Four goals leaked in a thumping at the hands of Bolton, an eighth defeat on the bounce, Boro were engulfed in a mid-season crisis.
An impressive first half to the season meant Robbo’s men still had a nine-point cushion on the dreaded drop zone but the current run of form was a real worry.
Since Christmas Boro had conceded four at Everton, three at home to Arsenal and five at Chelsea but the surrender at home to bottom club Bolton on this day in 1996 was the worst of the lot.
When Jamie Pollock cancelled out Nathan Blake’s opener, Boro put themselves in a good position to go on and stop the rot against the basement boys, who hadn’t won away from home all season before their visit to the Riverside
Instead, they capitulated. Simon Coleman’s goal on the stroke of half-time left the hosts devoid of the belief they needed to get back in the game.
Fabian de Freitas and David Lee rubbed salt into the wound in the second half on a dull, uninspiring and concerning afternoon.
“A record eighth consecutive league defeat and humiliation by the Premiership whipping boys has left Boro wondering where the next win is coming from,” reported Eric Paylor in the Gazette.
“They’re still clear of the relegation dogfight but only thanks to their excellent form in the first half of the season.
“But a relegation battle it is and that’s how the rest of the Premiership programme should be approached.”
The eye-catching results earlier in the season had demonstrated that Boro belonged at this level.
Pollock and Hignett in the engine room and Steve Vickers and Big Nige at the back weren’t the type to shirk a battle.
Boro had the stomach for the fight but just needed to find a way to grind out that one result to halt the slide.
It came, thankfully, next time out as Robson’s side held on for a stalemate at Coventry City.
And although that was followed by two more defeats, a five-match unbeaten run including a 1-0 win away at Leeds was enough to ensure Boro safely avoided an immediate return to the First Division.
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