TONY PULIS has urged Middlesbrough fans to turn out in force and “make a right din” to help get his team off to the perfect start when they go into battle with an Aston Villa side he regards as favourites for the semi-final.

Steve Bruce’s Villa finished seven points above Boro at the end of the 46-game regular season in the second tier of English football, even though they finished with a 1-0 defeat at Millwall after making eight changes.

That result, while not affecting the Villans’ fourth-place finish, was being recorded as Middlesbrough required a 96th minute equaliser from Patrick Bamford at Ipswich to prevent Derby County from swapping places with them in fifth.

The Middlesbrough players will now spend this week preparing for two games that will determine whether they will return to Wembley for the right to fight it out with either Derby or Fulham for a place in the Premier League on May 26.

Pulis is adamant Middlesbrough’s supporters, of whom there were 2,000 at Portman Road, have a massive part to play in the bid to overcome a Villa side he rates highly.

“Villa have probably got the strongest squad in depth in the Championship, they will be favourites to beat us,” said Pulis, after being told there were a number of fans dressed as him in the away end.

“We need everyone to focus, pull together and we need the supporters there. It’s extraordinary we had the 2,000 here today when we were in the play-offs anyway. They never stopped singing and getting behind us.

“We have to make sure we fill that ground next Saturday, make a din and we need that from our lot. We need them to drive our lads forward.

“The big thing with the supporters is that we have to turn up on Saturday. I mean turn up and turn that atmosphere up, make it a cauldron and get behind the lads.

“Then fingers crossed, if we get the run of the ball and decisions go for us, then at least we can say we have had a right go. We are the underdogs and we have to make a real fight of it.”

What Bruce will think of Pulis’ favourites jibe will come out as the week goes along, although Middlesbrough still have the players more than capable of turning up over the two legs and defeating Villa.

Middlesbrough trailed twice at Ipswich. Freddie Sears made the most of a chance in the eighth minute when referee David Coote allowed play to go on despite claims he shoved Ben Gibson.

Then, after Stewart Downing had struck a 71st minute equaliser, Gibson conceded a penalty for a daft lunge on Shane McLoughlin with seven minutes remaining. Martyn Waghorn converted and at that stage Derby had leapfrogged Middlesbrough.

But with time running out, and after Daniel Ayala had a goal ruled out for offside, Bamford headed in the second equaliser to lift Middlesbrough back up to fifth and leave Pulis satisfied.

The Middlesbrough boss had been desperate for a result which was highlighted by his decision to name an unchanged team even if a play-off spot had already been secured.

“There were a couple of strange decisions, the linesman from that side wasn’t far away either,” said Pulis. “But forget that now, we move on, we clear our minds, we have an awards ceremony (Sunday) tonight, and the players can enjoy that. Then we sit down on Monday and make sure we get focused.

“We started with the team that has done so well over the last couple of weeks. If they hadn’t played they would have had a big break. The next week will be all about preparation getting it right for Villa.

“I wanted them to run around. I thought their attitudes were fantastic. We didn’t have the run at times, a couple of the decision from officials went against us to put it mildly. It would have been a travesty if we hadn’t got something.

“I picked the team to come and win not draw. If you had said three months ago that we would get in the play-offs I would say we would play anyone.

“Now it’s all about us playing a top club like Villa. They have some top players, who fill their end on Saturday, and we have to make sure we turn up. If we do that and play as well as we can we are a force for anyone.”