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Safety is the prize for Wear-Tees derby victors
WITH five points separating both
Middlesbrough and Sunderland
from the relegation zone, Gareth
Southgate insists his players are
in the right frame of mind to
claim the required result on
Wearside today.
A point apiece should be
enough for the North Sea neighbours
to preserve top-flight status,
although such an outcome
could mean both waiting until
next weekend before planning
for life in the Premier League
come August.
Southgate and his opposite
number Roy Keane, however, are
looking for the victory that will
assure the victors of their place,
regardless of other results this
weekend.
Middlesbrough have spent the
whole of the campaign in the bottom
half of the table and the consensus
among the coaching staff
on Teesside is that the players
are primed to deliver the goods.
"We have been in the lower
reaches of the league all season
so we are quite hardened," said
Southgate.
"We have a fantastic game to
look forward to and we can put
last week's defeat to Bolton right
in a derby, which means everything
to players and fans and a
chance to get another win.
"It would be good to enjoy the
two remaining games after Sunderland
with no relegation pressure,
but we know it will be a battle
and we know they have some
good footballers who are capable
on their day.
"We were bitterly disappointed
with the way things ended up
against Bolton and I know Sunderland
is the biggest game of
the season. I know the reaction I
will get from them. We felt we
would need to go to Sunderland
and beat them to finish above
them and that may still be the
case."
It will be the second time
Southgate has pitted his managerial
methods against Keane,
having drawn at the Riverside
Stadium on September 22.
All eyes will be centred on
Julio Arca when he makes his
first appearance at the ground he
used to grace later today, but it
will also be an emotional day for
Malcolm Crosby.
Crosby, Southgate's assistant
manager, led Sunderland to the
FA Cup final in 1992, only to suffer
defeat to Liverpool at Wembley.
The sack, however, fell his
way in February the following
year - in bizarre circumstances.
"I chuckle because he tells the
story he lost his job because of
the pools panel, the only manager
to have done so," said Southgate.
"Their match had been postponed
for some reason on the Saturday
and the panel gave a home
win to Tranmere. On the Monday
he was sacked. He can laugh
about it and there is no bitterness.
"Having his experience alongside
me helps.
"He has been involved in the
coaching game for 20-odd years at
every level and is a very calm person,
one of those who puts life
into perspective.
"He has been a huge help and
he is a very decent man."
9:33am Saturday 26th April 2008
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