To be fair to the team, they were running on empty after the Bournemouth game, so whilst I agree we have a way to go before we can be considered a team worthy of promotion, I don't for one minute think that the performance at Middlesbrough was a reality check.
Our game as we know is based on pressing the opposition and fighting for every ball. This is the Mick McCarthy way. It was inevitable that having worked so hard to improve our league position, there would come a time when we would hit a wall. But we still came away with a very useful point. Having plunged down the league before MM was appointed, anything we achieve this season is a bonus