WITH two of his closest friends in football struggling against relegation, Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate has revealed how other managers' misfortune has taught him to go with his instinct.

If Southgate celebrates victory over Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium today there is a feeling within the game that Stuart Pearce could be removed from his position at Eastlands.

The pair remain allies from their days together with England - when the latter took his team-mate to a Sex Pistols concert following the penalty shoot-out win over Spain in Euro '96 - and the Boro boss dearly wants to see Pearce succeed.

But, insisting there will be no old pals' act on Teesside, Southgate knows three points are essential if Middlesbrough's hopes of clinching a UEFA Cup place via the league are to be remain alive.

Such a success, though, would be to the detriment of Pearce, although it would be to the benefit of another of Southgate's friends in the game, Alan Pardew.

And it is Pardew's situation at Charlton, having previously been axed by West Ham after guiding them to promotion to the Premiership and into the UEFA Cup, that has highlighted to Southgate that there can be no place for sympathy today.

"I had a chat with both of them this week," said the Middlesbrough boss, who started the campaign tentatively trying to work out the best system to suit his playing staff.

"When Alan got the sack, the one thing it underlined was that you never know what will happen so you have to do what you really believe in when you can.

"You have to be 100 per cent committed to doing it your way. If you have regrets then you will always think 'what if'?

"Alan's situation at West Ham made me more committed to doing what I believe in. I had spoken about playing more attacking football and we had not been able to see it through in those early games. It prompted me to look at my intentions and follow them. That's what I did."

In no way does Southgate think Pearce is on the verge of becoming the next Premiership manager for the sack, but he urged the City board to give him time.

The problem is, however, that if Middlesbrough emerge with the points today then third-from-bottom Charlton could close the gap to the Light Blues to just three points with eight matches remaining.

And, given City's woeful run of five straight defeats - they are without a win in six league games - the need for turning things around is more pressing than ever.

"I don't know Stuart's managerial qualities because I haven't played under him," said Southgate, whose side have lost just once in 15 since the turn of the year. "I know him as a player and there's more to him than jumping over the touchline shouting. He cares deeply about the game.

"He is in the spotlight but he will cope with that because he is a big character. He needs time to see that bad run through."

With the FA Cup quarter-final replay at City's rivals United on Monday, Southgate knows he has to select teams capable of winning both games.

He admits changes will be made and his task could have been made easier by the fact George Boateng, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Julio Arca have not been training for much of the week. That could mean changes to the side that drew with United last Saturday. "These two games are both so important to us," said Southgate who could also rest Jonathan Woodgate.

"I have to pick a team for Saturday with Monday in mind. I need the quality and the energy in both. It's not my intention to forfeit a game.

"We can't take either lightly. I'm clear in my mind what I want to do. The team are up for it. We have spoken about it as a group and momentum is important."

South Korean Dong Gook Lee could make his first start. "What I have seen from him as a substitute and on the training ground suggests he is ready," said Southgate.

"I have been saying we need to get him into the side. But he has two front boys ahead of him who have made a real difference to the team. They are playing so well. It's frustrating for him because he is an international. I feel he is ready now."