SEVEN days after the heartbreak of losing to Sunderland, Gareth Southgate insists the Middlesbrough dressing room possesses the steel and character to respond by claiming the results that will keep them in the Premier League.

One win from their last ten topflight fixtures has dropped Boro to within four points of a relegation place before closing the campaign with back-to-back home games with Portsmouth and Manchester City.

And while the cushion suggests Middlesbrough should have done enough to retain their place among the elite for a further year, there is a danger complacency would prove costly.

Defeat to Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium would mean final day nerves when Sven- Goran Eriksson's farewell fixture as City boss arrives, regardless of the result between Fulham and Birmingham City later today.

It is a situation that would have been over and done with had Boro taken three points away from Wearside a week ago, but Wear-Tees derby defeat has left Middlesbrough fans looking to the final two matches with a hint of trepidation.

Southgate, however, has no concerns. After spending the last week working with his players in the aftermath of the disappointment felt at the Stadium of Light, he is confident that survival can be achieved within the next 24 hours.

"It's pointless doing the maths," said Southgate. "No matter how you look at it, we have to get the win that puts everything else to bed. I have said to the players, let'stake our destiny in our own hands and not rely on other people.

"Whether we're frustrated, disappointed or both, we've got two games to sort ourselves out. People at other clubs wouldn't be unduly surprised we're in this situation and it's up to us to sort ourselves out."

After Sunderland were urged forward to score a crucial injurytime winner through Daryl Murphy by a crowd of more than 40,000 last weekend, Southgate called for Middlesbrough's supporters to turn out in force for this afternoon's must-win encounter.

During the build up to the visit of Portsmouth, there has been a drive to raise awareness of the fixture and the day has been marked Community Pride Day by the club, with supporters asked to wear their favourite home shirts and take along scarves and banners in an attempt to create a sea of red.

Despite the initiatives, ticket sales remain well short of the 30,000 mark, but Southgate believes Middlesbrough's fans will be ready to give their full backing despite a dreadful run of form.

"Defeats like Sunderland opens ourselves up to criticism from supporters," said Southgate, who has recalled defender Chris Riggott from a loan spell from Stoke.

"Nobody could be lower than the players in our dressing room on Saturday, but football gives you an opportunity a week later to put everything right.

"You've seen with Sunderland this year how much their home supporters have added to their stadium.

"A good atmosphere has a big impact on the players.

"Our fans will come out in force and be right with us. Our fans are experienced enough and have followed us long enough, they won't start turning on us.

They know how much their support means at this stage. They'll be right with us all the way through."

Despite the acquisitions of Tuncay Sanli, Jeremie Aliadiere, Gary O'Neil, Luke Young, Mido and Jonathan Woodgate (now Tottenham) last summer, Southgate admits he is not surprised that Middlesbrough are in this mess.

"It would be easy to go through a catalogue of reasons for why we are where we are, but they don't serve any purpose at the moment," said Southgate. "We will go through those in the close season. All we can affect is Saturday.

"At half-time in the third game of the season (when losing at Fulham after defeats to Blackburn and Wigan), if it was said to me then that we would be four points clear of relegation at this stage, I might have taken it. I'm not going to be panicking because it's in our own hands.

"We have had difficult periods and big setbacks before every game, seemingly, but I'd still sooner be in our position than anyone else's."

■ Tickets remain available for both today's match with Portsmouth and next Sunday's visit of Manchester City. The prices are from £24 for adults, from £15 for Under-16s and just £9 for all areas for Under-11s.

To purchase tickets, call 0844 499 1234.