OLD boy Alun Armstrong piled on the agony for relegation-threatened Middlesbrough yesterday, then insisted: "I hope they stay up.''

Armstrong, sold to Ipswich for £800,000 in Terry Venables' first week with Boro in a deal brokered by manager Bryan Robson, returned to haunt his former club with a stunning double strike.

Dean Windass established a scarcely-deserved half-time lead for Boro before Armstrong fired Champions' League chasing Ipswich to a 2-1 victory with goals inside the first five minutes of the second period.

In the build-up to the game, Armstrong pointedly said: "God knows where Middlesbrough would be without Terry Venables.''

It was a clear dig at Robson, who he says had demoted him to "seventh-choice striker'' before Ipswich boss George Burley swooped to resurrect his career in December.

Armstrong, whose first-team opportunities with Boro were restricted by serious back and Achilles injuries, admitted: "It's a dream to get the two goals. I went on record before the game saying I had nothing to prove. I probably should have had a hat-trick, but that's being greedy.

"I was seventh-choice striker when I was here and that took a lot of confidence away from me. George Burley took a gamble and my confidence came back as soon as I started playing again.

"I was still talking to Ipswich when Terry had just come in here, but needless to say I've got no regrets whatsoever.

"We trained at Billingham Synthonia yesterday - that's where I used to play home games with Middlesbrough Reserves - and next season I could be playing in Europe. We'll never have a better chance than this. Middlesbrough haven't got much confidence and you could see that in the way they played.

"But I think they'll stay up - I really hope so anyway. I've got a lot of friends here and they've got quality players. If they do go down, I can't see them hanging around.''

Armstrong received a sporting standing ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted late in the game, and he admitted: "It was nice for the fans to do that. I'd said a few things before the game, but I always tried my best when I was here and I had a decent record when I was selected.''

Boro head coach Venables felt bitterly let down by his players only 48 hours after the superb 3-0 win at Arsenal. Victories for Derby and Coventry yesterday mean that the relegation issue is still very much in the melting pot.

Boro have dropped back to fourth bottom, only two points ahead of Coventry and three behind Everton and Derby. Venables said: "It's very disappointing. After Saturday everbody had a high expectancy of our performance.

"I thought we defended too deep in the first 25 minutes. We got a very good goal and we thought we were on our way. I hadn't even got out for the second half by the time they scored. With the second goal, we'd already been warned and you can't be naive like that otherwise you'll get punished.

"Alun Armstrong has come back from horrific injuries and he's done marvellously. Ipswich are a very good team and we got caught cold. Now we've got to be professional and try to erase the silly mistakes.

"We can cry for a day and then we've got to get back to the job and make sure we're ready for the game at Leicester on Saturday. I still say the relegation issue will go to the last day - it's going to be exciting!''

Defenders Steve Vickers and Jason Gavin both picked up knocks to add to Boro's rearguard problems. Curtis Fleming, Gianluca Festa, Colin Cooper and Keith O'Neill were all sidelined yesterday through injuries and Vickers was forced off in the second half with a dead leg which makes him doubtful for the trip to Filbert Street.

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