DEMANDS from the Middlesbrough crowd can only help keep the players on their toes as they attempt to force their way back into the promotion picture, according to Danish striker Martin Braithwaite.

The £9m signing from Toulouse sensed the pressure was building ahead of last weekend’s visit of Ipswich Town to the Riverside Stadium, after a run of three defeats from four matches had sparked criticism of manager Garry Monk.

But Middlesbrough turned in, arguably, their best performance of the season to claim three points against the Tractor Boys and the players are keen to build on that when they head to Millwall this afternoon.

Braithwaite said: “You feel what is happening in the crowd, but that’s the passion that is there. They want more from the club, and they want better than we have been showing. I feel that’s normal, and it’s good.

“It’s contagious, and the players feel they have to do better because that is what the crowd want and expect. It is a good environment to play in.”

Expectations levels have been high since Monk arrived because he has been backed on the transfer front, on the back of chairman Steve Gibson responding to relegation from the Premier League by outlining a desire to go straight back up.

Braithwaite said: “I’m not thinking about that (the summer spending). I am putting a lot of pressure on myself. I don’t really feel it. The biggest pressure anyone is putting on me is from myself.

“I don’t really feel any of the pressure around, I’m just here to play football. I love playing football, and that’s what I want to show when I play.

“It was a win last weekend, and we have to use that now. We have to use it to push ourselves forward. We’re not thinking too much about the future though. We’re just looking one week ahead, and that’s Millwall, and we have to win the next game.”

Middlesbrough have closed the gap to the play-off places to five points, but there is still a hefty 12 point gap to make up on an automatic promotion place.

There has been a buzz around the training ground since claiming the points against Ipswich, even if the determination is to follow that up with a run to really make an impact on the top six.

Braithwaite, with an eye on the World Cup next summer, scored his fourth goal since moving from France last weekend and he has become a key player regardless of whether he is playing through the middle or on the flank. He is also, though, appreciative of a certain Stewart Downing’s quality.

He said: “I’m a goalscorer so I like to be in the box because I know things can happen in there. Usually, the ball gets to me in the box so I know where I need to be. It was a great set-up from Stewart Downing out on the side. The ball came to me, and I just had to put it in.

“Stewart Downing is incredible. I saw it from the very first moment I came. He has an unbelievable left foot, and I always knew he was going to be important for us. That is what he has shown. He has a lot of experience, and he always has a lot of coolness when he is playing. He is really important for the team, and I think everyone is happy we have him on our team.”