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VIDEO: Middlesbrough v Manchester City press conference.
Southgate calls on players to show strength of character
SEVEN days after the heartbreak
of losing to Sunderland,
Gareth Southgate insists the
Middlesbrough dressing room
possesses the steel and character
to respond by claiming the results
that will keep them in the
Premier League.
One win from their last ten topflight
fixtures has dropped Boro
to within four points of a relegation
place before closing the campaign
with back-to-back home
games with Portsmouth and
Manchester City.
And while the cushion suggests
Middlesbrough should have
done enough to retain their place
among the elite for a further year,
there is a danger complacency
would prove costly.
Defeat to Portsmouth at the
Riverside Stadium would mean
final day nerves when Sven-
Goran Eriksson's farewell fixture
as City boss arrives, regardless of
the result between Fulham and
Birmingham City later today.
It is a situation that would
have been over and done with
had Boro taken three points away
from Wearside a week ago, but
Wear-Tees derby defeat has left
Middlesbrough fans looking to
the final two matches with a hint
of trepidation.
Southgate, however, has no
concerns. After spending the last
week working with his players in
the aftermath of the disappointment
felt at the Stadium of Light,
he is confident that survival can
be achieved within the next 24
hours.
"It's pointless doing the
maths," said Southgate. "No matter
how you look at it, we have to
get the win that puts everything
else to bed. I have said to the players,
let'stake our destiny in our
own hands and not rely on other
people.
"Whether we're frustrated, disappointed
or both, we've got two
games to sort ourselves out. People
at other clubs wouldn't be unduly
surprised we're in this situation
and it's up to us to sort
ourselves out."
After Sunderland were urged
forward to score a crucial injurytime
winner through Daryl Murphy
by a crowd of more than
40,000 last weekend, Southgate
called for Middlesbrough's supporters
to turn out in force for
this afternoon's must-win encounter.
During the build up to the visit
of Portsmouth, there has been a
drive to raise awareness of the
fixture and the day has been
marked Community Pride Day
by the club, with supporters
asked to wear their favourite
home shirts and take along
scarves and banners in an attempt
to create a sea of red.
Despite the initiatives, ticket
sales remain well short of the
30,000 mark, but Southgate believes
Middlesbrough's fans will
be ready to give their full backing
despite a dreadful run of form.
"Defeats like Sunderland
opens ourselves up to criticism
from supporters," said Southgate,
who has recalled defender
Chris Riggott from a loan spell
from Stoke.
"Nobody could be lower than
the players in our dressing room
on Saturday, but football gives
you an opportunity a week later
to put everything right.
"You've seen with Sunderland
this year how much their home
supporters have added to their
stadium.
"A good atmosphere has a big
impact on the players.
"Our fans will come out in
force and be right with us. Our
fans are experienced enough and
have followed us long enough,
they won't start turning on us.
They know how much their support
means at this stage. They'll
be right with us all the way
through."
Despite the acquisitions of
Tuncay Sanli, Jeremie Aliadiere,
Gary O'Neil, Luke Young, Mido
and Jonathan Woodgate (now
Tottenham) last summer, Southgate
admits he is not surprised
that Middlesbrough are in this
mess.
"It would be easy to go through
a catalogue of reasons for why
we are where we are, but they
don't serve any purpose at the
moment," said Southgate. "We
will go through those in the close
season. All we can affect is Saturday.
"At half-time in the third game
of the season (when losing at Fulham
after defeats to Blackburn
and Wigan), if it was said to me
then that we would be four points
clear of relegation at this stage, I
might have taken it. I'm not
going to be panicking because it's
in our own hands.
"We have had difficult periods
and big setbacks before every
game, seemingly, but I'd still
sooner be in our position than
anyone else's."
■ Tickets remain available for
both today's match with
Portsmouth and next Sunday's
visit of Manchester City. The
prices are from £24 for adults,
from £15 for Under-16s and just £9
for all areas for Under-11s.
To purchase tickets, call 0844
499 1234.
9:30am Saturday 3rd May 2008
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