Bernie Slaven: When you are at the top you are there to be shot at

Boro are top of the table now and that brings different problems.

It is hard to claw your way to the top - but it just as hard to stay there.

When you are at the top you are there to be shot at.

Teams change the way they play against you. Some try to stop you playing and shut up shop, others raise their games.

Then there is the pressure. When you are on top there is more expectation going into games and bigger risks in losing or even drawing a game and a feeling that it is a disaster if you slip back and need to start all over again.

The big question now is can this squad handle the pressure of being top?

Personally I think they can handle it. Yes.

They have showed over the course of the season that they have a squad that has quality and depth.

They have shown that they can handle all different types of opposition and can deal with footballing teams, pressing team, long ball teams, teams who shut up shop, teams who try to bully them. They can handle anything that comes their way on the pitch.

And the have shown they can handle the mental challenges too.

Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate scores Boro's first goal

They went to Man City and never flinched. They showed no fear, kept their concentration and stuck to the game plan and took their chances. That’s not easy. That’s real bottle.

They went to Blackpool, made seven changes, switched shape and played on a farmer’s field and came through it.

So we know they can handle pressure. That will mount every game from now on but I think they will take it in their stride.

I think mentally and physically they are geared up to win promotion and I think they have an excellent manager who is determined and tactically astute and has drilled a strong mentality into his team and who has courage to make the big calls.

For me Boro now have a great chance to get promoted so long as they don’t take their eye off the ball and keep the right frame of mind.

They can’t get cocky. And to be fair Karanka won’t let them do that.

And they will still need the rub of the green with decisions and injuries and maybe some other results going the right way but they’re top of the pile now. Its in their own hands.