And so we reach a pivotal point in the season. A delicious moment of possibility.
Boro go to Birmingham tonight in their game in hand and victory will take them three precious points clear of the three-way split of the summit.
Then Boro kick-off early on Saturday in a significant semi-derby ding-dong with Leeds. Victory then as well could take Aitor Karanka's side six points clear before Derby and Bournemouth play again.
The Championship race is already a pressure coo
ker. This week Boro can turn the heat up dramatically on Derby and Bournemouth.
If Boro can win these next two games the entire dynamic of the promotion battle will change. Boro will have a massive advantage.
The chasers won't be able to overhaul them, even if Boro do slip up in one game - but any mistakes in the cut-throat pack may be punished harshly.
Ipswich and Watford are still just one win behind and Norwich are closing fast. The pressure really is on now. Will Derby and Bournemouth crack?
Both sides have tough games coming up. Bournemouth must go to brooding Brentford on Saturday for instance.
The Bees have had a turbulent week of behind the scenes in-fighting over the future of manager Mark Warburton and have dropped out of the top six.
They know that a defeat could torpedo everything they have worked for and will want to "do it for the boss." A Brentford win, or even a draw, would dent the Cherries badly.
But thinking about ourselves, tonight Boro have the opportunity to reshape the landscape and psychology at the top end of the table against a side once more rocked by boardroom chaos . Victory will give them the initiative.
They will be the front-runners, the ones to catch. Promotion will be in their own hands. They have a strong squad with plenty of options, a surging spirit and are top of the form table.
A draw will put them top but leave them looking over their shoulders laughing with glee as they break free.
Of course, Boro could lose. There could be an Arsenal hangover . But I don't think so.
Aitor micro-manages situations very carefully. He gave the team Los Hairdryos' on Sunday and let the team know they had let themselves down - but lifted them again quickly by offering them a swift chance to redeem themselves in the priority games coming up and that he expected a dramatically improved display. Or else.
They were refocused before they left the Emirates. They have spent two days at the Chelsea training complex recharging their batteries and preparing for this pivotal moment. They know the stakes. They will be up for it.
There is still a long way to go even if Boro take do take the six points. There is still the "Week of Destiny" in mid-March when Boro play Ipswich at home and Derby and Bournemouth away.
Some fans have been fretting about those fixtures for weeks. But we could be well clear by then. We could have a cushion.
In each of those games a draw will be enough while the opposition will need to attack. Tactically that will suit Boro.
You can trust Aitor to deal with that.
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