Mikel’s daughter plays with dad after Brentford loss

Apart from his efficiency on the field of play, John Obi Mikel displayed traits of a good father when one of his twin daughters decided to play with his father when the former Super Eagles was having a nap at the weekend.

The cute picture of father and daughter continued to dominate the social media with the caption “Daddy duties look so good on Nigerian footballer, John Mikel Obi and it looks like he is doing it so well and effortlessly too.”

However, away from the home duty, Mikel and his teammates must have put the last weekend’s loss for Middlesbrough behind them as they welcome Preston North End to the Riverside Stadium to continue their quest for a place in the English Championship play-off.

Even the coach of Preston North End, Alex Neil admitted that the defeat suffered by Boro last week would surely propel them at home.

Having played 1-1 away to Preston North End in the first leg, Tony Pulis lads will be looking forward to victory against the visitors.

Boro have a seven point lead on Preston heading into today’s clash at the Riverside Stadium – and Middlesbrough are unbeaten in 13 games against Preston North End in all competitions.

They also boast the best defensive record in the league (eight fewer than any other side) but the midweek match gives Preston another chance to close the gap on a top six spot.

Aware of the quality of Boro’s midfield marshaled by Super Eagles captain, Mikel alongside former England international, Stewart Downing, Coach Neil said: “It is going to be a tough match. They (Boro) have got to a place where their Play-Off spot is relatively comfortable – albeit if we do win the game we take it to just four
points between us and them,” the gaffer said.

He added: ““It is going to be a huge game for both teams. Their disappointment from losing their last match against Brentford will mean they certainly want to win this one to make things right.

“They are a good team; a strong team. They have invested a lot of money putting this team together. Tony [Pulis] has got them into the Play-Off positions and defensively they are very solid, very well organised and it is going to be difficult for us to go and beat them.

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Although Tony Pulis has never lost a home game against Preston, this is the first meeting between one of his teams and Preston with him on home soil since 2008.