Huth has made just 42 appearances for Boro since August 2006

Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth has revealed the pressure of fighting a relegation battle is weighing heavily on the whole squad's shoulders.

Huth, 24, was part of the side which slumped to defeat by Manchester City on Saturday, but confessed the club's poor run of form is affecting confidence.

"It's huge, we think about it every day," he told BBC Tees.

"There's no hiding from it. It takes up a big part of my life because I don't want to be down there."

The defeat by Mark Hughes' side was made more galling by Boro's profligacy in front of goal, with striker Afonso Alves on the end of four excellent chances, yet denied by a string of fine saves by City's new keeper, Shay Given.

But Huth has defended the Brazilian forward and believes the responsibility for goals lies with the team as a whole.

"We had a few chances to get a goal but we have to cross the game off now," the Germany international said.

"We had four one-on-ones and you can't forget it, in a way it's positive but we have to score one or two of them.

"It's difficult to take a positive, I'd rather just have one chance and score rather than miss.

"There's no use shooting anyone in the back, I will score, Alves will score, whoever scores, we will stay up."

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