MANAGER Gareth Southgate says he wants Middlesbrough supporters to have a greater say in the Teessider's progress as the team strives on two fronts - to beat the drop and attempting to win the FA Cup.

The last 15 years has proved to be the most successful period of Boro's 132-year existence, with four domestic cup finals, one European final, and two promotions, while achieving stability in the top flight for the first time in decades. Yet fans still stay away in their droves.

Cost and the quality of the opposition are important factors in why fans don't turn up. But if the relative success of recent seasons can't persuade fans to back their team, what will?

Admittedly Boro's tired performance against struggling Reading will hardly have stayaway supporters clamouring for a return to the Riverside, but surely the idea is to support your club through thick and thin.

And had fans turned out in greater numbers on Saturday they could have played an important part in inspiring the club to victory.

A little over 23, 000 turned up to watch their side put on an unflattering show - nearly 5,000 down on last Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round replay against Sheffield United - and supporters present hardly encouraged.

Southgate acknowledged he would like his supporters to get behind the team more, but made it known his side has to inspire the fans too.

"It is a collective thing," said the Boro boss. "You always run the risk of upsetting supporters when you're critical but I did feel the atmosphere was flat.

"It is absolutely our responsibility to get them going but sometimes the team needs a lift.

"I think if I was Reading I would be aware that if you keep the crowd quiet you are half way towards doing their job."

Julia Arca was another who believed the FA Cup replay with Sheffield United was a contributing factor. But the skipper is confident the Teessiders have too much in their locker to get sucked back into relegation danger.

"We could have put some distance between us and Reading,"

said Arca who made his 50th appearance for the club. "In the Premier League you lose concentration for a minute and you're punished. No-one will feel sorry for us but it is a great win for them because they have closed the gap on the teams above them.

"We knew it was important to win because we have two difficult games coming up in the league against Aston Villa and Arsenal, but the teams around us have tough games.

"Now we've got the FA Cup to think about and then we'll concentrate on Villa after that.

"Anything can change in a week. Newcastle got beat again they're only three points away from the relegation zone. We know we're not safe yet.

"It looks like relegation will go to the last day of the season.

Hopefully we will get a couple of good results and finish in a higher position."