Jonathan Woodgate has admitted that his Middlesbrough side are in a relegation battle.
Despite a positive run of results that moved them away from danger in December, the Teessiders have crept back into the relegation battle as the season moves towards the business end.
Six games without a win have seen Middlesbrough move to within six points of the relegation zone, meaning that they could be in for a nervy end to the season.
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One point from six against Wigan Athletic and Luton Town has heaped the pressure on Woodgate's side going into the weekend's clash with Barnsley, but according to the boss, they have what it takes to get themselves out of trouble.
“We are in there. We are in a relegation battle, that’s without a doubt in my view and we have been really all season.
“We didn’t start the season off well and are down the bottom.
"At one point we were in the relegation zone and dug ourselves out of it, no doubt we can do that again.”
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The verdict
It's been a week which was tipped as one to decide where Middlesbrough are likely to finish this term, but things don't look good at present.
Clashes against Wigan Athletic and Luton Town should have represented a good opportunity to get some good points on the board to strengthen Middlesbrough's position above the relegation zone, but instead they seem to be creeping closer.
The Teessiders are now just six points above the drop zone and with some difficult fixtures coming up it could be a nervy end to the season.
Next up for Middlesbrough is a trip to Barnsley on Saturday, and the feeling now is that is very much a must-win fixture for Jonathan Woodgate's side.
If they slip up, it's a very real possibility that they'll go into the matches with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest with the need to get a win.
