St Ledger remains confident

St Ledger: Hope

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Sean St Ledger remains hopeful he can help Middlesbrough back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Irish international is currently on loan at Boro from Preston and his deal will become permanent in January.

St Ledger returned to his first club Peterborough United on Saturday and was booed throughout, as they claimed a 2-2 draw with Boro.

But St Ledger could easily have earned his side a victory as he was denied a late penalty.

"I thought it was a blatant penalty at the time and having seen the replay I thought it was even more conclusive. It was pretty much a stonewall penalty but I suppose that's football. The referee certainly won't be on my Christmas card list now," he said.

"But that's the way it's been going for us lately, with most of the decisions going against us. The boss could easily have won three of his four games in charge and losing to Nottingham Forest was probably the only game where we have struggled since he took over."

On his return to London Road he said: "I got fair bit of stick.

"But I spent 10 years there and when the transfer to Boro goes through in January the club will get a fair chunk of it - but football fans are fickle. That's life. I'm sure other players have had worse receptions."

Boro are now without a league win in five games, and have dropped off the pace and now lie 11 points off the promotion places.

"Hopefully, things will turn soon and we will start to get a few decisions going our way," said St Ledger.

"We are playing well enough to win games but at the end of the day it's all about getting the three points. In this game you are only judged on results.

"We need to start keeping a few clean sheets but apart from that I don't think there is too much wrong.

"It will take time for the gaffer to get us playing the way he wants but once he does we will be fine and our only aim is to get Boro back in the Premier League, either through automatic promotion or the play-offs. This is a massive club and that's where it belongs."