Expert view: 'Top two disappearing over horizon'

Middlesbrough's tally of 31 points from 20 games is their most at this stage since 2020

Middlesbrough find themselves 10 points from the Championship promotion places today after Sheffield United's victory at Millwall.

Boro are also a point shy of the play-off places after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Leeds United.

That was a game that saw Boro draw level in the second half after a first half that captain Hayden Hackney admitted to BBC Radio Tees Sport largely passed them by.

They then contrived to lose two further goals through some sloppy play and returned to Teesside empty-handed.

Michael Carrick's verdict was largely positive, insisting his side had done a lot of good things and that he doesn't think they are far away.

Those comments belied his demeanour on the touchline, where he was a lot more demonstrative than usual and showed flashes of real frustration and anger at some of Boro's decision-making in their own half.

He was also furious that an off-the-ball foul on Emmanuel Latte Lath during a Boro break wasn't spotted by the officials.

Carrick's view of the game was in contrast to the majority of Boro fans, who felt their team hadn't performed anywhere near the level they're capable of.

Indeed, it was a performance that fell short of their showing at Burnley last Friday when they came away from Turf Moor with a point, having made the better chances in the game.

This weekend's game with Millwall is one Boro have to win to resume the momentum they had been building before going to Burnley and Leeds.

The play-offs are a must, but despite there being more than half the season left, the top two may be disappearing over the horizon.