Chris Wilder makes Middlesbrough admission about upcoming international break

The Championship has been particularly relentless in the last few weeks and Chris Wilder is among many managers in being grateful for the international break that is around the corner.

Middlesbrough, along with most of the other play-off chasers, have been through their ups and downs in the last month or so and will be hoping to return to league action in a much fresher state, both physically and mentally.

Boro host Chelsea in the quarter finals of the FA Cup on Saturday and then they have two weeks off before hosting Peterborough United on 2nd April.

Wilder summarised Boro’s position in the schedule and the play-off race when he spoke to TeessideLive.

He said: “We’ve done so well to get into the position we’re in now from where we were when we took over.

“To get to the quarter-final of the FA Cup as well.

“There will be swings and roundabouts in the league table between now and the end and sometimes you’ll see results that you shake your head at.

“The key for us is consistency.

“We’ve had two good performances and two big results away from home and we’ve been terrific at home.

“So we can breathe a little now.

“It is a tired league at the moment because there are a lot of games that everyone is having to play and get through.

“I’m sure I won’t be the only manager looking forward to getting to the international break.

“The positive for us is we’ve got a fabulous game to look forward to on Saturday beforehand.

“After that, we have an opportunity to regroup, give the boys a couple of days off and then we’ve put ourselves in a fabulous position.

“If we can show the consistency we have in the last two away games and stick that with our home form then I think we’re a competitor in an incredible race to get out of the division.