GARY Cahill has hailed the spirit that is forming in the Wanderers ranks after another priceless three points at Middlesbrough.

The players were roundly castigated following a 4-0 mauling at Aston Villa, but have responded with back-to-back 1-0 victories over West Ham and Boro.

And, Cahill, who gladly took three stitches in the head in return for the three points on Saturday, believes it is this strength of mind which is dragging the team towards their ultimate survival goal.

"We are showing character," said Cahill. "There is a lot of pressure on the lads at the minute and I think we have coped with that really well in the last couple of weeks.

"It was a massive result on Saturday, we knew we had to come here and win today - especially with the other teams around us having difficult fixtures.

"We started off shaky, but I thought we got into the game after the first 15-20 minutes and the second half was much better.

"At the end of the day we are not bothered how we get the results. We are just happy that we won 1-0 and got the three points."

Wanderers were fortunate to go into the half-time interval on level terms after a dominant opening from Middlesbrough that forced Whites' keeper Ali Al-Habsi into a number of fine saves.

"In the Premier League you are never going to limit any teams to having no chances in the game. Very rarely are you going to do that.

"We needed to have the keeper on form, and, for the first 10-15 minutes, he was on form. He pulled off two or three good saves which kept us in the game.

"We were a bit fortunate, but that is what he is there for. He did his job very well.

"After that we came out for the second half a lot stronger and got the win that we needed."

It was Cahill's header that set up Gavin McCann matchwinning strike on 60 minutes. The towering centre half saw his effort parried out by Boro keeper, Ross Turnbull, and McCann was on hand to rifle home and send players and fans delirious.

"Sooner or later I'm going to score; it's doing my head in a little bit now to be honest.

"I need a goal, but, like I said, I am not bothered how we win games."

Wanderers still have it all to do if they are to stay up, but Cahill is confident the momentum is now with Gary Megson's men.

"We don't want to get carried away, we have won two games on the bounce and we have to keep winning games," he said.

"There are three games left, and a lot of teams in it, but we have turned out the results we needed and we have to keep doing that at Tottenham and definitely at Sunderland."