Eight games to secure the play-off place that was viewed as the bare minimum, both inside and outside the club last August.
Middlesbrough's season has been baffling to fans and media alike.
Michael Carrick's side sit just three points outside the play-off positions yet have managed to lose 14 games already (the most in the top eight) and recently emerged from a five-game losing streak.
They boast the third-most potent attack in the division and week after week we hear opposing managers talking about Boro's squad being one of the best in the division.