Southgate thinks Boro have "realistic opportunities" to avoid the drop

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate believes victory at Newcastle on 11 May is critical to his side's hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation.

Boro's 2-0 home defeat by Manchester United left them on 31 points - a place below third-bottom Magpies who have a better goal difference.

"We have to go to there now and deal with the atmosphere," said Southgate.

"It is possibly the last throw of the dice because we need the momentum of a win to carry into the last two games."

Middlesbrough rarely threatened Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who continued their charge at the top thanks to goals from Ryan Giggs and Ji-Sung Park.

606: DEBATE Is it all over for Boro?

"The reality is, as I have said for a number of weeks, that we have to go to Newcastle and win," added Southgate, whose team then face Aston Villa at home before travelling to West Ham for the final game of the season.

"As a group of players and staff, we have to consign today to history.

"The last two weeks, we have been looking for a miracle, really, to get a result against the two teams we have been up against.

"Now we have realistic opportunities and we have to take them.

"We have got it all to do - but we have known that from probably 10 weeks ago."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version