MIDDLESBROUGH captain Paul Ince has slammed the critics who have labelled his side as 'Boring Boro'.

The Middlesbrough midfielder has been in tremendous form for Steve McClaren's side this season, despite the club spending the campaign in the bottom half of the table.

But following a run of results which have seen them lose just twice in 2002, and climb to within touching distance of the top ten, Ince admits he is even more determined to prove the cynics wrong.

"To be honest the last three or four games we've played people have said it's not the most attractive of games," said the combative middle man.

"But I've seen a lot worse and it just seems it has become fashionable to give us a bit of stick.

"I think it is unfair. It winds me up that we are labelled an unattractive team. We know when we're playing that it might not be the best of performances, like against Leicester, but against West Ham we put in a very good performance and we got nothing.

"Results are still the most important thing for us, but I think it is unfair of critics to simply say we are unattractive. Against Leicester we got a massive helping hand from Frank Sinclair, but after that we had three great chances and didn't take them. It has been the same in a lot of games, we have got to start taking our chances."

Since taking over at the Riverside last summer, McClaren has shored up the Boro defence and they have kept 14 clean sheets this season.

And Ince is confident it is only a matter of time before they make the most of their good defensive play, and start producing the goods at the other end of the field.

The 34-year-old said: "We've always been solid, the gaffer has got us very organised and we have an excellent defence and a solid midfield in front.

"We have a solid base and we are creating chances, but we are not taking them and then you get these supposedly dull games because we are not sticking three or four past teams.

"When we're not scoring goals we're under pressure for the whole 90 minutes and constantly looking over our shoulders and that gives you tight, scrappy games."

But the former England star, whose contract is up at the end of this Premiership campaign, believes a good result at Southampton tomorrow night will stand them in good stead for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final with Everton.

And Ince admits it has come as a relief to him and the rest of the Boro squad that they are now eight points clear of the relegation zone.

"We have put some distance between us and the bottom three," he said. "We have a tough games against Southampton on Wednesday, but it is the first time we are looking up the table and not down.

"All season we have been worrying about what other teams are doing. For the first time we can just start worrying what we are doing and move this club forward.

"We're in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and we're pushing upwards in the league. That isn't a bad season when you've got a new manager in charge. Teams are scared about coming to Middlesbrough Football Club again."

Ince is 35 in October, but there will be no shortage of clubs chasing his signature if McClaren decides to release the player in July. Scottish giants Rangers and Italian sides Brescia and Perugia have all shown interest.

And while that is the case Ince said: "I've been pleased with my form. I think I'm competing with the top players, even if I am a year older.

"If I start struggling in the Premiership then I'll jack it in."

Meanwhile, Boro midfielder Paul Okon, currently on loan at Watford, has admitted he would like to make the move to Vicarage Road permanent. Okon said: "I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about wanting to stay on here."

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