Middlesbrough Football Club

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35049

Wheater: Make or break time

09 Apr 2009 - 08:06:27

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Defender David Wheater has admitted Middlesbrough cannot afford to lose Saturday's crunch clash with Hull City.

The 19th-placed Teessiders are five points adrift of safety with just seven games remaining in the season and Wheater believes a home game against another side in the bottom third of the table is a must-win encounter.

"On a scale of one to 10 in importance, this match rates about a 12," he said.

"This is one we really, really need to win, no question. Hull is a must-win game for us. It is massive.

"I know we have said a few times now that this game or that game is the most important one so far, but this time I think it really is.

"We all know exactly how important it is to the way the rest of the season pans out.

"We dare not even think about losing it but if we win it, suddenly it is game on and we are right back in touch.

"If we can beat Hull, and I think we can, then we are right back in it.

"We also have the derby game at Newcastle coming up soon - and that is a biggie too - and we are confident we can go there and win.

"That game will be huge for both teams. They always are with us having so many local lads, but this one will be unbelievable.

"The stakes are incredible. It is not just bragging rights. It could mean survival for us and we will be going flat out."