The next three league games will provide a useful guide to Boro’s progress so far.
First up, Manchester United, who visit the Riverside on New Years Day. The Red Devils are still in touch with the leaders but have stuttered on their travels and face a Boro side that have only lost once at home this season. If Boro can fire on all cylinders there is no reason why we can’t take all three points off United, but being realistic a draw would be a good result.
Next up, Boro make the trip to Stamford Bridge, to play a Chelsea side that is unbeaten at home this season. Boro will attempt to disrupt the best Chelsea side I can remember seeing, but wouldn’t it be great to see Boro nick a 1-0 victory with JFH getting the winner? Dream on, let’s remember that Boro have not won at the Bridge for almost 30 years, so the best we can really hope for is a point.
Finally we take on Everton at the Riverside in a game that we must win. Everton have been the real surprise of the season so far, but recently they have started to show signs that they cannot survive the pace at the top. A victory for Boro would prove to the many unbelievers that Boro are serious top six contenders.
So, in conclusion, three points or less from the next three games would be disappointing, four points would appear to be the norm, but five points or more would signal Boro are here to stay.
The Manchester United and the Everton games are both being televised live on Sky, the former being shown on Sky Sports 1 (1st Jan – KO 17:30) and the latter on PremPlus (16th Jan – KO. 14:00).