ADAM CLAYTON feels that Middlesbrough’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield in a game where they were dominated by their opponents is ideal preparation for tomorrow’s Capital One Cup quarter-final.

Boro host Everton tomorrow night on the back of victory at the John Smith’s Stadium which propelled the Teessiders to second in the Championship table – but Aitor Karanka’s side were made to do it the hard way as Huddersfield, with new manager David Wagner at the helm, imposing a pressing game.

Boro only had 25 per cent of the possession in West Yorkshire, but scored an early goal courtesy of Clayton before Emilio Nsue put the game beyond doubt with a late strike.

The Northern Echo: NOVEMBER 28: Adam Clayton of Middlesbrough celebrates with teammate Stewart Downing of Middlesbrough after scoring his side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough at John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfi

And Clayton thinks that Boro’s defensive solidity will set things up nicely against Premier League Everton, who will be expected to see more of the ball than Karanka’s side.

“Every game is different. If you look at the possession stats we’ll have most every week. I’m close to 80-90 passes a game, on our own pitch, I probably had 30 on Saturday,” said Clayton, whose goal was his first in a Boro shirt.

“We won the game, we’re not bothered about possession, we had a job to do, if that’s what we’ve got to do on Tuesday, then that’s what we’ve got to do, we don’t mind.

“It’s nice to have both strings to your bow, we can go out and dominate games and you can go and dig in against a team with a new manager and everyone is fighting for the ball.

“When they lost the ball they have a rule where they have to get it back in four seconds, so we did well.

“We’ve not had a game like that all year. We’ve dominated teams most of the time. Huddersfield have got their new manager and a new way of playing and it was tough for us to deal with. We scored at the right times and we dug in and we did that a few times last year.

“Huddersfield are a good team, they’ve got some really good players so I don’t think they’ll be in trouble if they play like that. It was a very tough day at the office.”

With Boro seeing off Manchester United in the last round of the tournament, Clayton and his teammates are confident of their chances against Roberto Martinez’s side.

“Everton is a good test, live on Sky again,” said Clayton, who, alongside Dani Ayala and Diego Fabbrini are no longer at risk of earning a one-match suspension as the cut-off for five yellow cards is today.

“We want to play in the Premier League, they’re a top Premier League team so we can pit our wits against them. See what we can do at the Riverside.”

Clayton saved his maiden Boro goal for the return to the club who sold him to Karanka’s side in 2014, and the 26-year-old was delighted to break his duck.

“It’s been a long time coming. I should have scored here last year after my second game, but it’s nice to get the goal. I’m just happy to get the three points and keep going,” said the former Leeds playmaker.

“Does it matter more that it happened against my old club? Not really. I could have celebrated it a bit more if it was against someone else. But it’s always nice to get a goal and get off the mark. It’s been a long time coming so I’ll enjoy it.”