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  1. 🎧 Is the play-off buzz back?

    "Now the talk on the training ground is going to be 'we have to do our best every day'," Middlesbrough left-back Neto Borges tells BBC Radio Tees.

    "We saw now in the second half, what we can do and that's the mentality we have to carry on."

    Paul Addison and Neil Maddison are joined by Boro fan Dana Malt to discuss Middlesbrough's second-half comeback against Oxford United and how hopes for a place in the play-offs have been revitalised - but can the team keep the fans believing over the next seven games?

    Includes post-match interviews from Borges and boss Michael Carrick.

    Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

    Listen on BBC Sounds

  2. A blue Arriva bus waits on a wide corner outside a mobility shop. There is no destination banner up but a driver is sat inside the bus.

  3. A yellow, temporary sign on the side of a road which reads: 'Major works commence here 31/03/25 for 8 months, delay expected. Esh Civils: 0191 3774500'

  4. Joe J. Walker sitting in a cinema with red chairs. He's wearing a black cap and his hand is resting under his chin while he looks into the distance.

  5. A yellow school meals tray with meat and vegetables, plus a cup and some fruit

  6. Kelechi Iheanacho scores Middlesbrough's equaliser against Oxford

  7. A parking permit sign which reads: 'Mon-Fri 8am-6pm Permit holders (U) or 45 mins. No return within 2 hours.'

  8. Rav van den Berg in action for Middlesbrough

  9. Split image showing Coventry's Frank Lampard, West Brom boss Tony Mowbray, Bristol City head coach Liam Manning and Michael Carrick of Middlesbrough

  10. 'Boro taking long way round in hunt for play-offs'

    Mark Drury
    BBC Radio Tees commentator

    Expert view with Middlesbrough's badge on it
    Michael Carrick and his Middlesbrough players clap the fans after beating Derby on 1 March Rex Features

    Middlesbrough have lost the most league games of any of the Championship's top eight

    Eight games to secure the play-off place that was viewed as the bare minimum, both inside and outside the club last August.

    Middlesbrough's season has been baffling to fans and media alike.

    Michael Carrick's side sit just three points outside the play-off positions yet have managed to lose 14 games already (the most in the top eight) and recently emerged from a five-game losing streak.

    They boast the third-most potent attack in the division and week after week we hear opposing managers talking about Boro's squad being one of the best in the division.

    Yet many fans have long since given up on the play-offs and rail against any talk of reaching them as the stuff of fantasy.

    Faith in Carrick was severely tested during a run of seven defeats in eight in all competitions between January and mid-February but recent times have seen Boro win three from five to keep the top six in sight.

    The fact they did so in the midst of a defensive crisis has served as grist to the mill for both supporters and critics of the Boro boss alike.

    When Dael Fry limped off in the closing stages of Boro's 1-0 defeat at Swansea City, it left Middlesbrough in the position of not having a single fit senior centre-back at the club.

    With Rav van den Berg out with a troublesome knee injury and George Edmundson also sidelined with an ankle problem it meant full-back Neto Borges and midfielder Jonny Howson had to fill in.

    Another makeshift centre-back, Luke Ayling, has also been sidelined with an ankle injury which might keep him out for the rest of the season.

    It's a run of bad luck to be sure, but was it foreseeable? Well yes, because when Matt Clarke was allowed to join Derby County in January without being replaced the Boro boss was asked if he was concerned about a lack of depth in that position?

    His answer was he didn't need another centre-back as three was probably going to be enough and Howson and Ayling could fill in if required.

    So much of Boro's play-off prospects now rest on the shoulders of Howson and Borges. The pair put in sterling performances against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town before the international break but Howson is just back from injury too and the 36-year-old played both games without participating in a single training session.

    With games at Blackburn Rovers and at home to Leeds United on the horizon the need for one or more of Fry, van den Berg or Edmundson to return is pressing.

    Jonny Howson in a defensive position during the match at LutonRex Features

    Jonny Howson has played as a makeshift centre-half alongside left-back Neto Borges

    At the top end of the pitch the loss of Liverpool loanee Ben Doak to injury has impacted Boro's attacking play. As has the departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath, sold to Atlanta United in January for a club record fee.

    His replacement, Kelechi Iheanacho has yet to convince and hasn't scored since arriving at The Riverside. Boro need him to find his feet quickly to support Tommy Conway.

    Despite the many issues they face, Boro are well capable of having a good shot at the play-offs. They still have talented attacking players like Finn Azaz, Delano Burgzorg and Conway while Hayden Hackney has delivered five goals from midfield.

    Boro's final match is away to Coventry City. For that game to matter they have to string a winning run together, starting at home to Oxford United this Saturday.

    If Carrick's side do make it into the play-offs they'll definitely have gone the long way round.

  11. Four people are either side of the large colourful artwork hanging from a wall.

  12. A woman holding up a red book which partially obscures her face - only her eyes and the top of her head can be seen. Behind her, and out of focus, are library bookshelves

  13. Andy Nzita Iwela hunches over and stares into the camera. He has a small afro and is wearing a black, white and red jumper. Muketar Ahmed is in a slumped position and looks to his right. He has a beard and short black hair and is wearing a blue t-shirt.

  14. Azaz 'buzzing' to score first international goal

    Finn Azaz celebrating scoring for the Republic of Ireland against BulgariaGetty Images

    Finn Azaz has made six appearances for the Republic of Ireland

    Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz scored his first international goal as the Republic of Ireland beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Uefa Nations League play-off.

    The 24-year-old converted from close range after 21 minutes in Plovdiv as the Republic came from behind to take a slender lead into Sunday's second leg.

    "[Troy Parrott] put it on a plate for me, so I'll say thank you to Troy for that. It was a great ball from Robbie [Brady] too and I just had to be in there," Azaz told RTE.

    "It was probably the easiest goal I have ever scored; I don't score many headers so I'm glad to score one tonight."

    Avoiding defeat in the return fixture in Dublin at the weekend will see the Republic of Ireland retain their status in League B.

  15. Gordon Weldon sits beside his wife Sue on blue train seats. They are both smiling to the camera and are wearing crocheted blue flowers badges on their jumpers. The badges represent dementia awareness. Gordon has his hand on Sue's arm and is leaning in towards her.

  16. Rows of people, most of them men, are sitting in front of tables which are loaded with food. The setting is a mosque and some of the men are wearing the short brimless hat worn by some Muslims.

  17. Four men standing inside a dry dock. They are wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets. They appear very small because of the size of the dock's walls on either side of them. A large metal gate stands in front of them leading to the river.

  18. Jordan Hogg is smiling as he looks into the camera. He has short dark hair and is wearing a grey-and-navy top with a black body warmer.

  19. Middlesbrough focused on own form - Travers

    Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark TraversGetty Images

    Mark Travers has four international caps for the Republic of Ireland

    Middlesbrough must not start looking at the form of other teams in their chase for the Championship play-offs, according to goalkeeper Mark Travers.

    Boro drew 0-0 at Luton on Saturday and are three points adrift of the top six as they enter the international break.

    "The main thing for us and the club is to just focus on us," Travers told BBC Radio Tees.

    "When you start adding up points your next fixture becomes really difficult and you end up putting pressure on yourselves and thinking about things that aren't in your control.

    "All we can do is go to the next game after the international break, try to get a win and push up the table - we'll just focus on what we can do and hopefully that'll be more than enough come May."

    The Republic of Ireland international joined Middlesbrough on loan from Bournemouth at the end of the January transfer window and has played nine league games, keeping two clean sheets.

    "It's hard coming in January when a lot of the games are being played but I was excited to come here and all the boys have been great with me and it's been easy to settle," he added.

    Middlesbrough return to action after the international break on 29 March when they host Oxford United.

  20. Google Maps image of the former Crown pub. It is a red-brick building with discoloured and peeling cream paintwork around the many windows. It stands on the corner of the street and is surrounded by metal fencing. Sale signs are above the main entrance. The pub's name is spelled out on either side of the corner section in huge black round signs vertically alligned and each containing a single letter. From top to bottom they spell out CROWN.

  21. Carrick lauds Boro resilience after gutsy draw

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick on the touchline in the Championship match against Luton Town at Kenilworth RoadRex Features

    Carrick's side remain three points adrift of the Championship play-off spots

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was full of praise for his side's character and ability to adapt in the 0-0 draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

    Boro were forced to defend for long spells as the Hatters created - and wasted - numerous chances.

    "We had a new back four with players playing out of position so we knew it would be a challenge and it proved to be like that," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. "Sometimes you earn your luck and everyone was fully committed and we needed Trav [Goalkeeper Mark Travers] at times. He made some good saves.

    "It wasn't a classic terms of quality of football. We knew that coming here there would be moments we had to defend. We spoke about that before the game. We knew we had to adapt.

    "They pitch was difficult to pass the ball on; it was as bobbly as you could get and everything that didn't really suit us. It was a challenge to play good football.

    "I was really pleased with the boys and how we stuck at it and we could have nicked one at the end.

    "It's an important point and there are a lot of positives to take from that even though it wasn't a classic on the eye. We knew we would have to defend and we were ready for it."

  22. The walls on the edge of six rows of houses are painted white.

  23. Luton Town's Thelo Aasgaard competes with Aidan Morris of Middlesbrough in the Championship match at Kenilworth Road

  24. Pick of the stats: Luton Town v Middlesbrough

    Luton Town and Middlesbrough club badges

    Luton Town will start the day two points adrift of Championship safety when they face play-off chasing Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

    The Hatters have won two of their past three league games, while Boro have won three out of four to reignite their hopes of a top-six finish.

    • Luton are unbeaten in their past seven home league games against Middlesbrough (W4 D3) since losing 1-0 back in October 1974.

    • Middlesbrough are looking to complete a league double over Luton Town for the first time since the 1973-74 campaign under Jack Charlton.

    • Luton Town have won five of their past 11 home league games (D3 L3) and haven't conceded more than one goal in any of those 11 at Kenilworth Road.

    • Middlesbrough have lost five of their past six away league matches, winning the other 3-1 against Stoke City in February.

    • Tommy Conway has scored six goals in his past 10 away league appearances for Middlesbrough.