Jonny Howson's warning on Middlesbrough's play-off chances after too many 'dropped points'

Jonny Howson of Middlesbrough in action

Captain Jonny Howson says the time for talking is gone after too many dropped points this season leaves Middlesbrough chasing the Championship play-off places with 17 games to go.

For a long period, Boro have been within touching distance of the top six without actually threatening to break in. That’s largely because their only run of consecutive wins came after a seven-game winless start which, when combined with the inconsistent form since October, makes for a side firmly sitting mid-table in the Championship.

Last weekend’s frustrating draw with Sunderland encapsulated many Boro issues this season that keep them on the outside looking in. What looked like being a win quickly became a draw in the blink of an eye after missing earlier opportunities to put the game to bed.

And as Howson assessed Boro’s play-off chances, the veteran was realistic in his verdict and gave a clear warning that he and has team-mates must heed as they prepare to host Bristol City at the Riverside on Saturday. The start of 17 crucial games as far as this season’s aspirations are concerned, it’s one they could really do with collecting maximum points from.

Howson said: “It’s been like that for quite a while now, where you keep looking at it and thinking, ‘if we can just get a couple of wins back to back, we’ll be right in there’. But listen, I can stand here and talk about as much as we want, ultimately, we have got to go and do that.

“We have dropped points this season where we should have finished teams off, or we have conceded silly goals. It’s there for us, but we need to go and do it. We need to be ruthless in our approach and in gaining that final outcome.

“Come Saturday or Tuesday, whichever it may be, we have to actually go and do it rather than just keep talking about only being a few points off it. We can talk all we want but we have to go and do it.”

Boro’s Sunderland draw last weekend means they are still waiting for their first home win in the Championship since the turn of the year. Their form at the Riverside has been particularly disappointing all season, with only six victories from 15 games. Imperative they improve that in the rest of the season, Howson says the Boro squad quickly put last Sunday behind them to focus on this one.

“The initial reaction is disappointment obviously that we didn’t win that game,” the 35-year-old continued. “We conceded late on and certainly second half we controlled large parts of it. But ultimately, as soon as you start training again, and you start focusing on Bristol City.

“You’ve got to move on. That’s part of the game we’re involved in. It is hard to do at times, but whether we’ve won, lost or drawn, it’s in the past and you have to move on and get ready for the next one.”

Boro have had the advantage of a full week to prepare for this game, which is something the Robins did not get. Far from ideal for their preparations for this trip, Liam Manning described it as ‘madness’ on Wednesday evening as his side played extra-time and penalties on top of the standard 90 minutes in the FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Michael Carrick certainly has sympathy for his opposite number, but won’t go lightly on him. The Boro boss previewed: “Largerly, performances have been good but we need to pick up points in order to be successful. We know we have to be that little bit more ruthless and that bit more clinical.

“The table is so tight. I imagine we’ll be saying that for a little while yet, but it’s up to someone to grab it and find consistency, which is what brings you success. It’s what we’re working towards. The only way to give ourselves a chance is to keep winning games.

“Bristol City are a good team and they showed that over two cup games where they played ever so well. I feel for them. What that will mean for Saturday, I don’t know. We just focus on being ready and being at our best. It’s a tough game and we know we’ll have to be at our best.”