Espinosa: Boro must play their own game

Bernardo Espinosa insists Middlesbrough will be focusing only on their own performances as they target Premier League survival in the second half of the season.

Last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham left Boro just two places and four points clear of the league’s relegation spots.

They now take a break from league duties when they host Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday before they round off the month with a home clash with West Brom.

(Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Swansea City were one of the biggest movers last weekend as they hauled themselves out of the bottom three with victory over Liverpool.

And while some Boro fans may be looking nervously over their shoulders wondering if their team is heading in the opposite direction, defender Espinosa – who joined the team last summer on a three-year deal – insists the players cannot afford to let factors outside their control consume them.

“Your only worry is to play your own game,” he said. “We’re in a position where we have to fight for our own points.

“We know it’s going to be a hard second half of the season and we have to fight for every point we get because it’s very hard in this league.

“It’s important to concentrate on our work and we have to continue in this way to get points back.”