SKIPPER Paul Ince has rounded on the Middlesbrough fans who booed their side off after Sunday's goalless bore draw with Charlton.

It was the first game at the Riverside since the tragic death of Colin Cooper's two-year-old son, Finlay, only hours after the FA Cup victory over Manchester United ten days ago.

A minute's silence was observed before Sunday's game, but following a frustrating 90 minutes, the home crowd were quick to condemn their side's disappointing display.

Ince, 34, who is out of contract at the end of the season, admitted: "Obviously, the performance wasn't there, but we've been through a lot as a club in the last week.

"I was disappointed with the boos from a section of the fans because they should appreciate we have been through a lot and it puts football into perspective.

"We were trying our best. We've had some hard games and the lads are tired. It's important we have the fans behind us. Sometimes, when the fans are behind us, it's like having an extra man on the pitch.

"The atmosphere on Sunday was a bit dull, but I suppose we're to blame for the performance we put on. Having said that, the fans know it has been a hard week for us and I expected them to get behind us a lot more.

"We've got Leeds here on Saturday, which is a big game, and I'm sure the fans will be up for that.

"I'm not saying Leeds are on the slide, but they've lost the last two games, so it's a chance for us.

"Nobody has beaten us at home since Manchester United in December.

"We make it hard for teams here - they're frightened to come here now.

"Last year, the fans were on our backs because we were always struggling and it was so much pressure on us to play at home, we didn't really like playing here.

"We just wanted to ease the pressure by playing away, and that's probably why we got beaten most of the time when we were playing at home. This year, we enjoy playing at home.

"In the last ten minutes against Charlton, I heard their players saying 'How long left?', 'Just blow the whistle' and 'We'll settle for a point'.

"They were panicking, so it's important we make this ground a fortress again where teams are scared to come and play.

"If we can keep this record up, then why not?''

Ince paid a personal tribute to defender Cooper who is absent from the club on compassionate grounds.

He said: "Coops is a very special person at the club and a great pro, and he's a very good friend of mine.

"It's been absolutely devastating for us. We've had to play games, put those thoughts to the back of our minds and then come back and get on with it.

"It's been very, very hard and you can see it in the players. The funeral was very difficult on Friday and it was hard for us to get going against Charlton, and I think it showed.

"But it's a credit to the club that we've beaten the best team in Europe and gone to Sunderland and got three points with ten men.

"Against Charlton, we kept a clean sheet again, but we know the performance wasn't the best.''

Meanwhile, Boro boss Steve McClaren believes centre-back Gareth Southgate is playing his way into contention for a place in England's World Cup plans.

"I can certainly see him playing for England,'' said McClaren, part-time national coach under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"Gareth's performances have been magnificent. He played against Sweden and performances like the ones he's producing for us keep you in the picture.''

McClaren paid Aston Villa £6.5m for 31-year-old Southgate last summer, and admitted: "I was surprised he was available for a year so before we signed him, because he's certainly got the ability and temperament to be playing in a top-six team.

"We brought him here to be inspirational and to be a leader. He has taken on a lot of responsibility.

"With Gareth and Paul Ince, I'm very fortunate to have two real driving forces.''

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