Middlesbrough began their sixth straight season in the Championship with perhaps their best hope of promotion back to the Premier League under the guidance of Aitor Karanka.

The Spaniard, who is the first non-British Boro boss, took over midway through 2013-14 and helped the club to a top-half finish in his debut management role in England.

Karanka wasn't afraid to splash some cash over the summer, landing Kike and Emilio Nsue from Spain as well as Adam Clayton from fellow Yorkshire outfit Huddersfield Town. Boro also used the loan market impressively with the re-capture of Kenneth Omeruo and season-long loan signings of Patrick Bamford, Ryan Fredericks and Jelle Vossen.

Many felt that Boro were primed for a promotion push and here, Sports Mole recaps their first half of the season.

August

Boro got off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City, with big-money signing Kike netting on his debut. The Spanish frontman was also on target three days later in the first round of the Capital One Cup as Oldham Athletic were brushed aside.

Boro had the chance to showcase themselves on television the following weekend, but they failed to find the net and suffered a late defeat at Leeds United. They were back to winning ways soon after as Kike again impressed with the winner at Bolton Wanderers.

In the league, August would end with two straight defeats and both, disappointingly, came at home. First, Sheffield Wednesday raced into a 3-0 lead and held on for the points before Reading struck early and stood firm at the Riverside.

While those two defeats saw them plunge into the bottom half, their journey in the League Cup continued with a 3-1 win over League One's Preston North End.

September

It looked as if September would get off to a gloomy start when Huddersfield Town struck an 86th-minute leveller, but Grant Leadbitter netted his second in injury time as Boro got back to winning ways in the league.

Kike's early strike saw off Cardiff City before Boro really kicked into top gear in a 4-0 triumph over Brentford to make it three wins on the spin.

Then came the League Cup third-round match at Liverpool and what a game it was. Boro were about to exit the competition when they won a penalty after the end of extra time and Adam Reach stuck it away to send the tie into a shootout. In one of the most memorable penalty-kick contests in recent memory it was hosts Liverpool that came out on top 14-13 at Anfield.

The crushing defeat might have had an effect in the league as Boro ended the month with draws against Charlton Athletic and, most dismayingly, at home to lowly Blackpool.

October

Still, September was an unbeaten month and they made it seven games without defeat with back-to-back wins at the start of October over Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion, going third in the table and just a point off the top.

A first defeat since August was to follow, though, as Boro came unstuck with a 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Karanka's men stayed third and next was a visit from the side directly above them - Watford.

Kike netted his fifth of the season to put the home side ahead, but they had to settle for a point as the Hornets hit back shortly after.

November

Seven goals scored, none conceded to start November as Boro went level on points with Bournemouth at the summit with a 3-0 win at Rotherham and 4-0 victory over Norwich City at the Riverside.

A visit from the only side above them was ironically next and both sides had to settle for a point in an entertaining goalless draw. A pair of 1-1 draws against Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers followed and while the lack of three points may have disappointed fans, goals in each game from the in-form Bamford were key. The Chelsea loanee netted four in five November games.

December

The final month of the year began with a bang for Boro as they beat Millwall 5-1 at The Den, with Vossen netting a hat-trick to end his wait for a league goal in spectacular fashion.

Bamford was also on the scoresheet and made it six goals in seven games with the opener against his former club as Boro impressively beat league leaders Derby County to leapfrog the Rams and briefly go top of the table.

The big games kept on coming for Karanka's men as they travelled to fourth-placed Ipswich Town and saw their eight-game unbeaten run come to an end with a limp display and 2-0 loss at Portman Road to drop back to fourth.

A big response and 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest followed on Boxing Day, with Leadbitter reaching double figures for the season (seven out of seven from the penalty spot). The year ended with a goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers.

That leaves Boro fourth in the table and five behind leaders Bournemouth. Although fans will be disappointed that they haven't quite kept up with the Cherries, there is a long way to go and very little separating the top six.

Star man: Grant Leadbitter

Must do better: Lee Tomlin

Where to strengthen in January: Midfield

Position at start of 2015: 4th

Mid-season grade: A-

To see Boro's remaining fixtures in 2014-15, click here.