.
Traore is an incredibly fit and athletic player, meaning fatigue shouldn't be an issue, but his sharpness of movement dramatically declines with a move to the other flank. There's also the danger that given his talent and pace, he could be a lazy option for his teammates. On many occasions in the recent 3-1 defeat at home to West Ham, his colleagues hurriedly shunted the ball his way and left him with little chance to create anything worthwhile and no support when he did.
Other clubs in the bottom six have started picking up the odd point here and there, nicking the odd win. Hull, Crystal Palace and Swansea are on the up and no team further up the table look likely to drop very far. Yet 'Boro never really look like catching a bit of form, with a string of nervous defensive battles playing out over the tightest of margins. Their few attacking ventures are usually laboured and fall away before they begin to look dangerous, unless Traore is involved. And when he is, the end product is often lacking or wasteful.
Saturday's trip to Tottenham is pretty much a write-off for Karanka's side, so why not throw caution to the wind and try something completely different? Surprise Tottenham, take risks at the back and go hell for leather because that is the only way that this side can score goals. Whether Karanka really wants them to or not is the ever-looming question.