CHRIS WILDER admits the race for the play-off places remains too close to call – but the Middlesbrough manager expects teams to start dropping out of contention with every game that is played between now and the end of the campaign.

Ahead of this weekend, only ten points currently separate Huddersfield Town in third from Coventry City in 12th, meaning every team in the top half of the table will still feel they have a chance of finishing in the play-off places.

Boro head into tomorrow’s home game with Hull City in seventh, two points adrift of sixth-placed Sheffield United but with a game in hand of three of the six teams currently sitting above them.

The Teessiders remain well placed despite their midweek defeat to league leaders Fulham, although Wilder accepts crunch time is approaching.

“It’s such a tight affair,” said the Boro boss. “West Brom have come right back into the equation with a couple of big wins, but I think with every game now, it maybe knocks one out of the equation. But I still think it’s up for grabs and those currently on the outside can get in.

“I still think Bournemouth will get it (automatic promotion) done, without a shadow of a doubt. They’ve got too much quality and a manager that’s got the job done before. There has got to be something drastically wrong if they don’t get the job done.

“But then you look at third, and I don’t Huddersfield have got a cigar out right now thinking, ‘That’s us, job done.’ And I don’t think the likes of West Brom, Coventry or Millwall have given up yet. Gary (Rowett) will be looking and thinking if they can win four out of six it gives them a late charge and who knows what happens above.

“It’s another weekend of Huddersfield vs Luton, Sheff United vs Bournemouth. Teams playing each other. But for us, Middlesbrough, it’s about making sure we get the job done. We have to take care of our business.”

Boro have claimed 62 points from their opening 39 matches, and if they can garner another 12 from their remaining seven games, Wilder feels that should be good enough to secure a top-six spot.

“When we talk about where we want to be sat when the last ball is kicked at Preston, then I think you’re looking at 73 to74 points,” he said. “I think you’d be disappointed if you achieved that and didn’t get in.

“Such is the league, it might be one or two lower, it might be one or two above that. We just have to leave it all out there and get as many points as possible. I think 1.5 to 1.8 points per game - if we can keep consistent in our points per game around that, then I think we give ourselves a right good chance. We do that be being consistent in our results and performances.”