BY showing there is plenty of life in Middlesbrough’s promotion charge after a disappointing transfer window, George Saville believes Tony Pulis’ squad is still strong enough to finish in the top two.

Despite Boro’s impressive 3-2 victory at fellow Premier League hopefuls West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, there is still a seven point gap to make up on the automatic promotion places.

Middlesbrough’s failure to further strengthen Pulis’ attacking options before last Thursday’s deadline increase concerns among supporters that the push for the top-flight had been dented.

But Saville, who scored the opener at The Hawthorns on Saturday, is convinced the Teessiders possess the quality within their ranks anyway to get the job done.

The Northern Echo:

Pulis spoke after the West Brom win of needing everyone to knuckle down and concentrate on the run-in now that the window is closed.

And Saville was delighted that Middlesbrough were able to start on the right footing, beating the side above them courtesy of Britt Assombalonga’s late double.

“The window is done now, we’ve got this set of boys now, there are 18 games left and we’ve got the squad and the quality to go and get promoted,” said Saville.

“Everyone has got to stick together, get their heads down and work as hard as they can and see where it takes us.

“Of course we can get in the top two and close that gap down, the next two games Leeds and Sheffield United, teams around us, it’s a great chance.

“This was a big one at West Brom as well. They are the three big ones coming up. We’ve done one and we’ve got the other two.”

Middlesbrough also face Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round replay tomorrow night at Rodney Parade for the right to face Manchester City in the next round at home.

The priority for Middlesbrough is not the FA Cup, it is promotion. That was highlighted when there was a lack of spending during the January window - with a wariness around that there will be less cash if they have to spend another campaign in the Championship.

Pulis’ main goal when he took over was to get Middlesbrough up and there has been increased criticism of him and his methods since his team fell away from top spot.

His solid tactical approach was also disliked by many West Brom fans before he left in November 2017. Those supporters reminded him of that on Saturday, and he enjoyed celebrating with the Boro fans in front of those Baggies supporters at the end.

Saville said: “You are going to get that in football. When I go back to my former clubs, I get dogs abuse. It’s the way football works.

“There is not much loyalty in football anymore as we all know but we did it for everyone.

“We did it for ourselves and obviously for the fans coming out in numbers again and we got the three points. Everyone in the dressing room is delighted with that.”

Wherever Pulis has been he has tended to deliver success, relatively speaking, even if it has meant avoiding relegation year or year at the highest level, so is the perception of his negative style of play unfair?  Saville said: “He has his style and everyone has their opinions and that’s what it is but for me, you win football games.

“They’ve played nice football but at five o’clock you want three points and that’s what we’ve got so we are happy with that.

“It was fantastic obviously coming here to West Brom against a great side, one of the favourites to go up and we’ve put a marker down.

“it’s up to us boys who play to get our heads down and perform and work our socks off for the football club and we’ve shown that and we’ve got the three points.

“This was a good feeling. Being an away game against the opposition we’ve played against, to come behind in the second half, that was a good feeling.”

 Saville is all too aware the gap to the top two remains a big one, although he thinks the form guide suggests both Norwich and Leeds are reachable - particularly after the heroics of the Hawthorns.  “We’ve set a marker now and we need to push on,” said Saville, speaking before Norwich climbed top by beating Leeds. “Every game is a big game for us because we know we need to get up that league.

“We know it’s tough but we showed what we can do, what we are capable of and we’ve set ourselves a marker and now it is up to us to go and push on.

“It’s a marker for the division. We’ve showed what we can do and put a statement out there to the division.

 “Every game is different. The Championship is one of the hardest leagues in the world but we scored three goals and created more chances. We know what we are capable of and can do.”

Saville got things rolling for Middlesbrough when he struck a sweet opener in the 16th minute having nipped in ahead of Gareth Barry to gain possession before drilling into the bottom corner.   Middlesbrough were then pegged back and found themselves behind when Jay Rodriguez’s equaliser three minutes before the break was followed by Dwight Gayle’s strike in the 63rd minute.  But Assombalonga, only introduced after Gayle’s goal, turned on the magic to score twice in eight minutes to secure a crucial away day win.  Saville said: “He is a special player and is a born goal-scorer. That is what he will do. You put him on the pitch and he will score goals.

“The way we set up is one striker normally and Jordan has done well and he brings a different  dimension to the game and they are completely different players.

“If you are talking about Britt, he is an out and out goalscorer and he has done that but Jordan has been fantastic also.

“He is a goalscorer, he will pounce on things and see things no-one else can see and if you give him a chance, he will score.”

Assombalonga will expect to start at Newport tomorrow night in the FA Cup fourth round replay, although Pulis must be considering including him from the start against Leeds on Saturday. 

Middlesbrough will make changes at Rodney Parade, with Stewart Downing set to start again after being an unused substitute at The Hawthorns.  Downing can’t start another league game until he has reached a compromise over a clause in his contract that triggers an extension to his current deal on the same terms.