GARETH SOUTHGATE last night asked referee Mark Halsey to have another look at the incident that led to George Boateng being sent off late on in Middlesbrough's defeat at Tottenham.

The situation was sparked by Boateng squaring up to Aaron Lennon after the Tottenham winger crashed into the Dutchman two minutes from time.

Spurs midfielder Didier Zokora then confronted the Middlesbrough man and almost every player on the pitch charged over to inflame the incident.

Mr Halsey showed a red card to both Boateng and Zokora and the two will miss the next three matches through suspension.

Southgate said: "At the time I had a poor view. I have seen it again on the replay. The problem is that he raised his hands, even if it looks like he is protecting himself more than anything.

"There are a few players running towards him and he puts his hands up. We will ask the referee to look at it. He is stopping players from running into him. I would like him to look at it."

Lee Cattermole will also be suspended for the visit of Wigan on Saturday, so changes will be enforced.

But that is not the worry for Southgate who is more concerned with the way his players are being made to pay for the occasional lapse in concentration.

They let a point slip from their grasp six minutes from time when Robbie Keane's tame drive crept past Mark Schwarzer.

"We got ourselves into a position to get something and switched off again," said Southgate. "It's that attention to detail so I have to look at that.

"We are shooting ourselves in the foot."

Boro remain three points above the relegation zone and Southgate added: "We have known this was a difficult period of games.

"Now leading up to Christmas we have to go and get points and we are capable of doing that."