Boro boss Gareth Southgate has an impressive FA Cup record as a manager

By Chris Bevan

Middlesbrough fans know only too well the danger of combining a Cup run with a relegation battle - it can end in tears.

In 1997 they belonged to Boro's Brazilian midfielder Juninho, who wept openly as he lay on the Elland Road pitch after his side had dropped out of the Premier League following a final-day 1-1 draw with Leeds United.

A week later, he was crying again; this time after Boro, who also boasted Fabrizio Ravanelli and Emerson in their line-up, were beaten by Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Boro, who were then still yet to win a major trophy, had also suffered heartache in the League Cup final earlier that same season. They not only finished the campaign without any silverware but also dropped out of the top flight.

Football is about dreams and that is why we have always taken the FA Cup seriously Gareth Southgate

Fast-forward 12 years and it is possible that current Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate will be contemplating the same outcome in May.

Boro are just one game away from Wembley, which is where the winner of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Everton will play their semi-final tie.

But Wednesday's disastrous 4-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Tottenham leaves Southgate's side 19th in the table with 10 games to play and poor results in their next two League games, against two more of their relegation rivals Portsmouth and Stoke, would leave Boro adrift in the bottom three.

The team immediately above Boro, Blackburn Rovers, fielded a shadow side in their fifth round defeat by Coventry City last week, with Rovers boss Sam Allardyce stressing that survival takes priority for him.

Southgate, however, feels trophies matter more - and insists their FA Cup run has actually helped to rejuvenate his side.

Manager Bryan Robson consoles Juninho after Middlesbrough's relegation in 1997

In their next Premier League match, Boro stunned high-flying Liverpool 2-0 at the Riverside and now Southgate needs the Cup to spark another revival.

Southgate told BBC Sport: "Football is about dreams and that is why we have always taken the FA Cup seriously.

"Our win against West Ham gave everyone renewed optimism. It kept everyone's dreams alive.

"Can the game against Everton restore our confidence again? Well, it's something to look forward to and we need to restore some pride, that's for certain.

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"We've lost a lot of that against Tottenham and, whether it is cup or league, we've got a game of football on Sunday and we've got to put a performance in."

"I've no idea what we'll get at Everton, but the one thing I know we'll get is a performance that is more professional than we managed against Spurs."

BBC Tees sports reporter Mark Drury, a lifelong fan who has seen every Boro game this season, feels Southgate is right to see his side's Wembley bid as helping, not hindering, their relegation fight.

Drury told me: "What's the point in playing football if you're not going to go for trophies?

"When you hear managers saying they don't want to be in the FA Cup, then that is disgraceful.

"It's not that tiring, you've got a squad. Even if you play 90 minutes or occasionally 120 minutes twice a week then get a grip - it is not as if you are digging roads.

"I said to Gareth after the win over West Ham that the Cup keeps the fun in the season and he was very keen to stress that point - that it is a bit of fun for them.

"It is an escape and it is a chance to play with a bit of freedom. The pressure has been off, they have relaxed and been able to play some good football without worrying about their league form.

"Also, winning is a habit. It's a cliche but it's true and it's a habit we haven't had so any win is welcome."

Alves has scored only one league goal since the end of October

But why are they struggling in the first place? A lack of goals is the most obvious reason; with just 20, Boro are the lowest league scorers in the top four English divisions.

Before Wednesday, Southgate's side had kept three clean sheets in their last five games but against Tottenham their defence was a shambles and a goal difference of minus 20 will not aid their cause.

A lack of know-how has not helped either. At 38, the former England defender is the youngest boss in the top flight and he also has an inexperienced team - the average age of his 18-man squad for the Spurs game was 24, and only four of them have played more than 100 Premier League games.

This is the third straight season that Southgate has taken his side to the last eight of the FA Cup as a manager - he was captain when they reached the semi-final in 2006 - and in both of his previous campaigns in charge he has achieved comfortable mid-table finishes.

He has done so despite having to contend with a more conservative approach from chairman Steve Gibson than any of his immediate predecessors - Boro's debt is estimated at between £85m-£100m and Southgate had no money to spend to bring in players during the January transfer window.

But the club also turned down a £15m bid from Tottenham for Downing at the start of the year and Southgate has had money to spend - he broke the club record to sign Afonso Alves for a fee in excess of £10m in January 2008.

That the Brazilian striker has failed to deliver - he has scored only once in the league since the end of October yet remains Boro's top goalscorer with seven in all competitions - is a big reason why his side are in their present predicament.

And despite the similarities to 1996/97, it is a very different situation this time around. That year, Ravanelli scored 31 goals on his own - this season, the whole team has managed only 33 between them.

Can the game against Everton restore our confidence again? Well, it's something to look forward to and we need to restore some pride, that's for certain Gareth Southgate

"There are plenty of Boro fans that would say the 1996/97 season was fantastic," Drury explained. "It was out of this world. I saw a Boro side that played some of the best football I have ever seen from any team.

"You could not say that the current team has the same sort of attacking flair. There would be a parallel if Boro went down and got to the Cup final but I don't think it will happen.

"The more interesting comparison is with last season when Boro got to the sixth round and played Cardiff City at the Riverside. With the teams that were left in it, Boro had the best chance that anyone on Teesside can remember to win the FA Cup and they blew it.

"This season, they are not going to be favourites, but it is still a good chance. And they have to go for it."

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