TONY PULIS insists Middlesbrough is a “club worth fighting for” but does not intend to sit down with chairman Steve Gibson to discuss his future until the season is over.

The Boro boss is out of contract in the summer when there is an option of a further year for him to take up if both parties want it to happen.

Pulis has not managed to lead Middlesbrough to a top two place and defeat against Reading tomorrow would mean it is unlikely that even a play-off place can be claimed.

But he is adamant winning the final two matches is all that is on his mind and only when Middlesbrough’s fate is determined will he chat with Gibson.

“There are no problems with me, I will speak to Steve after the season finished. They are a smashing club here, a smashing group of supporters,” said Pulis.

“I had lunch with a father and son, I sat down with them, they were so passionate about the club and area. There is a real solid base here. This club so worth fighting for.

“I will speak to Steve, there are lots of things I need to talk about. Steve is one of many owners in the Championship who is not happy with the rules being broken by certain clubs.

“He has that on his plate at the moment, once that is over and the season is over then we will have a clearer view of where we are going.

“That’s for me and Steve to talk about. I have tremendous respect for Steve. Steve Gibson is the biggest asset for this club, I have said that numerous times before.

“Over the years, the amount of money he has ploughed in, there are certain things that have to be done whether I am here or not for this club to push on in the right direction. I will talk to Steve about that.”

Middlesbrough are level on points with sixth placed Derby County, who face rivals for a top six spot Bristol City on Saturday afternoon. The two also have a game in hand on the Teessiders, so Pulis knows all is not lost if he can steer his team two back-to-back wins.

“We were poor at Nottingham Forest on Monday, no question about it, we didn’t get going from the start,” said Pulis. “Having come off against Stoke on the Friday with a third win, the Monday was too far for some of the players.

“It was a really disappointing performance, but we have two games left and two we have to win and that is the bottom line. It’s a case of keeping them focused, keeping them going as much as anything else in both games and see where it takes us. It can all change quickly.

“It’s still open, with two games to go it is still all to play for. We have the opportunity and chance to do that. They have to grasp it. There is no hiding place, they have to go out and get the results that everyone wants.”

Middlesbrough are without Dael Fry, Lewis Wing, Daniel Ayala and George Friend for both games, so Pulis is short of options. Now Stewart Downing has suffered a knee injury in training and will be monitored today to see if he will be fit to face Reading at the Riverside.

“We have got players playing out of position and to turn it round that quick, without having to work on it, regenerate what we talked about against Stoke, was difficult,” said Pulis.

“We got stretched, pulled around, and we are asking players to play positions we have not asked of them to play.  If you take Wing, Fry, Ayala and Friend out of any team in this league there is a big gap. We are trying to bridge those gaps. They had done fantastic in the three previous games but they weren’t good at Forest.

“The players have been good. There was a real bitter disappointment on Monday and no one feels that more than the people involved, we have to make sure we turn up and give a real good performance, give it everything we have got.”