Clayton eager to change mood at Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's defeat at relegation rivals Crystal Palace last weekend stretched their winless run in the league to nine games and meant that they sit out of the bottom three only on goal difference with 12 games remaining.

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"There's no need for us to be down ... We'll keep going and try our best to stay in this league as that's where I want to be, and why I signed an extension," Clayton told British media.

With their FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City on March 11, Aitor Karanka's men will likely need to punch above their weight to reach the next round.

"We're in the FA Cup quarter-final so that's something to look forward to, one win away from Wembley, and we're still fighting to be in this league," Clayton added.

The semi-finals and the final of the FA Cup are played at Wembley.

"We only need a couple of wins and the positivity will be back and we'll be flying again."

Middlesbrough travel to take on 10th-place Stoke City on Saturday.

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Lough)