Chris Wilder’s side suffered untimely back-to-back defeats on home soil last week as the Championship play-off battle continues to intensify.
Boro now find themselves three points adrift of sixth placed Sheffield United but do hold a game in hand on the Blades.
But just how many points will Boro need to cement their place in this year’s Championship play-offs to give them a shot at sealing promotion to the Premier League?
Here at The Mail, we look back over the last decade to find out just how many points have been required to grab a play-off spot.
However, should Boro clinch that elusive final spot in the remaining six games, things will not be in their favour with the team finishing in sixth not winning promotion in any of the last 10 seasons.
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![Top scorer Peter Whittingham helped steer the Bluebirds to sixth in the table with 75 points and a goal difference of +13 but they were beaten in the semi-final by third placed West Ham United who would go on to win promotion to the Premier League. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)](https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYyNTEzYWJmLTg3ZWEtNGM2NC04YWU1LWRkZjYzODllNDkyNzoyODU0NjhlYi1jYTEzLTQ3YTItODgzNi1lMzdlOTBkMDAxNmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. 2011/12 - Cardiff City - 75 points
Top scorer Peter Whittingham helped steer the Bluebirds to sixth in the table with 75 points and a goal difference of +13 but they were beaten in the semi-final by third placed West Ham United who would go on to win promotion to the Premier League. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) Photo: Ben Hoskins
![The Foxes claimed sixth spot by virtue of goal difference to Bolton Wanderers but would fall short in the semi-final thanks to Troy Deeney's famous winner at Vicarage Road. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)](https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAwZmMxYTdkLTMxYWItNDEzOS04YzhkLTQ5MmUxNTFjYWM4ODo5YTI5OWUzOS1kM2QwLTQ3ZDAtYTliOS01NmU0MWNmOWUzOTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. 2012/13 - Leicester City - 68 points
The Foxes claimed sixth spot by virtue of goal difference to Bolton Wanderers but would fall short in the semi-final thanks to Troy Deeney's famous winner at Vicarage Road. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Photo: Michael Regan
![The Seagulls claimed the final play-off spot with 72 points but fell short at the semi-final stage against Derby County who would lose to fourth placed Queens Park Rangers in the final. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)](https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg3MjljMzk5LTk1M2EtNDk1Ni05MzNlLTcxYjE4MjZiMzU3MjpmYTRjODYzZC02ZDE1LTQ2OWQtOWNmMy0xMTZkMzY4ZDFiZGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. 2013/14 - Brighton & Hove Albion - 72 points
The Seagulls claimed the final play-off spot with 72 points but fell short at the semi-final stage against Derby County who would lose to fourth placed Queens Park Rangers in the final. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) Photo: Tony Marshall
![The Tractor Boys set up a semi-final with rivals Norwich City after claiming the final play-off spot by just four goals from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Canaries would go on to clinch promotion (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)](https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgxMzcxNjM4LTRmZDctNDkxMy04YzgwLTQxZDUxMDE2OWE4MzowMTU5NDIzZS1kNjEzLTRkZTctODQxYS1hMGRjM2U5YzU4NTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. 2014/15 - Ipswich Town - 78 points
The Tractor Boys set up a semi-final with rivals Norwich City after claiming the final play-off spot by just four goals from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Canaries would go on to clinch promotion (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) Photo: Jamie McDonald