IT was the post-season soundbite that was always going to set the agenda for Middlesbrough this season. “We want to smash the league,” said a bullish Steve Gibson, in the wake of his side’s relegation. “We want to go up as champions.”

As a mission statement, it could hardly have been any more explicit, and since making his comments, the Middlesbrough chairman has lived up to his promise to do all he could to make promotion a realistic possibility.

More than £40m has been spent on new signings this summer, and while much of that has been offset by player departures, Boro remain one of the biggest-spending sides in the second tier.

So no pressure on Garry Monk then as he looks to turn Gibson’s vision into a reality. The Boro boss will be reminded of Gibson’s comments at regular intervals this season, and has also made no secret of his desire to win automatic promotion. He does, however, have a different view of how it might be achieved.

“I think it’s impossible to smash the Championship because it’s so competitive,” said Monk. “The days when a team could run away with the Championship title are long gone, that just doesn’t happen anymore. Those types of season are over because there are good teams right through this league now, with good managers and good set-ups.

“There are big clubs all over the league, but we definitely want to do well. We want to be a successful team and a successful club. That’s the ambition, and everyone has that drive here, to make sure that’s the case. It’s still very early days though and we have to maximise each and every game.”

The next game comes this afternoon, and pits Boro against a Preston side who currently sit two places above them in the embryonic Championship table.

Boro’s league campaign has been a tale of contrasting fortunes so far, with the club’s two away defeats standing in direct contrast to their two victories at the Riverside.

Their most recent league success, a 2-0 win over Burton Albion, came courtesy of their most accomplished Championship display of the season so far, and Monk admits it is important to build on the victory and cement a strong home record.

“We need to keep this run going,” he said. “The Riverside has been good for us so far, and I’ve said right from the word go that we need to try to make our home ground a fortress. If you want to be successful in this league, then your home form has to be right up there.

“We’ve had a couple of away games that we want to improve on because we haven’t had the results. I think we’ve deserved more from those games, but at the end of the day, the results are the results. We want to improve in all areas, but we know important the home form will be.”

Preston have made a similar start, winning their two home games but picking up just one point on their travels, but Monk has a large amount of respect for Alex Neil’s team.

Former Northern League striker Jordan Hugill will offer a considerable threat in attack, with fellow striker Sean Maguire also having made a strong start to the season following a summer move from Cork City.

“I know Alex very well, and think he’s a very good manager,” said Monk. “We’ve watched their games and they’ve had a good start because they’re a good team. It will be a difficult game, but they all are in this league.

“We just have to focus on ourselves. If we can keep building, and improving the players and showing the right attitude and commitment, then we will hopefully have a successful season.”

Monk is expected to return to the side he has been fielding in the league, despite Ashley Fletcher and Lewis Baker impressing in the midweek win over Scunthorpe.