It hasn’t been the ideal start for Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate. With just two wins from eleven league games, Boro find themselves in 20th, just two points off the bottom three.

Asked whether he believes the squad can turn things, defender Daniel Ayala says he is convinced they will, and he has set out how the Teessiders will go about improving results:

“Of course we can. We have good players, we have a lot of experience and a strong spirit in the squad. It is still very early in the season and we can’t be thinking we will be down there the whole season.”

“We just need to work harder and do the basics right and start to pick up points. We will start to climb the table.”

Middlesbrough face West Brom at home next up on Saturday with the Baggies going into the encounter top of the table.

Slaven Bilic’s side won 4-2 against Cardiff City last time out but they had to fight off a second-half fightback from the Bluebirds with a brace from Danny Ward making it 3-2 at one point.

They are not the best defensively, having conceded 13 in 11 games so far this season, and while Middlesbrough’s defence hasn’t been great either, Woodgate’s men should have their opportunities in the final third of the pitch this weekend.