LONDON (AFP) - Avram Grant insists he is determined to bring the Premier League title back to Chelsea on his own terms.

Grant has found it impossible to convince Chelsea fans that he is the right man for the manager's job despite his side's surge into second place.

The Israeli, whose team host Middlesbrough on Sunday, was criticised for his confused tactics and passive demeanour when Chelsea lost the League Cup final. Then when the Blues suffered a humiliating FA Cup defeat at Barnsley, he seemed to have little future at the London club.

That impression was underlined last weekend when large sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd chanted "you don't know what you're doing" after Grant replaced Michael Ballack with Juliano Belletti during the match against Arsenal.

Grant must have squirmed in his seat as songs in praise of his predecessor Jose Mourinho rang out, but he was entitled to feel vindicated by full-time. Belletti played a role in both goals as Chelsea roared back to win 2-1 and move above Arsenal into second place.

Boosted by that inspired move, Grant could afford to take a more assertive stance ahead of Sunday's match.

"People like to look at the negatives. But many, many supporters of Chelsea support the club and even support me," he said.

"If others think otherwise, it doesn't affect me. I have to do my job. I do the tactical side, what I have to do in the condition of the players. I don't hear any other noises. I think I need to do my job, not pay attention to things from outside.

"You do what you think can win you the game. Even Claude Makelele was playing well last week but we needed to change things to win the game."

Chelsea are the closest challengers to Manchester United and need to beat Middlesbrough to keep up the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson's league leaders.

They could be eight points behind United by the time they kick off, so any hope of landing the title will rest on their ability to keep winning until United visit the Bridge on April 26.

The victory over Arsenal was widely regarded as the end of the Gunners' title challenge, but Grant believes Arsene Wenger's team are still in the race.

"Middlesbrough drew at Arsenal last time, so we need to do our job. It won't be easy. But I don't think Arsenal are out of the race," he said.

"You need to keep your players focused all the time, especially now when you're coming up to the last games. We've done a good job up to now.

"We were many points behind Arsenal and now we're above them. But they're still in the race. That's my opinion. Not even one team will take all the points."

Grant has injury doubts over John Terry and Frank Lampard but his Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate will have little sympathy. He is without suspended pair Mido and Fabio Rochemback, while Robert Huth and Luke Young face late fitness tests.

Southgate is hoping Brazil striker Afonso Alves, the club's record signing, can finally hit top form. "When you bring a player in for that sort of fee, it immediately attracts a lot more attention," he said.

"I know it is going to take him time - I said that from the day we signed him and nothing has changed in that respect. I am quite comfortable with that situation."