Boro’s hope fading fast
By DELME PARFITT at the Liberty Stadium
CHRIS WILDER insists the play-offs remain within Middlesbrough’s reach despite losing further ground at Swansea.
A deflected shot from Australian midfielder Riley McGree went in via the bar to give Boro the lead.
Wilder’s side should have been 2-0 up but Marcus Tavernier squandered a gilt-edged chance while in acres of space seconds after McGree’s goal.
And the home side levelled soon after that through Michael Obafemi, who finished off a counter-attack that summed up a frenetic opening to the second half.
Boro now look virtual certainties to remain in the Championship having taken two points from a possible 15 in their last five outings.
Wilder’s side remain in eighth spot and while they have a game in hand on the two teams above they are now five points adrift of sixth-placed Sheffield United and have a mountain to climb.
They face Cardiff on Wednesday at the
Riverside. Asked if his side could still make the top six,
Wilder insisted: “Yes,
100 percent. I haven’t got a crystal ball, I don’t know what’s in front of us but there is no given result in this division.
“The teams above us have difficult games to play, the teams around us have difficult games to play – as do we.
“We’re back home on Wednesday night and it’s a season-defining game.”
Wilder believed Boro could easily have taken three points here and added: “It was carnage at times and from a neutral’s point of view probably fabulous viewing.
“There could have been a few heart-attacks for both managers and arguably we’ve had the best opportunities of the game.
“I don’t think it would have been a ‘smash and grab’, it would have been us winning a really tight game.”
Boro had their chances with Marc Bola also rattling the bar and right-back Anfernee Dijksteel failing to convert after an incredible solo run.
Swans boss Russell Martin said his side have grown in stature even though the season has not yielded the hoped-for push for the play-offs.
“We’ve shown intensity, courage and bravery,” said Martin.
“Today showed how far we’ve come especially in terms of our mentality and we want to take this momentum into next season. I’m really excited”