GRANT LEADBITTER has spoken of the need to live up to rising expectations on Teesside ahead of a weekend when Middlesbrough could climb to the top of the Championship for the first time in two years.

It will be 24 months on Sunday when Boro moved ahead of the rest in the second tier of English football by defeating Sheffield Wednesday in front of more than 28,000 fans on a Friday night. The following day they were dethroned again and have not returned since.

Middlesbrough have an opportunity to end that long wait this Saturday when a victory over Bournemouth, sitting above them because of a superior goal difference, would be enough to take them back to the Championship’s summit.

The club expect a slight increase in ticket sales for the occasion, although it is highly unlikely that there will be a figure near to that which witnessed the victory over the Owls on November 9, 2012. On that night there was a generous ticket offer.

Middlesbrough’s players sense that there is greater anticipation among the fans ahead of games and they are determined to capitalise on the rising interest by maintaining that winning feeling to improve hopes of a promotion push.

“There is obviously excitement because that comes with us winning games,” said Leadbitter. “We have maybe, in previous seasons, not won enough games at home. At the minute we are winning games but we can’t get carried away. We just want to keep going.

“We are playing well and it’s up to us lads in the dressing room to win games. If we do then everyone gets excited and keeps feeling that way.

“You want to win games for this football club. We all do. We know it will be hard, the club wants us to fill the stadium - and it’s better to play in a better atmosphere, in front of more fans, but we can’t get carried away.”

Leadbitter knows the only way Middlesbrough stand a chance of seeing attendances increase is to maintain the sort of form which has seen them climb to second place. Aitor Karanka’s team have lost just one of their last ten and have not lost at the Riverside since August.

The visit of the in-form Cherries this Saturday is shaping up to be a really entertaining fixture, with Leadbitter suggesting those who do turn up to watch might not see Middlesbrough have it all of their own way.

“The more fans the merrier, but all we can concentrate on is our performance because Eddie Howe has got Bournemouth playing really well,” he said. “There will be two good, young coaches going head-to-head at the top of the league, with both teams playing well. There are two good teams fighting for top spot on Saturday.

“I’m sure there will be a few more fans in the stadium and we want that to continue. For that to happen we have to keep winning games. Boro fans will stick with us and come to the ground, we know that.

“The team is doing OK at the minute. We have to keep performing well and hope more join them. Saturday is another game, we shouldn’t put the season on it because it is only early November, but it is a big game to be involved in for us.”

Leadbitter has certainly done his bit to keep Middlesbrough in the mix at the right end of the division. The skipper took his tally to nine goals for the season, which is the most he has ever scored in any of his 11 campaigns as a professional footballer.

But the 28-year-old, only three months in to the current season, is not prepared to let his total remain the same after his latest double came in Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over Norwich City at the Riverside.

Leadbitter said: “I have nine in 17 games now, so it’s ok and going reasonably well. I want a few more though. I don’t just want to be happy with that. The most important thing is that the team is winning games.

“I am enjoying my football here. Anybody should enjoy it when you are winning games. You play better when you are winning games and everybody is enjoying it at the moment so long may it continue.”

Grant Leadbitter’s goals return

2014/15 – 9 in 17 appearances (for Middlesbrough)

2013/14 - 6 in 41 (Middlesbrough)

2012/13 – 4 in 47 (Middlesbrough)

2011/12 – 5 in 36 (Ipswich)

2010/11 – 6 in 50 (Ipswich)

2009/10 - 3 in 42 (Ipswich/Sunderland)

2008/09 – 2 in 28 (Sunderland)

2007/08 – 2 in 33 (Sunderland)

2006/07 – 7 in 46 (Sunderland)

2005/06 – 1 in 19 (Rotherham/Sunderland)

2004/05 – 0 in 1 (Sunderland)

2003/04 – 0 in 1 (Sunderland)

Career goals total: 45

This season’s goals tally: 9