AS an old defensive side-kick of Tony Mowbray during days when Middlesbrough had to battle back from the brink of oblivion, Gary Pallister thinks his former Ayresome Park team-mate has the character and managerial know-how to revive the clubs fortunes.

An 11th defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday since the turn of the year in the Championship could leave Boro staring at an eight-point gap to the play-off places with just seven matches left to play.

And while it would still be mathematically possible to finish in the top six, it would be difficult for even the most optimistic of Middlesbrough supporters to be planning a promotion party at Wembley in May.

Frustrations have reached new highs in recent weeks given the extent of the slump, which has seen Middlesbrough pick up just seven points from the last 39 available to them. The situation is made worse by the fact they had been in contention for a top two place.

Pallister is as perplexed as everyone else at the Riverside by the turnaround, but he is confident there will not even be the slightest hint of defeatism from Mowbray until it is impossible.

"It is still attainable. If they can go on a run now they can be back on the cusp of things," said Pallister. "You have really got to get a three-game winning streak - if they can do that then suddenly

"Otherwise it will be out of the window. It is finding the secret to what made them tick at the start of the season. How can a team that was playing that well all of a sudden be so bad? Im sure Mogga will be frustrated by it, his coaching staff will be. Players, fans, will be.

"Its the same group that took them towards the top of the league and its the same group which has plunged to where they are now. They have to find the answers quickly otherwise time will run out and it will be another season in the Championship."

If Middlesbrough fans are disheartened by recent results on the pitch then Pallister can remember what it was like on Teesside when he started to play, when the clubs entire existence was under threat in 1986.

But when things looked bleak, Mowbray led the team with Pallister alongside him at the heart of the defence as Middlesbrough bounced back in times of adversity to win the old Third Division.

Pallister said: "We know what Moggas character was like as a player and we have seen him as a manager create a team which can do well, play open and attractive football. He has a touch of steel about him as well. He will be frustrated by what is going on.

"He will want to put it right and try to put things right on the pitch. He will fire them up to try to get in to the play-offs before the end of the season."

Pallisters career - including two spells at Middlesbrough - spanned more than 550 appearances and included a long list of medals under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. During his playing days he had to deal with slumps and injuries, but even he is surprised by the downturn in Middlesbroughs fortunes since the turn of the year.

"Once your confidence goes, you dont play with the fluency you had earlier in the season and the pressure mounts, you start to make more and more mistakes," he said.

"At the moment all we can see is a team that is playing without the confidence factor which everyone knows is so important. The crowd are edgy and that can sometimes transmit on to the pitch.

"It is finding a way out of it and they have not been able to do that. The performance against Birmingham was a bit better before the international break but once again they lost to a late goal. They are just desperate for points now. A couple more defeats and it will be right out of the grasp to even get in the play-offs."

Pallister does have some sympathy for the situation Middlesbrough finds itself in. After 11 consecutive years playing in the Premier League and an unsuccessful gamble on squad investment under Gordon Strachan, Mowbray has had to oversee a significant reduction in his wage budget since taking over in October 2010.

And while Middlesbrough still have one of the highest wage budgets in the Football League, Pallister thinks it was perhaps a mistake to expect too much too soon.

"The club cant go out and pay the money some other clubs in this division can, particularly the ones with parachute payments," said Pallister. "We know Tony has got to juggle everything around to get a player in by letting a player go or even get loan players in. Thats very difficult to manage. You dont really want to bring in the players you want to that way.

"A big thing for me is that we have struggled all season to score goals. Scott McDonald has come back in and done well - and then got an injury. It hasnt happened for Marvin Emnes Games are running out fast. You hope they can find the secret they had at the start of the season but it is looking increasingly difficult."

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