WHEN Ian Holloway was last at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough celebrated promotion to the Premier League. If he is to return to Teesside next year, he could well have to take Queens Park Rangers up.

Holloway clearly thinks Garry Monk’s team will be playing in the top-flight next year – and you can understand why.

The last week could have been pivotal for Monk’s Middlesbrough. Holloway, and everyone else for that matter, has had Boro down as promotion contenders since before a ball was kicked in August because of the investment in the squad chairman Steve Gibson sanctioned.

It was one thing recruiting, but forming a team and a spirit is something completely different. Over the course of the last three matches inside eight days, though, there is no doubting the progress which has been made on that front.

Middlesbrough, who signed ten new players over the summer, may still have only edged over the line against QPR to claim three points, but it was another sign of how the team is developing together to deliver the results required.

There is still a sense they are not playing as well as they should be given the talent within the squad, although collecting seven points from the last three games highlights how they are progressing.

After turning on the style to defeat Bolton a week earlier, defeating QPR was a far greater test of character because they had to come from behind twice to eventually claim three points.

The fact that the victory – the fourth of the season – was secured by the same players, minus the suspended Adama Traore, who just days earlier had ground out a goalless draw with ten men at Aston Villa.

This was another positive to cherish ahead of next Sunday’s trip to dangerous Fulham, with Monk still driving to get the very best from a group of players he still feels has not reached top gear yet.

There may have only been a position and a point separating Middlesbrough and QPR beforehand, but Holloway – who was at the Riverside in May 2016 to see Aitor Karanka’s side go up instead of Brighton – made it clear how highly he regards Monk’s crop of 2017.

Holloway, speaking after the defeat, said: “I couldn’t be prouder. I am proud of my QPR lot. I am bursting with pride. We showed massive resilience and unfortunately we have got absolutely zip points to show for that effort, but realistically there was hardly anything between the two sides. It was a hell of a game of football.

“When this place gets going it’s tough. The last time I was here I was unbiased watching a couple of games when they got promoted. This year I saw my team at least deserve something, maybe a point. It was a big ask for my new lads because I have some key players missing to do that, but I couldn’t be prouder.”

Holloway’s comments reflected a side which should have been regarded as huge underdogs rather than one sitting promisingly in mid-table after a decent start to the campaign.

But you could sense what he was getting at. While Britt Assombalonga, who scored the winning goal, cost £15m during the summer transfer window, QPR’s first goalscorer was a £400,000 signing from Exeter City.

David Wheeler, another indication of what can be found in the lower leagues like Middlesbrough’s very own Marvin Johnson, was allowed to coast in behind Fabio da Silva to convert Luke Freeman’s pass inside three minutes.

That took Middlesbrough and the Riverside crowd off guard and it took them until nine minutes before half-time to pull level.

Johnson, the £2.5m signing from Oxford United, cleverly picked out Lewis Baker in space and the Chelsea loanee slotted beyond goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

Johnson, who scored on his first appearance at Bolton, was given his first start in the absence of Traore and vindicated his selection ahead of Patrick Bamford and Ashley Fletcher. He was a menace to the Rangers defence and went close to scoring himself in the first half when he turned in the area and shot wide.

Not even Johnson had envisaged being so heavily involved at this stage, but shining at the top end of the Championship is a far cry from making a name for himself at Northern Premier League First Division South side Romulus FC just six years ago.

“I don’t really think about the level, who I am up against,” said Johnson. “I don’t want to think about the surroundings. This is a great club and I have had great support from these fans already. I thank the players and the manager for making it easy to step up.

“Sometimes it’s not easy stepping up from the league below, all I can do is show what I have got. I am proof that you can get players from lower leagues.

“I believe in my ability, try to give 100 per cent. I don’t think of it being the Championship, I just think of it being another game of football. I just want to play with a smile on my face.

“The lads have been great. Sometimes when you come up from lower down the lads could be funny I suppose, but no one has done that, they have made me feel very welcome. I feel I can learn a lot from them.”

Johnson has been quick to win over the fans with his performances. Saturday’s man of the match display has already led to him being regarded as ‘Magic Johnson’ – particularly after his role in the winner.

Before he had darted to the byline and picked out Britt Assombalonga in the six-yard box to nod Middlesbrough in front for the first time, Monk’s men had to work themselves back into the game again.

Middlesbrough, usually so strong at the back and unable to keep a fourth successive clean sheet at home, had struggled to get going and fell behind for a second time four minutes into the second half.

Ben Gibson attempted to shepherd the ball back to the goalkeeper, Darren Randolph charged out and kicked a clearance straight at Jamie Mackie, who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

The lead only lasted six minutes because Fletcher, boldly introduced at half-time for Adam Clayton, glanced a header inside the far corner from Cyrus Christie’s delivery from the right. That paved the way for a decent bit of home pressure which saw Johnson tee up Assombalonga for the winner on the hour.

Johnson said: “The manager said go and express myself and work hard for the team. I try to do that every minute I am on the pitch.

“I wasn’t expecting to be involved for a good three or four weeks. I was settling in. I have had that opportunity to come on twice and I want to take the opportunities whenever they come along.

“People have called me ‘magic all my life I think! People will keep coming up with names for me I’m sure. The lads here don’t call me that though, they call me Jonno and Marv. Maybe in a couple more games!

“I am not fazed by playing at this level and this club. You have to give 100 per cent. You can’t have fear in your mind. You have to believe in your ability and I do.”

If that confidence rubs off on the rest of the Middlesbrough squad, Holloway should be right. This is a group of players more than capable of going up – and the last week or so just proves it.