STEVE AGNEW feels he has received the support required from the top since taking over from Aitor Karanka, and wants his players to channel the hurt from Middlesbrough’s latest Premier League set-back to deliver a Tees-Wear derby boost.

Boro and the Black Cats go head-to-head tonight in the battle of the bottom two and, regardless of the outcome, the chances are they will be meeting again in the Championship next season.

The crushing defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday has left Boro with a whopping nine-point gap to safety with five matches remaining, while Sunderland are a further three back and have an extra game to play.

A victory tonight might claim local pride – with Sunderland keen to avoid a second loss of the campaign to their A19 neighbours – but both clubs face a monumental challenge to stay in the top-flight for a further year.

Agnew hopes to claim a first win at the seventh attempt since taking over from Karanka and is already coming in for criticism from sections of fans for his disappointing start.

But the 44-year-old is determined to stay focused and feels he has received the backing from chairman Steve Gibson since taking on the extra responsibility.

Agnew said: “In fact I couldn’t have asked for any more (support). Every single person that I pass, speak to, is very supportive. That is really encouraging from my point of view.”

The head coach has been impressed by the reaction of the players since the defeat at the Vitality Stadium and is desperate to see that carry over into tonight’s game.

There has been no word from the club over any changes to his contract, although Gibson did state in an interview with BT Sport last month that Agnew was trusted to do the job and he has been able to bring in Joe Jordan and Jonathan Woodgate to his backroom team.

Agnew said: “It doesn’t really bother me. It’s just the situation what I came into. It was like ‘get on with it, enjoy it, do your best and win some football matches’. I have done everything but win a football match.

“That’s what I aim to do on Wednesday night and I am sure we will get a massive reaction, put smiles back on the faces and get three points against Sunderland. It’s about the next game, let’s get on with it and get the result. I remain positive …”

Agnew repeatedly stressed the need to deliver his first victory against Sunderland at the Riverside, where there will be a crowd in excess of 30,000.

Boro turned in, arguably, their worst collective display of the season at Bournemouth, having shown positive signs in previous games – although Agnew has only taken two points from a possible 18 under his watch.

But, even though he has had to learn quickly in the role, the Teessiders hardly pulled up trees before that and have not won a game in the Premier League since December 17.

Agnew, a former Sunderland player, said: “You do assess things. I look back and, of course, the results have not gone as well as I would have expected, but I did see progression and the progression almost became difficult to understand on Saturday. That’s the disappointment I have. Equally I remain positive with it and looking forward to preparing for Sunderland.

“The Premier League is the biggest and best in the world and I think we can’t take our eye off the ball. My focus, our focus now, is towards the Sunderland match.

“Saturday was a low moment, it was something that I was really, really disappointed with initially, I've got to be honest.

“But I think you have to pick yourself up very quickly, I have to pick myself up, I have to pick the players up, which is what I did. From Sunday morning we had nothing but feedback, honest feedback to move forward and prepare for the Sunderland game.”

There was a meeting held at Rockliffe Park on Sunday to thrash out ideas and viewpoints following the disaster on the south coast.

Agnew said: “It was good, it was healthy, it was to the point, we sat and we were honest in what we had witnessed on Saturday and we knew as a group that that was unacceptable.

“It wasn't good enough. We have to be better and then we move on and prepare for Sunderland.

“What I would say is that the fans have been amazing this season, home and away, and we haven’t given them enough to smile about. We have won four matches all season and that’s nowhere near enough to be successful.

“Wednesday night is a passionate night, a North-East derby, there will be 30,000 Teessiders inside the stadium and we have to give them something back. We have to put some smiles on their faces, let’s have lots of volume in the stadium and take the three points.”

Boro are still without goalkeeper Victor Valdes because of a rib problem, there is no timescale on his return. Skipper Grant Leadbitter trained yesterday and should be available.

Middlesbrough v Sunderland (possible teams)

Boro: Guzan; Fabio Chambers Gibson Friend; Traore Clayton Leadbitter Downing; Gestede Negredo

Sunderland: Pickford; Manquillo O’Shea Denayer Jones; Ndong Cattermole Gibson; Anichebe Defoe Khazri