The Teessiders have eased themselves seven points clear of the drop zone with 10 games left to play after following up a precious home victory over Derby with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Portsmouth.
Boro entertain Watford on Saturday hoping to edge their way closer to safety, and while Mowbray knows their fate is in their own hands, he is starting to pay keener attention to the results of their counterparts in the lower reaches of the table.
He said: "We can only look after ourselves. We have to go and try to be positive in every game, try to get points, try to win football matches and not worry too much about what other teams are doing.
"If they help us out by teams at the bottom losing football matches or not getting as many points as they would have wanted to, then fine.
"When you get down to the last 11, 12 games, you are looking at other teams, you are looking at other results. Before then, I never really bother with them, I just focus on my own team and try to accumulate points."
Source: PA
Source: PA