Pogatetz expects no favours

As Middlesbrough prepare for the travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, Emmanuel Pogatetz knows it will be a tough game and that the referee Phil Dowd will not do the relegation threatened side any favours.

"You know if you go to a big club like Chelsea you won't get any presents there and you can't expect any help off the referee," he said. "There's more pressure on the referees from the top clubs.

“If they make a decision against the top-four clubs it will be in the media a long time. If they make a decision against us it will maybe be in the regional papers.

"I think they think twice before giving a decision against a top-four club and once before they make a decision against us. But that is just human nature because of the spotlight."