Chris Wilder gives his honest verdict on Middlesbrough’s play-off chances

Middlesbrough’s recent form has dropped a bit with just one win in their six previous games as they’ve struggled for goals. 

Chris Wilder’s team now find themselves ninth in the league and five points away from the play-offs with three games left to go.

Middlesbrough will need to find goals and hope their form is on point in their final games of the season if they wish to regain their place back in the top six but when asked if his side’s play-off hopes were still alive, Chris Wilder told Teesside Live: “100% we’re still alive. I haven’t got a crystal ball so I don’t know what’s in front of us. But there is no gimme or given result in this division.

“The two teams above us have got two difficult games to play and the teams around us have got difficult games to play, but we have too. We’re back home on Wednesday night [against Cardiff] and we understand it’s a huge game; a season-defining game for us.

“But to be in with a shout is good and if we get a result, with no one around us playing that night, we close the gap and it’s game on going into the final two games of the season. We’ve got a fighting chance and our fixtures are like everyone else’s. They’re winnable, but if we don’t get it right we can drop points and there is no margin for error from here on in.”

Middlesbrough host Cardiff City on Wednesday night before welcoming Stoke City at the weekend.

They travel to Preston on the final day of the season meaning they don’t face a team above above 12th in the league.

However, at this stage in the season these games could go either way so Boro will have to make sure they’re at the top of their game.

The Verdict: 

Middlesbrough do still have a fair chance of finishing the season in the play-offs and if you look at their