MIDDLESBROUGH go into their crucial promotion clash against Oxford with a crucial one point advantage over north-east rivals Sunderland. But Boro boss Bryan Robson has one major regret about Sunday's vital clash at the Riverside. As the Teesiders push for the vital win that will earn them a return to the Premiership at the first attempt, the former England captain wishes he was still involved on the pitch. Robbo said: I would certainly love to play in this one. Football is all about challenges and we have a chance to achieve Premiership status. It's been a little harder for me this time - when we last won promotion, I was a player. When you play it doesn't seem to worry you so much, because you can do something about it on the pitch. Meanwhile, club captain Nigel Pearson, 34, will hang up his boots if Boro clinch promotion. Pearson was Robson's first signing four years ago, costing £500,000 from Sheffield Wednesday. He will delay his retirement if the Teessiders are forced into the play-offs. Robson paid his skipper a glowing tribute: People said I was buying an injury-prone player, but they've been proved wrong. He's been a great servant to the club, and a great help to me. He leads by example and football would be a lot better if there were more Nigel Pearsons in it. A win on Sunday will guarantee Boro promotion, but a draw or even defeat may still be good enough, depending on Sunderland and Charlton's results. A tired Paul Merson feels that a long season has definitely taken its toll on the team: I don't think I've got more than one game left in me this season, but we're ready for one last effort. We'll be going all-out in this game to make the Premiership. Swindon Town v Sunderland Sunderland boss Peter Reid reckons that Merson needn't worry about the extra games of the play-offs. Reid seems to have all but given up on an automatic promotion spot this year after the 2-0 defeat at Ipswich on Tuesday. But full-back Chris Makin believes that with Reid's men just a point behind their north-east rivals going into this final match, there is still everything to play for. Makin said: Everyone's gutted after the Ipswich defeat, but we've got to get our heads up for Sunday. Middlesbrough could easily lose. For Swindon manager Steve McMahon, the game is a case of what might have been. His Robins were the surprise leaders of the First Division until Christmas but lost form badly and plummeted down the table. McMahon said: I will be glad when the end of the season comes, so that I can make changes. There are several players I will show the door to.

CURBISHLEY HAILS CHARLTON'S SEASON Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic   CHARLTON'S record breaking season could end in bitter disappointment even if they win at Birmingham on Sunday. Manager Alan Curbishley accepts victory over one of his former clubs may not be enough to restore Charlton's top-flight status for the first time in eight years: Our current total of 87 points would have guaranteed automatic promotion in other seasons, but this time we could end up with 90 and find it's not enough." Curbishley will spend a nervous 90 minutes on the St Andrews touchline hoping Middlesbrough slip up at home to Oxford and Sunderland come a cropper at Swindon as the race for Premiership status alongside champions Nottingham Forest reaches a breath-taking climax. Forest, Sunderland and Boro are the three strongest clubs to be relegated from the Premiership in one season and it has been a tremendous achievement for us to stay with them," he added. "Just look at Middlesbrough. What other First Division club could afford to spend £5m on Paul Merson? I have said all along that the promotion spots would not be settled until the final day of the season and things could still go for us. But if it turns out to be the play-offs we would fancy ourselves against anyone over two legs. Whatever happens, it's been an incredible season. Meanwhile, Birmingham want manager Trevor Francis to sign a new two-year contract regardless of what happens against Charlton. The Blues will sneak into the play-offs if they beat Charlton and Sheffield United fail to win at Stockport, and the club are keen to reward Francis for his good work. Chairman David Gold says Francis wants to complete the job and discussions on a new deal will start shortly. As soon as I can, I will be sitting down with Trevor and looking to persuade him to sign a new two-year contact, said Gold. Trevor wants to stay for at least two years because he feels all the hard work he has put in over the last 23 months is coming to fruition.

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