Southgate has steered Boro to their best start in nine seasons

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has urged his players to overcome their nervousness following Saturday's narrow 2-1 home win against Stoke City.

Despite seeing the visitors go down to 10 men Boro made hard work of securing the points and Southgate believes his players must cope with the pressure.

"We knew today was a game we were expected to win, even more so when we go a goal up," he told BBC Tees.

"Dealing with expectation is something we have got to get used to."

The win did take Boro to six points from nine for the season thus far, making it the club's best start to the season in nine years.

However Southgate admitted his expectations for the club have been raised following the manner in which his players have begun the new campaign.

"I am really pleased we have got the six points. I actually felt we would get seven points, but we got six and we can improve upon the Stoke game," he said.

"I have come away a bit flat because we have set a very high standard for ourselves in the first three games of the season.

"People say if you win and play badly it's a good sign, but I think it is a sign that we need to improve. We have got a good platform to build on."