Prior to the start of the season, bookmakers were making the Teessiders favourites to secure an automatic promotion place next May.
However, with more than a third of the campaign gone, Boro find themselves stranded in 23rd position, two points adrift of 21st-placed Scunthorpe United.
The likes of Kris Boyd, Scott McDonald, Barry Robson and Kevin Thomson moved to the Riverside anticipating a promotion push, and having previously played for Rangers and Celtic, the quartet are not used to scrapping for survival in the wrong half of the table.
But while Mowbray accepts things have not gone to plan in the last three-and-a-half months, he rejects the view that his squad are mentally unprepared for a fight against the drop.
I understand the question and the debate, said the Boro boss.
But I'm sure if those players were sitting here now, they'd be saying, I haven't got a silver spoon in my mouth and I haven't just been winning trophies all my life'.
Scott McDonald played for Motherwell, Kris Boyd played for Kilmarnock, Kevin Thomson played for Hibs and Barry Robson played for Dundee United. It's not as if they've been at the Old Firm all their lives.
I would like to think they know what sort of battle they face over the next few games.
I don't see that as a huge negative.
I'd like to think they are fully realistic now about the fact it's going to be a tough 20- odd games and we have to be ready for it.
The players have to know that is coming. It's not going to be a season of silky soccer.
Over the years, I've tried to create teams that play a certain brand of football and score lots of goals maybe at the moment we're not in a situation to turn into Barcelona overnight. We realise where we are, and we have to be ready for the battle.
Mowbray takes his side to in-form Coventry City on Saturday, and having taken over the captain's armband in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Hull City, Matthew Bates is set to continue as skipper at the Ricoh Arena.
Despite having made his first-team debut back in 2004, the 23-year-old had not skippered his hometown club prior to Saturday's game.
And having pinned his centre- half hopes on Bates' renewed relationship with David Wheater, Mowbray was delighted with his new captain's first day in the job.
I'm surprised Matthew hadn't been captain before,
he said. I'm assuming it's been because of his injury situation over the last couple of years that hasn't materialised.
Matthew's a strong personality in the dressing room, and he's a lad from the area.
I'm very comfortable with him being captain.
I know David had been tried last year, but I don't think it sat comfortably with him. I think he'd rather just get on and play the game.
But I think Matthew's personality means it will rest pretty easily on his shoulders.
Middlesbrough's FA Youth Cup third-round tie with Doncaster Rovers, originally scheduled for this evening, has been postponed
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo