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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR v MIDDLESBROUGH - PROGRAMME NOTES
Nobody should have been surprised at the performance against Manchester United last weekend as Boro have consistently performed well against the top sides and failed against the lower ones.
This has been the case for some time but recently it has led to the feeling amongst some factions of the fan base that they are being cheated.
It is very hard to disagree with this sentiment. Why do we have to suffer this phenomenon and what makes it happen?
In my mind it is simply a question of motivation. The players only seem to perform when they are in the 'shop window' and this says loud and clear that their hearts are not properly in it.
We've now reached the 'business end' of the season and with five games to go, it's almost a certainty that Boro are out of the relegation mix.
So as the season turns into another distant memory of something between medicority and disappointment, exactly what business is left to conclude?
Well first of all, there is the battle to be the North-east top dog, a title that Boro have held for the last two seasons. There are just three points separating the three sides and the crown is anyones for the taking.
If we win, we'll be celebrating a twelfth place finish, or possibly lower. What a shame that this appears to be the limit of our ability.
But there's also the business of a starting place for next season.
Possibly the best thing that Gareth did as manager was to tell the players publicy that they are fighting for their places. This clearly had the desired effect, as recent results have demonstrated.
Remarkably, Gareth has found a formula for motivating his players after the disaster that was Cardiff and if he can stop the rotten sequence of defeats against lesser sides, he will have pulled off something remarkable.
But the more likely scenario is that Boro will win at Spurs tomorrow and lose to doomed Bolton next week. Because that's just the kind of thing we do.
Steve Goldby
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