The back line is forged from Teesside steel

MIDDLESBROUGH find themselves again walking a tightrope hoping that their defensive problems do not worsen.

- ERIC PAYLOR

Keeping as many defenders as fit as possible is crucial to our hopes of seeing the club hang on to a top-two spot.

The last thing that Rob Edwards needs is to see the curse of Michael Carrick strike again, where he is struggling to field four or five experienced back-row men from one match to the next.

One thing Edwards does know is that whoever is playing at the back will play their hearts out.

Not just at the back, but all the way throughout the side.

Boro were truly magnificent in the way they battled like demons to hang on to their advantage in the final half-hour against West Brom.

However, it will still make a big difference if George Edmundson is passed fit to play at Southampton tomorrow, and Darragh Lenihan too.

Edmundson has waited a long, long time to get back into the side following his unfortunate injury setback.

You could tell that he was working his socks off against the Baggies to show Edwards that he deserved to hang on to a place back in the side.