Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca admits relegation fear is gripping the dressing room.

"You have to be worried about relegation, it hurts to be down there," Arca said.

"I have been in this position a couple of times with Sunderland and it isn't pleasant. We probably have not been consistent enough. We have played some good football for three or four weeks and then we don't play as good as we should.

"At the same time we are not far away from the other teams, only a couple of points separate us.

"You worry because you are down there but thinking positively can help us get out of this position. We have the talent to get out of this relegation battle. This year the chances of getting out of trouble are good. There are a lot of teams down there with not many points between them.

"Here we have a young squad and every one is trying to pull in the same way to keep the club in the Premier League. We have to keep positive because there are still 10 games to go and there is still plenty to play for."