Championship: Ten days which might decide the promotion race

From being two points ahead of promoted Coventry City at the top of the Championship in mid-February, Middlesbrough now find themselves three points short of second place.

A seven-game winless run has left Hellberg’s side as outsiders for that second spot behind Ipswich, Millwall and Southampton.

“We need to look at the next two games and try to win them to still have a chance to play for automatics in the last game or have momentum to take into the play-offs,” he said after the final whistle at Portman Road, where his side led 2-1 before Jack Clarke’s late penalty.

“It is tough because at 88 minutes we were in a position where we were in with everyone else but there are still twists and turns. We’re not out of it but we wait for the next two games and see where we are.”

Hellberg took charge on 26 November following Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves and won his first four matches, but a wretched run which has accrued only four points from a possible 21 has left them playing catch-up.

“The expectation of us being in the top two of the division is because we have been very, very good as a football team and I don’t think anyone had those expectations at the start of the season,” the Swede said.

“When I arrived I felt we were in a good position but there were a lot of teams in that sort of position. We have been good and built the belief we could do it but we have had some tough results and we have tried to keep our heads, which is tough.

“The performances can get worse, you go away from what you are good at and start doing something else, and we have dealt with that.”