Bent is on a two-month loan spell at the Riverside

On-loan striker Marcus Bent has said it is up to the Middlesbrough player to lift the fans' spirits by improving their poor home form.

Boro are currently languishing in 11th place in the Championship after losing 1-0 to Cardiff at the weekend.

"The fans pay their good money to come and see their favourite team go on and get three points and win," the 31-year-old told BBC Tees.

"We've got to work to make it stick so we can go on and win games."

Bent joined Middlesbrough on a two-month loan spell from Birmingham City in October and since then they have taken just five points from as many games.

"Maybe it's concentration, I don't know. Its becoming frustrating but we've got to work on that," he said.

"That's why were a team and that's why we work together. There is no individual blame. We're all out there together and we've got to work to make it better."

Middlesbrough recorded a record low attendance of 17,000 at the Cardiff game and the players received a hostile reception from the crowd at the final whistle.

"We've got a lot of young players so when the crowd do get on their back maybe they go in their shell a little bit," he said.

Three points will lift the crowd, the spirit and the confidence and there is no better time to do it then against Newcastle Marcus Bent

"The gaffer has tried to bring that out of them but as professional players you've got to grow up and be counted."

Bent thinks Boro now need to look forward to their next league game against local rivals Newcastle United.

He said: "Three points will lift the crowd, the spirit and the confidence and there is no better time to do it then against Newcastle.

"It's a hard league, everyone can beat everyone. It's about going out there, being accounted for and going about the job in a good way."

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