Tony Mowbray, Blackburn Rovers’ manager, expects that both his present club and his former club, Middlesbrough, will be celebrating promotion to the Premier League before the end of the season.

The Blackburn manager was present at the Riverside on Sunday as Middlesbrough celebrated their 150th anniversary with a legends game. Nearly 100 former Borough players and managers returned for a game that ended 8-7.

Mowbray is regarded as a legendary player and manager at Borough. The Saltburn-born defender played for the club for nine years, guiding them from the brink of bankruptcy to the top division in two successive seasons.

He served three years as a manager at Riverside from 2010 and 2013, guiding the team through life outside the Premier League following their relegation the previous year.

Tony Mowbray still wants Middlesbrough to perform well alongside Blackburn Rovers.

Despite managing many clubs since leaving Middlesbrough in 2013, Mowbray is inextricably linked with the football club. He still lives near the North Yorkshire coast and hopes they succeed.

As a result, when the opportunity to return to the Riverside as part of Boro’s 150th anniversary game during the international break arose, he took advantage of it and spoke to BBC Radio Teeside on how important the club is to him.

Championship top six

Pos. Club PTS

GD

1. Swansea City: 17 + 7

2. West Ham United.

15 +11

3) Middlesbrough

West Bromwich Albion vs. Wolves (14 vs. +5)

14 +2 6. QPR

13 +3 “Middlesbrough’s football team is the driving force behind the town’s success, according to the speaker.When I return from Blackburn, I walk my dog on the beach in Redcar, and if I don’t get stopped 10/15/20 times by individuals wanting to talk about the Borough or how the Borough are doing.”

Mowbray’s main aim right now is to bring success to Ewood Park, but he admits that ideally, both Blackburn and Middlesbrough will be celebrating a successful season come May.

“While I’m the manager at Blackburn, I still want Borough to do extraordinarily well, and hopefully get promotion this year,” he said. “In an ideal world, we both get promoted.”But I’ve always loved and will continue to adore Borough. That’s what life has been about for me since I was six or seven years old, when my father brought me to Ayresome Park.

How Middlesbrough supporters responded to Tony Mowbray’s promotion wishes

Tony Mowbray is possibly the most beloved figure in the English Football League. Even opposing supporters of those the 62-year-old has coached have nothing negative to say about him.

That, however, only helps to heighten the love that those who do have a relationship with the Rovers boss feel for him, and the reaction online to Mowbray saying that he hopes Borough gain promotion is as expected.

Other Middlesbrough fans referred to Mowbray as one of their own and expressed pride that the 62-year-old represented their club, writing, “We will always love you Tone.” You’re all of us! “You represent us. ❤️.””Tony Mowbray is one of our own x,” another said.

Kim Hellberg will attempt to ensure Middlesbrough’s promotion this season.

While Tony Mowbray’s promotion goals with Blackburn may appear more improbable, Middlesbrough’s own desire to reach the Premier League looks far more realistic.

Borough have made significant investments in their squad this summer, hoping to improve on their play-off final defeat last season and secure automatic promotion.

So far, while Kim Hellberg’s squad hasn’t absolutely dominated games like they did last year when everything was clicking, it’s been a great start in terms of results, with Middlesbrough third heading into the weekend’s play.

Ironically, their sole league defeat this season came against Mowbray’s Blackburn side in the campaign’s second game.

Borough host Wolves at the Riverside on Saturday when activity continues. The Championship match between the third and fourth-placed teams will continue Middlesbrough’s 150th anniversary festivities, as this is their official 150 game.