Kim Hellberg's Ipswich Town promotion admission with Boro target in mind

Boro surrendered their second-placed spot over Easter weekend as they lost to Millwall on Good Friday and then only managed a draw at Swansea City on Monday. It extended Boro’s winless run to five.

With Millwall losing on Monday to Norwich, it left the door open for Ipswich to take second spot with their win over Birmingham City. All three automatic promotion hopefuls are locked level on points, but Kieran McKenna’s side have two games in hand and a better goal difference.

Asked about the promotion race, Hellberg said: “Ipswich are in pole position now, with the two games in hand. But it’s 72, 72, 72. Ipswich also have the better goal difference. But you also look at, they have five away games and us at home, which means the next six are tough.

“We are in a better position than Millwall now because we're better goal difference, but they were in a better position for two days. It just shows it will twist and turn.

“You have to find wins and points and that’s why it was strong for us to show character [to earn a point at Swansea] and then we have to, of course, win on Saturday. That’s what we try to do every game.

“We try to stay positive because even if this period has been very poor, we have very few losses. I think we lost three in the last 15 or 16. But it’s a lot of draws, that’s what has killed us a little bit, and especially at home. We're trying to - I'm trying to - work out and find ways to help the players in a better way.”

Asked if he felt Boro may be needing to win their remaining five games to finish second and win automatic promotion, Hellberg said: “To be fair, in the position Ipswich are in, probably.

“But, we have them to play, which means that we probably have to win that game. It’s so difficult to get those wins at the end of the season for all the teams. To be fair, I saw Ipswich a little bit on the television too [against Birmingham].

“They were very, very good until they were 2-1 up and then it’s very difficult to get those wins. And for Millwall the same. They win against us and then lose to Norwich.

“So it will be back and forth. We will try to win every game and we will try to get as many points as possible, and then we see where we end up.”

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