 |
|
|
|
BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX
© All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2007, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission. |
|
PORTSMOUTH v MIDDLESBROUGH - SOUTHGATE: LEARN FROM WAKE-UP CALL
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is urging his players to take note of their FA Cup wake-up call as they return to Premiership action.
The Teessiders go to Portsmouth intent on gaining revenge for their 4-0 humiliation by Pompey at the Riverside Stadium on August 28.
However, they do so having had to survive an impressive fightback from League One Bristol City in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with Gary Johnson's promotion-chasers recovering from 2-0 down to secure a replay.
The winners of that game will host West Brom in the last 16 but Southgate is hoping lessons have been learned as he prepares for tough league clashes with Portsmouth, Arsenal and Chelsea in quick succession.
He said: "It is a good time for us to be going into this run. The team is playing well, they are full of confidence.
"We had a bit of a wake-up call on Saturday, which came at a good time for us.
"You are always vulnerable when people are patting you on the back. After Bolton, it was nice that people were saying nice things about us, but we are probably more comfortable when they are not.
"Saturday came at just the right time without costing us our place in the next round."
The Bolton game represented something of a watershed for Boro as they demolished Sam Allardyce's European hopefuls 5-1 at the Riverside to record a third successive league win.
That helped to ease them further away from the relegation zone, although Southgate is astute enough to know they could soon head back that way if they do not maintain that form.
The Teessiders have never won a Premiership game at Fratton Park, although such records simply provide further motivation for the former England international.
He said: "That is the kind of record that is there to be broken. You are always looking to make little bits of history.
"We have had an horrendous record at Arsenal in the past but we got a point down there.
"We have always had records that you have got to try to take out and we do not go down there with any fear at all.
"But we know we have got to play well to go there and win.
"Harry Redknapp has built a team on guys who have a lot of Premiership experience, strong players, and the challenge for us is to go down there and take them on in their own back yard.
"We are looking forward to that challenge."
Southgate will have captain George Boateng back at his disposal after he missed the cup game through suspension, but striker Mark Viduka remains a doubt with a hamstring strain.
BACK TO PORTSMOUTH MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Sitemap || Search Site || Terms and Privacy || Set as Homepage || Bookmark Site |
| This website designed, maintained and managed by Waking Lion ©2004-2008 |
