DURING Gareth Southgate's time at Middlesbrough he has experienced the lows of battling against relegation and the highs of leading the club into its first European adventure after Carling Cup success.

But, as his fourth anniversary at the Riverside approaches this summer, Southgate has travelled to Portugal believing Boro can claim the most remarkable victory of his career on Teesside.

Sporting Lisbon have the security of knowing that their English visitors this evening need at least two goals to stand any chance of progressing into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Sporting's 3-2 success in the North-East a week ago led to Boro being written off by many before the first ball has been kicked in the Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the Portuguese giants proving more than a handful in the first leg.

But Southgate dismisses negative remarks and instead only chooses to consider the prospect of recording the most unlikely victory since becoming one of Steve McClaren's first signings in the summer of 2001.

"In terms of the situation, it would be the best result we have had since I have been here," said Southgate.

"That includes going to Manchester United and winning when we needed the points to stay up (in 2001/02 when an Alen Boksic strike proved the difference between the sides at Old Trafford).

"But to go to Lisbon and play a team of this quality, from the position we are in, would be an incredible achievement. These things can happen in football and we have to remember that.

"There are occasions when you get results against all the odds and we still have players that can win us the game. It's not as easy for Sporting as it could have been. They have seen a lead whittled down from what should have been a stroll in the park to a little uncomfortable. If we can score first it would be very uncomfortable for them."

Defeat tonight would leave Boro empty-handed in a season that promised so much at the start of the campaign when the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka, Ray Parlour and Michael Reiziger all arrived.

They are out of the FA Cup, Carling Cup glory has not been repeated and the UEFA Cup offers Southgate et al the last opportunity for silverware.

Injury-ravaged Boro play Southampton on Sunday and victory at the Riverside that day is essential if hopes of finishing in the Premiership's top six are to remain alive - results this weekend could see them back in fifth place or as low as ninth.

"The next couple of games are crucial to our season. Thursday night is a shot in the dark because we have given ourselves an absolute mountain to climb from the first leg," said Southgate.

"On Sunday it's about what we are trying to achieve through the whole of the season.

"If we can get through Sunday with a positive result we should have a couple players back by the next league game and look to push on in the eight games remaining.

"It will still be in our hands to get into the top six. Sunday is massively important because we have to look to put a run together and hopefully that will start on Thursday night."

Failure to qualify for Europe again next season would seriously hamper McClaren's plans of taking Boro on to the next level - helping the club challenge for a Champions League place.

Southgate said: "It would be an enormous let down, having experienced UEFA Cup football this year.

"Not only would we miss out on a lot of big games but it would also harm the development of the club. If we want to attract the players like we have over the past few years then the carrot of European football is very important.

"There would be players who would not come if we couldn't offer European football.

"It would harm us if we weren't to make it."

First thing's first and all is not lost in this season's UEFA Cup push just yet.

Tonight the adventure could be all over or an unlikely berth in the last eight could have been achieved.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.