GIBSON: LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OUR SEASON

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BEN GIBSON admits Middlesbrough failed to live up to their billing this season – but have one more chance to put it right.

Tony Pulis’s men face Aston Villa tomorrow in the play-off semi-final first leg, despite chairman Steve Gibson saying last summer they wanted to “smash” the league and get automatic promotion.

Defender Gibson (left) – Steve’s nephew – says Boro had higher hopes than the Wembley route back to the top flight, but are now hitting solid form.

He said: “Got to be honest, back in August, we would not have taken this position.

“The players we had, the money we spent, our aim was automatic promotion. We have not lived up to expectations this season. We know that, but there are three ways to get out of this league, and we’ve still got the third way.

“We’ve hung about through thick and thin, we’ve got through some hard times.”

Pulis’s arrival has given the club fresh direction after former boss Garry Monk’s sacking. And 25-year-old centre-back Gibson added: “Everyone wanted us to cruise the league. We’ve not managed that – few teams do – but we’re still in with a chance.

“We are going about our business quietly and, if we can sneak through the back door, that’s what we’ll do.

“Now we have to fight for our lives. We have not hit the heights, but we feel we have turned the corner at just the right time.”

Notts v Lancs (11) Somerset v Hants (11) Surrey v Yorks (11) Worcs v Essex (11) Derbyshire v Durham (11) Kent v Sussex (11) Leics v Glamorgan (11) Middlesex v Gloucs (11) Warks v Northants (11)