Boro will still be there - Leadbitter

Midfielder Grant Leadbitter has no worries of Middlesbrough not remaining in serious promotion contention.

The 27-year-old considers his club to have the strongest group of players in the Championship and that a return to the Premier
League continues to be a distinct possibility. That is despite the disappointment of witnessing his side recently stall their progress by losing three of their last five games, including back-to-back league fixtures.

"It was frustrating against Watford because our failure to finish the game off cost us," Leadbitter told the Northern Echo. "It's not ideal to be losing two in a row, we certainly don't want to be losing three in a row.

"I can take the defeats where we have not played well, but you look at the other games like Leeds, Cardiff, Watford and Birmingham, in these games you cant lose when you are dominating games," he added. "We have to take the league by the scruff of its neck in the next 19 games and make sure we get promoted. We can't afford to lose two more games on the bounce."

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