Neil Warnock feels Rovers head into the second half of the season with very little pressure on their shoulders in a pursuit of a top six finish.

Rovers sit 12th, six points behind Boro who in turn are one win outside of the top six both having played 24 matches. Warnock feels his side are exceeding expectations, having finished 17th last term, while Rovers are in need of a strong second half to the season if they’re to achieve Tony Mowbray’s top six aim.

Mowbray returns to his former club on Sunday, with Rovers having not won at the Riverside in their last seven meetings, and while they have won just two of their last nine Championship matches, they did won on their travels last time out at Birmingham City.

Sunday’s game will be a meeting of the league’s best home defence, with Middlesbrough having conceded just five times, and the division’s most prolific attack in Rovers.

Asked about Rovers’ position, sitting six points behind Boro, Warnock said: “They’re probably where we thought we’d be in that position if I’m honest.

“You just have to try and keep going and get as many (wins) as you can.

“You haven’t got much pressure on you in that position, you just have to go out and do your best to get the wins.”

Boro shut out Rovers in the reverse fixture at Ewood Park in November, the game ending in a stalemate, though Warnock remains wary of their attacking, not least the threat of Adam Armstrong.

“There’s no wonder big clubs looking at him, he’s got good movement, a good finisher, he’s got everything in his locker really. I hope he goes before Sunday,” Warnock said, referring to links to a move to the Premier League for the 23-year-old.

Boro are leading the chasing pack for the top six and would move level on points with sixth-placed Bournemouth with victory tomorrow.

Warnock was effusive in his praise of his side’s display in the midweek win at Nottingham Forest and feels they are performing better than he could have expected.

“I would say they’re exceeding everyone’s expectations, including mine,” Warnock added.

“You try and get more out of players, give them confidence, but when I see a performance like the other night, the briskness, the passing, the unselfishness.

“When I stand on the touchline and watch my team play as they did the other night I’m purring inside.”