Middlesbrough assistant boss Malcolm Crosby admits they're relying on their strikers to shake-off their scattergun form.

"I always think defenders are under pressure if you're not scoring," Crosby told Boro's website. "If you're winning two or three nil in a game then defenders are a bit more relaxed and more comfortable in their jobs.

"We have to look at the overall picture of the team and I don't think anybody will deny that we've played some very good football in the games that we've lost.

"What we've got to do is focus on the strikers taking more care with their finishing."