Great Expectations!
GARETH SOUTHGATE is delighted at his side's five-game unbeaten run but says it means expectations will be raised when they defend it at the Riverside tomorrow.
Having been underdogs in their last two games away at Villa Park and Goodison Park, Southgate believes Boro have to deal with being favourites as they return to home ground.
He said: "Nobody expected us to take four points from the away games at Villa and Everton - but nobody will expect us to get anything other than a win against Bolton.
"I'm not afraid of losing but we want to try and win the game, so we've got to be very positive in our approach."
Boro's recent unbeaten sequence is not bettered by any other side in the division and Southgate feels it's important to build, continuing to progress in the process.
"Along with Everton, we've got the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League right now, so we should be enjoying ourselves - that goes for the fans as well as the players.
"We're playing well and getting good results. We are progressing and we want to keep the momentum going."
Southgate is looking solely at the challenge that lies ahead on Saturday and isn't underestimating Bolton's strengths.
"Bolton are a good team who are only a few places behind us. They don't give much away, so beating them is the next challenge for us.
"We're in good form and I'm pleased with the way things are going. But it's not about the next two games, it's about Bolton on Saturday, that's all."
On the injury front, Boro are expecting to have Jeremie Aliadiere back after he missed the draw with Everton last week with illness, while Emanuel Pogatetz is available having nursed a knee injury that forced him out of Austria's 4-2 defeat to Turkey.
Chris Riggott, who was substituted at Goodison Park, will miss the game with a hamstring problem, while it is "touch and go" whether Mido will be fit to take a place on the bench for the Riverside showdown, also after a hamstring injury.
*Boro's reserve game away to Manchester United scheduled for this Thursday has been rescheduled for Thursday March 5 and will now be played at Altrincham FC.
