Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick admits it would be hard to class missing out on the play-offs as a failure from his side.
Boro sit seventh in the Championship with two matches remaining, three points outside the top six.
But they know that two victories would guarantee their spot, given that their last fixture is against Coventry City, the team in sixth and over whom they have a superior difference.
"We've shown we can be one of the better teams in the league and that gives expectation," said Carrick.
"Then at other times you don't have that consistency.