A GLOOMY Gareth Southgate has shouldered responsibility for Wednesday night's Carling Cup quarter-final defeat to Blackburn, claiming: "I didn't do my job."

The Middlesbrough skipper, who lifted the trophy when Boro broke their 128-year silverware duck last February, was devastated by the manner of his side's limp exit from this year's competition.

Southgate failed came to terms with the energy and enterprise of Blackburn strikers Shefki Kuqi and Paul Dickov, and neither he nor fellow centre-half Chris Riggott were anywhere to be seen when the former crossed for the latter to score the winner in the 90th minute.

The 35-year-old was honest enough to hold his hands up in the aftermath of the defeat, admitting that boss Steve McClaren was justified in his emotional attack at his players.

"Blackburn deserved the win," said Southgate, who also won the League Cup during his time at Aston Villa. "They battled harder and showed more desire to win throughout the match.

"As captain of this club, it hurts me to say that, but I've got to take responsibility myself. I didn't play well enough during the match and struggled to deal with their front two.

"If I don't do my job, then it sets a tone. Unfortunately, we were firmly second best from the first minute until the last. I've got no excuses."

While Boro's defence was not at its best on Wednesday, things were hardly any better at the other end of the field.

Neither Aiyegbeni Yakubu nor Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink threatened to make a breakthrough and, while substitute Massimo Maccarone hit the post in stoppage time, it was a rare opportunity on a very uneventful evening.

"You can't keep on asking the forwards to keep scoring two or three foals every game," countered Southgate. "It's not fair, we should be better at the back."

With the Carling Cup now out of the equation, and the UEFA Cup placed on the back-burner until it resumes in February, Boro can concentrate on improving a league position that currently leaves a lot to be desired.

McClaren's men lie 13th in the Premiership after winning just one of their last six league games, and resume their faltering campaign when Blackburn make a rapid return to the Riverside on Boxing Day.

Southgate is relishing the chance for some revenge, and vowed: "We will sort our Premiership form out sooner rather than later.

"I don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing to play them again so quickly.

"But one thing is for sure, the boys want to get back out onto the pitch and put things right. We will be fired up for Monday.

"We are still in the FA Cup and have progressed through to the latter stages in the UEFA Cup. Things could certainly look a lot different in a week's time, but that's football.

"The fans deserve more than this and I will try my very best to lead from the front and turn things around, starting on Boxing Day."

Meanwhile, defender Andrew Davies has outlined his desire to return to the Riverside next month.

The 21-year-old moved to Derby on a season-long loan in the summer and a series of impressive displays have prompted the Midlands club to ponder the possibility of a permanent move.

They are expected to make a formal approach when the transfer window re-opens next month, but Davies remains hopeful of a return to his native Teesside.

"I feel privileged Derby want to buy me," he said. "But the place I want to be and the place I feel most at home is Middlesbrough.

"I speak to the club a lot and Boro's scouts are keeping track of me, so fingers crossed.

"Boro is my club and even though I've become used to being first-choice at Derby, I definitely wouldn't say no to a return in January."

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