A FRANK Chris Riggott has given a damning verdict on Middlesbrough's Premiership form.
He said it was 'incredible' that the 3-0 home win against Chelsea and Sunday's victory at West Brom provided their first back-to-back league successes in almost 16 months.
The victory at the Hawthorns gave the Teessiders a five-point cushion over the bottom four. But they had not managed successive league wins since November 2004.
Despite recording their highest top-flight finish last season of seventh, they failed to put together a real run of league form after beating West Brom and Liverpool - a run of 49 games.
"It was only last week that I realised just how bad our Premier League form has been," said Riggott.
"We knew it was around the 40 mark of games since we last won successive Premiership matches, but the fact that it would have been 50 if we hadn't won on Sunday is incredible.
"For a club like ours with the quality of players we have it's just not good enough.
"We should definitely be stringing wins together - that's an incredible stat really."
With Boro breaking the long wait for back-to-back wins, Riggott believes it is important they carry that form into the game against third-bottom Birmingham next weekend.
Victory at home to Steve Bruce's side should all but guarantee the Teessiders' safety this season.
Riggott said: "West Brom was a massive win for us. We knew exactly how important it was to come away with three points and we did.
"It's important now we back that up with a win against Birmingham next week.
"Everyone was desperate to win on Sunday. After the big win against Chelsea we had to win our next league game. No-one really expected us to beat Chelsea - I'm not saying we didn't - but on form it was a great result to turn the champions over.
"We had to back that up at the Hawthorns. We all knew how huge a game it was and we're back on track.
"I'm not going to commit to saying beating Birmingham next week will guarantee our safety but it is another major game.
"They'll be fighting for their lives and it's not going to be easy but we know if we get three points it will be a massive boost."
Riggott again impressed alongside skipper Gareth Southgate in a back three with Franck Queudrue making up the defensive triumvirate.
Southgate believes Riggott can use Boro's UEFA Cup games with Roma to enhance his England prospects.
He said: "I think the World Cup might come too soon for Chris but there have been people called into squads from more glamorous clubs and that is what he is fighting against.
"The UEFA Cup run is a great stage for Chris to perform and show his talents and he is now performing consistently.
"He has had a consistent run in the side and he has to keep developing the way he is. He is improving all the time."
One player who missed Sunday's win was homegrown midfielder, Stewart Downing, who was ruled out with a knee injury.
The England international would no doubt have been disappointed to have been called only into the Under 21s last week, and his manager Steve McClaren pulled him out of Peter Taylor's squad following his injury scare
Riggott believes Downing can take positives from his omission from the senior set-up.
"I wouldn't say I was surprised he wasn't called into the senior England squad but then again I wouldn't have been surprised to see him included," said Riggott.
"Maybe the plan was to take a look at Stewart in the Under-21s - see his fitness considering how long he's had out this season.
"He's been playing well since he's come back and he's really given us the balance we've needed."
Read more about Middlesbrough here.
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