Dan Barlaser says stranger things have happened as he insisted Middlesbrough can still get themselves back in the automatic promotion race.

While Boro were disappointed to only draw with relegation-threatened Cardiff City on Saturday, it did extend their unbeaten run to six games. They currently sit fifth in the Championship, 11 points behind second-placed Burnley with 20 games remaining this season.

A top two finish already appears improbable as Boro struggle for consistency while needing more consistent sides like the Clarets and Leeds United to drop enough points for Michael Carrick's side to leapfrog them. But summing up the mood in the Boro dressing room, Barlaser says they've given up on nothing yet.

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"I've seen stranger things happen [than us getting in the top two]. I don't see why we can't go for that," the Boro midfielder said. "In my opinion, watching games at the start of the season and playing recently, we've dropped nine or ten points in my opinion. We could have been right up there.

"Games like tonight and Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, there's points gone. If we can score goals and stay resolute, we still have a right chance. We need to try and not give teams that bit of hope and chance to defend for their lives. It’s still tight [below us] but we're unbeaten in six. If we can keep this run going of being resolute and get a bit better in possession, we'll be a bit better."

Barlaser has started nine of Boro's last 11 games alongside Hayden Hackney as injuries take hold for Aidan Morris and Jonny Howson. He's run in the team has been largely good, though he disappointed in Saturday's frustrating draw with Cardiff.

On his run in the team and playing alongside Hackney, he said: "It was the same as when I wasn't playing, it's just about staying as professional as I can because there's always going to be a chance. I just try to be as consistent as I can and do what the gaffer wants me to do, which is keep the ball and get the attacking lads in dangerous positions.

"I love it [Playing with Hackney]. I just kind of sit behind him and let him do his thing moving forward. He's got more legs than me! I just try and be as good as I can out of possession and feed the attacking players as much as I can. We've done that quite well the last couple of games, today it didn't quite happen."

Looking to get back to winning ways after Cardiff, Boro are now focused on Saturday's FA Cup clash with Blackburn. While the game at the Riverside might offer Carrick the chance to give fringe players a go, injuries throughout the team right now will mean it's likely still a strong side that Boro field.

Having benefited a lot personally from last season's run in the Carabao Cup, Barlaser would love to help Boro advance in this season's FA Cup, as Morris closes in on a return to action. Barlaser said: "We went on a cup run last year and I'd love to do it again. We'll take that game seriously and try and win."