AS someone who made his Middlesbrough debut back in December 2004, Matthew Bates has seen more than his fair share of difficult times on the banks of the Tees.

The trauma of relegation from the Premier League, the downward spiral during the dark days of Gordon Strachan, the enforced sale of a host of high-earning stars. All contributed to a deepening sense of despondency; all were particularly painful for a player who was born and raised as a Middlesbrough fan.

So while everyone has been buoyed by events since Tony Mowbray took over the Riverside reins last October, no one has been more delighted than Boro's Yarm-based captain.

Yes, it is early days in terms of the battle for promotion. Yes, the club's squad remains short of numbers, particularly up front. But after a succession of disappointments, there finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. A club that lost its lustre is slowly being reborn.

"I think the fans feel that things are moving in the right direction again, and I think the players are also feeling that as well," said Bates, who will lead his side out at Crystal Palace this afternoon looking to extend a club-record run of five successive away league victories. "We're going into games now expecting to win.

"If you look back to this time last year, we were probably looking and thinking, ‘Where are our next three points going to come from?' Now, we're looking to maintain the run we're on. It's a much better frame of mind for players to be going into games with.

"The fans are also coming to games expecting to enjoy themselves now. Hopefully, they're thinking, ‘How many goals are going to be scored' rather than, ‘How many goals are going to be conceded'. It's an exciting time.

"It's been a really positive few weeks, but people need to be aware that it's only a start. It's still only six games that we've played in the league. We need to maintain the run and keep going."

Given the disappointments of the past, Bates is right to sound a note of caution, but watching Tony Mowbray's side gradually develop and grow, it is hard not to draw parallels with the evolution that occurred in the 1980s.

Then, as now, financial austerity led to the evolution of a side dominated by youthful homegrown talent, with a strong sense of spirit and unity making up for a lack of money.

Mowbray recruited a handful of players this summer, with Manchester City youngster Alex Nimely set to be confirmed as the latest temporary addition this morning, but the current squad is largely the same one that began to build momentum at the end of last season.

That continuity has been important, and it is notable that the three sides at the top of the Championship - Brighton, Southampton and Middlesbrough - have all built on their achievements in the second half of last term.

"There have been changes here, but if you look at the starting XI now compared to what it was last season, it's not like the whole thing is different," said Bates. "There hasn't been massive upheaval and that's probably helped us.

"The gaffer's kept the players he really wanted to keep and that's been good. It was a hectic time, but I think the gaffer's probably pretty happy with the way the window went.

"We need to keep people fit because we haven't got a huge squad. I don't think we've got an especially small squad in terms of the Championship, but it's not the biggest if injuries and suspensions start kicking in. If we can keep our players fit and maybe add a couple in the loan market, I think we'll do well."

Mowbray's priority last month was to hold on to as many of his key players as possible. Interest in Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes was rebuffed, and Swansea were warned off a formal approach for Bates despite the defender being in the final year of a lucrative contract that was signed when the club was still in the Premier League.

Financially, it would probably have made sense for Boro to have moved the 24-year-old on. In terms of football, though, holding on to arguably the club's most talented player is a significant statement of intent.

"I know the situation - I'm in the final year of my contract and the club is obviously in a fairly well-publicised position in terms of its finances," said Bates, who is expected to attract further interest when the transfer reopens in January.

"The gaffer pulled me in and said there was a bit of interest, and we both agreed that we would see what happened. I was fine with it. I didn't want to leave, and I didn't ask to leave, but there's obviously a bigger picture to think of as well.

"I'm glad I'm still here, and we'll just have to see what the remainder of the season brings. I'm happy to be here now and even more happy when the team is doing so well."