WHEN Mark Schwarzer memorably got down low to save a last-minute Robbie Fowler penalty at the City of Manchester Stadium in May, it was hailed as the starting point for Middlesbrough to move onwards and upwards.

The first four months of 2005 had not gone according to plan, yet the Aussie goalkeeper's heroics ensured a UEFA Cup place via the league had been achieved on the very last day of the season.

Eight months on and Boro are steam-rolling Europe, seemingly unstoppable as they head into February's last 32 date with top German side Stuttgart, but still struggling to make an impact domestically.

Both prior and succeeding that notable spot-kick save, Boro have failed to make the progress towards the Premiership's top four they had been expected to.

A sizeable injury list to key players has not helped but, nevertheless, improvements need to be made at the start of 2006.

And had it not been for another Schwarzer save against Manchester City again on Saturday, from Joey Barton's late diving header, a third successive home defeat to end a year to forget would have been on the cards.

Such has been Boro's erratic nature in the league they have only managed to win nine of their 37 matches in 2005. Recording just 41 points from a possible 111 - depicting why they find themselves looking at those below them instead of those above.

"We have struggled to get people fit, we haven't had a settled team and we will learn a lot from the year to forget," said Boro captain Gareth Southgate.

"We struggled towards the back end of last season but we clawed our way into Europe somehow.

"I felt in pre-season it was going to be a tough season and, apart from highlights against Arsenal and Man United, it has been so far. We didn't look quite right at the start and now is just a time for us to pull together and work hard."

To make matters worse for Boro there is going to be no quick-fix either.

The manager has been told he needs to reduce the size of his playing staff before drafting any fresh faces in during January - a tough task when the transfer window is only open for a month.

But, in fairness to the men holding a first team place against City on Saturday, there would not be a great deal to change from personnel in that starting eleven.

The system being used, or forced at the moment because of the list of absentees, is certainly open to debate, but all of those playing would be serious contenders for a first team shirt if the whole squad was fit.

What seems to be the biggest problem is a serious lack of confidence. Quite understandable after taking just six points from a possible 24 and failing to win eight of their home matches this season.

Supporters' growing anxiety at a lack of good results is also clearly affecting morale, something Southgate admits is difficult to change after helping to claim Boro's first clean sheet in the league since August 23 at Birmingham.

"We feel sometimes as if we are up against it with the fans," said Southgate, whose trademark punch into the air at the final whistle has disappeared this season.

"I can understand their frustrations but we have to pull together and make sure we are not affected by it.

"They are entitled to criticise because they pay a lot of money to watch us. It doesn't bother me. It isn't helpful. At some stage we need to get the first goal and the confidence will flow.

We want them to be off their seats and excited. It goes to show that fans want you to win football matches, not just entertain."

Apart from Schwarzer's exceptional low, left-hand save to thwart Barton's back post header from Stephen Jordan's centre, there was very little in the way of goalmouth incident at either end.

The Boro keeper had earlier been in the right place to hold a near-post flick from former Newcastle striker Andy Cole, who also had a first half tame shot roll straight into the keeper's arms.

But that was all Schwarzer was forced to do, which was a little more than his opposite number David James.

The World Cup hopeful did make one super stop from a low Aiyegbeni Yakubu strike, after referee Martin Atkinson allowed play to continue when Mark Viduka was tripped inside the area by Sylvain Distin, but that was that.

Nevertheless Boro could still have claimed the points had James Morrison's powerful surge into the box in the first half been rewarded with a goal. Instead his outstretched boot could only turn Emanuel Pogatetz's cross wide.

"If it has to be a point then it has to be a point. It was probably the right result," said Southgate. "We have had to chop and change so much so getting any sort of consistency has been difficult.

"We have to become harder to beat again because we have been quite open to teams to attack against us.

"The basis for results is to keep clean sheets. We have done that and we will go from here."

If Boro's New Year resolution is to defend better, then St James' Park today is not a bad place to start