Lennie Lawrence had asked his players for one last big effort in the six games left that season. The Middlesborough manager wanted his team to finish with a flourish, even if it was too late to avoid relegation from the premier league. Boro had won just one out of their previous 12 games and was bottom of the table.
The first of their remaining six games were at home to Arsenal and Lawrence was planning on a few changes.
Lennie Lawrence said “Whatever division we are going to be in next year, we have to work to stop the slide as soon as possible. We must have things right for next season and we have to start now. A team which finishes one season losing, usually start the next season losing as well. We can’t really afford to let that happen. I am doing what I can to try and halt the slide, the players also have to do their bit.”
