Julio Arca has urged Middlesbrough to build on Saturday's win over Cardiff and climb away from danger.
Argentinian ace calls for consistency after securing vital victory
Julio Arca has urged Middlesbrough to build on Saturday's win over Cardiff and climb away from danger.
Arca grabbed the only goal from the penalty spot as Boro surprised second-placed Cardiff at The Riverside to move out of the bottom three on goal difference.
That ended a run of four games without a win for the Teessiders, but they are yet to string together more than two successive wins this term.
The games will come thick and fast over the festive period and Arca has called for consistency following that triumph over Cardiff.
"It was an important win," he told the
Northern Echo. "It was a great three points and we have to take it into the Doncaster game next Friday and get something there.
Working hard
"We worked very hard - we all worked for each other. It's a good boost for the lads and we need to climb the table now.
"Hopefully we can turn things around. We showed against Cardiff that the quality is there. The work-rate and fitness are there, we just need to be consistent.
"We've played really well in some games. We've been up and down but we need to have a good run now.
"Christmas is coming up and there are a lot of games, and we need to take as much as we can from them."
Arca's match-winner was his first league goal for Boro since September 2007, when he scored in a 2-2 draw against his former club Sunderland, so it came as a surprise to see him place the ball on the penalty spot on Saturday.
The 29-year-old showed a selfish streak that was out of character for the midfielder by taking the ball off Gary O'Neil so he was relieved to hold his nerve and convert from the spot.
Too soft
"I'm not normally the penalty taker, it just happened," he said.
"Gary O'Neil had the ball and I asked him for it. He asked if I was going to score, I just said 'I hope so!'
"We had a laugh about it after the game, but I just felt confident of taking it. I'm too soft and have always let other players take them but I just went for it this time and luckily enough it went in and won us the game.
"It's a long time since I scored and it's always good to score. But at the moment it doesn't matter who scores the goals, it's just important to get the win."
