Fly Me To The Moon column: Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough are giving fans something to look forward to

Phew! What a relief with the referee's final whistle at the Riverside last night.

Middlesbrough valiantly defended the 2-1 lead as Swansea battered at the doors. It was nervy stuff watching at home. I can only imagine what it would have been like had we been in the stadium, we would have been whistling away and shouting at the officials to look at their watches. Blow that whistle!

It was such a welcome win and hugely significant. We needed to bounce back after the doubts surfaced following what was a shock defeat away at Huddersfield. That was our least convincing performance of the campaign so far. Defeat at the John Smith's Stadium was particularly disappointing especially as we appeared to be coasting after Marvin Johnson's marvellous opening goal.

We seemed to have the beating of their defence right up to the point when veteran centre-back Richard Stearman had to limp from the field injured. Yet even so there were glaring chances spurned which came back to haunt us as the home team turned the tables. Oh and to get back into the game with that second half penalty only to throw it all away by conceding again was so unlike Warnock's Boro.

Talking of goals we have bounced back from three games without a goal scored with seven goals in the last three games. That could be such a huge positive for the season, for as well as we are defending we will surely not be able to aim too high without hitting the back of the net.

Amid all the criticism levelled on the strikers Duncan Watmore's brace was HUGE. After all his personal injury problems he thoroughly deserved the round of applause that Neil Warnock organised from his players last night.

While we are discussing Warnock's influence, what a great move to extend the contract of Paddy McNair. Adding to Jonny Howson, Anfernee Dijksteel, and Sam Folarin all now on new deals Neil Warnock is giving us some stability and a framework for the future. What a legacy.

The win over Swansea did not send us up the table as everything is now so compressed. Only four points separate us in tenth from Norwich City in top spot. That win keeps us in touch and well in the hunt. Such a contrast then to the 3-0 defeat to the Swans in summer that brought a shattering end to Jonathan Woodgate's tenure.

Last night was the first return for football fans. It was a very welcome return but sadly not to be on Teesside where the realities of Tier 3 mean that the goalposts have been shifted once again. It is terribly frustrating but we have to hope we can be back sooner rather than later.

If we can continue to stay organised and Watmore and co. can keep the goals flowing then that finale could be a very special time indeed. A really happy Riverside return for the fans. At last something worth looking forward to.

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