MIDDLESBROUGH’S trip to Reading today is a meeting of two teams that have so far failed to perform at the levels expected of them this season, which is an indication of how tough the Championship is, believes Garry Monk.

His team are 13th after a run of five league games without a win, a disappointing return for a club with Premier League aspirations.

Chairman Steve Gibson had even said his team would be looking to “smash the Championship”, a statement made before permitting Monk to make a raft of new signing to build a squad many observers felt capable of challenging for the title.

It’s been poor fare so far this season, however, but they are not the only club to have failed to live up to pre-season billing.

Reading, beaten in the play-off final in May, are 20th, Sheffield Wednesday, who lost in the play-off semi-finals, are 16th, and Hull City, relegated alongside Boro, are 14th.

“This is an extremely difficult league,” said Monk. “There are quite a few teams who did excellent last season but have not hit form this season so far.

“It just shows how ultra competitive this league is.

“It’s still very early, there’s a lot of football to be played, a lot of points to play.

“There’s a determination from our side to get on track to try and get those points on the board that we’re capable of and Reading will be thinking the same.

“Japp Stam has done a great job down there. If anything they’ve probably got an improved squad since last season, so we’re expecting a tough test.

“It’s the next opportunity to show that we are on the right track, we now know what we want to do.”

Boro head to Hull on Tuesday, and next weekend face Sunderland, who complete the triumvirate of clubs relegated from the Premier League last season currently in the bottom half of the Championship.

Monk added: “Every team wants to be as high up as possible as early as possible for as long as possible.

“There’s so many points to play for. You can move up and down that table in two or three games.

“We want better results and better performances – the commitment and desire from everyone is there and I’m sure you’ll see it in the next few games.”

Monk disagrees that he has found the task of turning a relegated team into promotion contenders tougher than expected, saying that he retains faith in the methods he has employed to carrying degrees of success at his previous clubs.

“No matter where you are and what you’re doing it’s always difficult, it’s never easy,” said Monk, who has also managed at Swansea and Leeds.

“I’d like to be further ahead than we are right now, but it’s about trusting the process. I know what works and what’s been successful for me in the past.

“I know how hard everyone is working, myself the players and the staff, and I trust in that.

“I know the capabilities we have the enthusiasm we have and it means we’ll be able to put ourselves on the right track.

“The fanbase we have the support that we’ve got, I know we can successful and it’s about showing it, of course, so we are determined to come out firing at the weekend.”

Gibson’s bold comments came in the wake of Middlesbrough’s relegation at the end of last season.

While Monk’s men have not yet live up to the chairman’s words, the manager has no qualms with Gibson's view.

He said: “It’s passion and that’s exactly what we all have to show.

“When results are going against you and you aren’t hitting the height of performance, criticism comes and things get talked about, I understand that. I’ve understood it my whole career.

“It’s a case of us showing that passion and determination, which I’m sure you’re going to see.

“We know that we’re not far from where we want to be. There’s a lot of things we want to get right and be better at and I’m sure you’ll see that in the coming days, weeks and months.”

Having made a number of alterations to their starting XI on Tuesday at Bournemouth for a League Cup tie won 3-1 by the Cherries, Middlesbrough will make changes again today.

But Boro, in some respects, will hope to continue from where they left off in midweek having put in a showing improved on last Saturday’s league defeat to Cardiff City.

Monk said: “Tuesday night was encouraging, albeit we didn’t get the result that we wanted, but we need to continue it and make sure that it comes to the pitch on Saturday.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get back on the right track and we’re all determined to do that. Every single one of us – myself, the staff, the players – we want to do that.

“The fans endured a very difficult season last year, we want this one to be a positive one and nobody is more determined to do that than me and the players.

“We want to give them something t be proud of and to shout about.”