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Southgate absolves Jones of blame

Brad Jones
Keeper Brad Jones was deemed to be at fault for Everton's equaliser

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has refused to blame goalkeeper Brad Jones after his indecision cost a goal in Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Everton.

Jones failed to reach a cross as striker Marouane Fellaini looped in a header to bring Everton, before Louis Saha added the winner minutes later.

"There were mistakes in the build-up - this isn't the time to point fingers at people," Southgate told BBC Tees.

"We lost because we didn't do enough as a team and we didn't defend our box."

Despite the defeat, Southgate insisted he was proud of the manner of the performance, particularly given the 4-0 Premier League defeat by Spurs in midweek.

"The dressing room is bitterly disappointed, as the fans will be, but we've had to come to Goodison to face a side that beat Liverpool and Villa.

"We've got a quarter of a season to go and we now have to work through the reality of dealing with our problems in the league."



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see also
Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough
08 Mar 09 |  FA Cup
MOTD community feature: Middlesbrough
06 Mar 09 |  Match of the Day


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