MIDDLESBROUGH are entering make or break territory as their Championship season continues to fall way short of expectation but manager Chris Wilder has demanded his players to stand up to the pressure when they welcome Birmingham City to the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday.

After a fortnight away from the domestic calendar, Boro fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Coventry City and remain in the relegation zone 11 games into the league season. Viktor Gyokeres was the scorer of the only goal of the game at the CBS Arena as the Swede delivered an inspired performance and deliver Boro their latest blow.

After a summer of optimism with plenty of emphasis being placed on the club's work in the transfer window, Boro have won just two games from a possible 12 this season in all competitions.

After a week of speculation linking him with a move away from the club, Wilder has come into the firing line from supporters for their poor start with pressure ramping up ahead of the visit of the Blues.

The Boro boss admits that confidence is low amongst the squad with the players readying themselves for a tense home atmosphere at the Riverside Stadium.

"It will be a difficult night, we understand that" he said after the defeat to the Sky Blues. "There will be a negative feel around the place and I totally understand that because of the results and what is expected. The expectancy level is really big at the football club is really big and we’ve not lived up to anywhere near that.

"I always think of how much a level that should be because of what’s happening but it’s going to be a difficult night and we’ve got to stand up and be counted."

With Boro's players also in the firing line, Wilder admits he won't allow them to shirk away from the responsibility of turning their form around.

He continued: "I’m not moving from that technical area for 95 minutes and the players have to deal with this and a bit of criticism and pressure but that’s part and parcel of being a footballer. You should embrace that.

"When there is a lot of compliments flying about as players, every player will enjoy taking them and if there is a little bit of criticism going round then they have got to take that in the way that has been given.

"We’ve got to come out the other end and there is no doubt we will but it’s a big game for us on Wednesday and one where we’ve got to show a lot of character and strength."

Darragh Lenihan is set to be involved in the game on Wednesday evening with the central defender set to make a return to training today. The Irishman has missed the last four games with a foot injury he picked up in the defeat to Watford in September.

Isaiah Jones will be missing for the game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.