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MIDDLESBROUGH v BOLTON - ONE STEP AT A TIME FOR SOUTHGATE
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is refusing to get carried away by his side's improving form.
Three victories in four games have seen the Teessiders ease their fears of being dragged into the fight for Premiership survival and edged them into the FA Cup fourth round.
However, Boro welcome high-flying Bolton to the Riverside Stadium knowing there is no room for complacency despite finally ending their 17-game wait for an away win at Charlton last weekend.
Southgate said: "We have got to take things a step at a time. We have had a couple of good results, we have got that first away win, which was very important to us, but we are not going to get carried away with it.
"We have shown tremendous attitude, particularly in the last couple of months, and a high level of performance.
"Even prior to the recent good run we have had, we had good performances at Villa and against Manchester United at home and away at Fulham, and we perhaps did not get the rewards we deserved.
"Now we have picked up back-to-back league wins, we want to get a run going."
Successive Premiership wins over Sheffield United and Charlton have lifted Boro into 14th spot, nine places and 13 points adrift of Saturday's opponents.
That form continued on Tuesday evening when they looked to be cruising in Wednesday night's FA Cup third-round replay against Hull after establishing a 3-0 lead.
However, a concerted Tigers fightback left Southgate's men clinging on to claim a nervy 4-3 victory.
The Teessiders established a reputation as a cup side last season as they reached the FA Cup semi-finals and the final of the UEFA Cup.
But while Southgate would prefer Boro, who defeated Bolton in the 2004 Carling Cup final to lift their first major honour, to be remembered for their league achievements, he will happily take an extended run in the FA Cup with a trip to League One Bristol City awaiting them.
He said: "I want us to be recognised as being a good side in the league first and foremost, but we have had some really exciting cup runs.
"You want your season to be alive. It is no problem to me if we have more fixtures because I have lots of players who want to play and the more games we have, the more opportunities they get."
Boro are likely to be without skipper George Boateng once again as he recovers from a calf injury.
However, defenders Emanuel Pogatetz and Andrew Taylor, who were left out of the Hull game as a precaution, should return.
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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