GARETH Southgate has experienced the same intense pressures that are thought to have resulted in Roy Keane deciding to call a premature end to his career at Sunderland.

But while the Middlesbrough boss empathises with his erstwhile local rival he feels that he is able to cope with the cut and thrust of topflight management.

“There’s a hell of a lot of emotion in football. Winning matches improves your enthusiasm and recovering from defeats drains enthusiasm.

But that’s the challenge we take on and maybe Roy feels he needs a break or doesn’t want to do it at all.

“But until we all go into it we don’t know what it’s about – I didn’t and it’s all-consuming,”

said the Boro boss.

Ahead of his team’s trip to high-flying Hull City, Southgate reflected on the narrow margin that causes managers to feel on top of the world one week, and resign the next.

“I’m a bit surprised because the last two years have been onwards and upwards for Sunderland,’’ he said.

“So for there to be a change at the first real difficult time is a surprise but I think quite a few people felt that this would happen.

“I’m not entirely surprised Roy’s gone because when you’re working in the North East there’s not much that’s secret at any club. It’s been a difficult period for them, particularly the home games.

“It’s his decision. I think it highlights the pressures and the way it can affect your thinking because one more win and things could be different.

“In fact I’m sure they would – if he’d beaten Bolton last week he’d possibly still be there. The margins are tiny but it impacts on everybody in different ways.

“When you lose matches I think you always look at yourself and what you are doing – are you making a difference, what needs to change?

“I’ve never felt in a position when I couldn’t make a difference so I continue to work on that basis.

Southgate, who believes that football is becoming less enjoyable, added: “When I was playing, and when Roy was playing the game was possibly more enjoyable with less pressures, less of a spotlight and people could relax a bit more.

“But the modern era is tough and much more pressured.

You’ve got to keep your focus and try to influence what you can control and forget about the things you can’t do anything about.’’