AITOR KARANKA claims Middlesbrough’s position in the Championship is even more impressive given the club’s financial budget in comparison to others.

Karanka also confirmed the club is considering making a formal complaint after Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Jose Semedo was alleged to have spat at Grant Leadbitter during Saturday’s game.

Boro suffered their second defeat in a week at Hillsborough but stayed in the top two despite wins for Watford and Norwich City, who closed the gap to one point with wins over Leeds and Ipswich respectively.

Boro’s form over the past couple of weeks has led to suggestions they are suffering jitters in the promotion race but when asked about supporters’ concerns the Spaniard called for some perspective.

The Teessiders were two points above the relegation places when Karanka replaced Tony Mowbray in November 2013 and the former Real Madrid assistant believes the club should be even more proud of their progress given the money they have spent in comparison to others.

“If we had spent a lot of money on big, big players and we were in this position then it would be normal, but we have spent nothing,” said Karanka.

“The money we have spent is the money we received when we sold players at the start of the season so with the same budget last season we were two points above the relegation position when I came here and now we are second in the table.

“So the job is going well, the work is going well but not just my work it is all the people's work and for this reason I want to transmit to everybody where we were 15 months ago.

“At the beginning of the season we thought if we get promotion it is perfect, if we don't get promotion but we were fighting until the end.

“I don't like to think what will happen in May, I only think about the next game but it is true all of us have to be realistic.

“We are fighting against Derby who have signed six players in January and against Norwich, who were in the Premier League last season and have a lot of money, Watford have a lot of good players and also Bournemouth so it’s going to be very difficult.”

Boro can strengthen their position at the top of the table tonight with a win over struggling Millwall, who are six points adrift of safety.

Karanka is expected to recall Leadbitter, George Friend and Lee Tomlin, while Ryan Fredericks will return to the squad after being left out at the weekend.

Jelle Vossen could provide an attacking boost after recovering from concussion and Karanka has called for calm heads after admitting his side is ahead of schedule when it comes to their long-term targets.

He said: “If you said to us in pre-season we would be second in March I think all of us would have taken it.

“Now we are in a very good position but we have to know how difficult it has been to get to this position and how difficult it is going to be to keep it.

“We have changed a lot of players but most of them knew this league. Everything takes time. Our improvement in the last 15 months has been very good and we have to keep improving in the same way.

“We have to work in the same way and at the end of the season we will see. Now, everyone has to be proud of this team of players.”

Only a matter of weeks ago Karanka felt his side were in a three-way battle for promotion but the head coach has admitted he was naive to think as much.

Watford and Norwich have emerged as genuine contenders, but the Boro boss admitted: “I was one who thought that it was going to be a race between Bournemouth, Derby and us and I was wrong.

“I have been here for 15 months and I have to learn but now there are seven teams and it is very tight.

“We have to think about ourselves, we have to think about how difficult it has been to take this position and we have to play each game as if it is our last one.”

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin, Reach; Vossen.