Middlesbrough boss, Michael Carrick, insists off-field matters around Blackburn Rovers won't influence his preparations ahead of Friday night's Ewood Park clash.
Rovers have been in the news over the last week after fans sent a letter protesting against the senior leadership team. That trio then conducted extensive media duties this week to address the situation.
It is a tense atmosphere at the club right now, with a run of four wins in 19 not helping matters. Carrick, though, refuted that now is a 'good time' to face Rovers amid the chaos.
"I don't think it's a good time to play them, it's just the next time," Carrick insisted.
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"There is no way we look at things outside of this building for a helping hand. We need to look at ourselves and concentrate on what we can do to perform.
"Whatever is going on around other clubs is not for us to worry about. The game will take care of itself and we have to be at our best to deal with that.
"It's an easy one to say, but every game we want to score first and start well, get the first goal.
"It's important, of course it is. Certain games towards the end of the season, when it gets to this stage, you want to get every inch you can. From the start, it's important.
"We have to finish games strong too. Whether that's changes from the bench or adapting. We have to manage games in different ways and find a way to win.
"It takes a new challenge at this time. The start of the game is something we will focus on."
Rovers are five points behind Middlesbrough, who are level on points with West Brom in seventh. Victory would cut the gap to three and Carrick hasn't ruled them out of the play-off race.
"I think we were written off by some not long ago but with the amount of games and points left, it can turn so quickly," he said.
"One week to the next looks very different. We are where we are, right in there. Whatever that means ahead of us and behind us, we just need the points to see where that takes us."
