Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has admitted that his side will struggle to get above mid-table this season without strengthening in the January transfer window.

Warnock’s first full season with Boro has started steadily. His side have 10 points on the board from the opening seven fixtures of the season and drew 1-1 with a good Cardiff City side over the weekend.

However, the Boro boss, who is something of a promotion expert in terms of the Championship, has been quick to taper expectations growing at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough quiz: Are these 10 facts about the Riverside true or false?

"We are going to have to be very fortunate to get above mid-table with the numbers that we have," Warnock said, as quoted by Teesside Live.

"What we have to do is try to keep just above mid-table position until January and then hope that this horrible disease, they have a vaccine and we have fans coming back in by then and we have money coming back in.” 

The aim in the meantime is to stay within touching distance of the top-six, with the hope that January can be a big month for those on Teesside.

Warnock continued: "At the moment I don’t think it’s realistic to do anything, we just have to hang in there and see what happens.

"If we can be two or three points away from the play-offs that would be fantastic in January." 

Boro are back in action tonight when they welcome Coventry City to the Riverside. Heading into this midweek round of fixtures, Warnock’s side are 13^th in the table and two points adrift of the play-off places.

The Verdict  

This is honest of Warnock and, if you’re honest, did you really expect anything else from the Boro boss?

The summer probably left him short of an attacker and a centre-back, which is going to have to be addressed by the time the January transfer window comes around.

On paper, this group are mid-table and without backing in January, it’s hard to imagine Warnock adding to his list of impressive promotions.

Thoughts? Let us know!