PETERBOROUGH MIDDLESBROUGH BORO ARE RIGHT IN IT – AND WE SHOULD BE
WILDER: WE AREN’T UNDERDOGS
CHRIS Wilder insists Middlesbrough deserve to be in the play-off race on merit and dismissed the idea they are plucky underdogs after their 4-0 thrashing of Peterborough United.
Boro are up to fifth in the Championship thanks to a dominant display at the Weston Homes Stadium, with Marcus Tavernier, Folarin Balogun, Josh Coburn and Duncan Watmore all finding the net.
Eight points separate the teams in third and 10th as the run-in heats up with Wilder’s men pushing hard for a top-six finish.
Since taking over with the club in 14th, the former Sheffield United boss has turned things around on Teesside and believes his side deserve to be in the hunt for Premier League football.
He said: “We’re in a good position and this is a club that should always be pushing to get out of this division. There is always an expectation.
“Whether I’m managing Middlesbrough Football Club in the Championship or the players are playing in the Championship. It’s a huge club. No getting away from that.
“Look at the support we’ve had. The support we have at home too and it’s about players enjoying it and embracing it. For me, it energises you, gives you a buzz and this is where you want to be.
“You want to be at a big club that is challenging. I’m not going to say we are underdogs. We are right in it and we should be. I don’t think anybody should back away from that thought process.”
He added: “We are a big club – whether that’s history, attendances, away attendances, trophies won, players who’ve been at the club – we’re a big club and we’re fighting our way back to getting back to the big time.”