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PORTSMOUTH v MIDDLESBROUGH - SOUTHGATE AFTER RAPID RESPONSE
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has challenged his players to prove to themselves they are good enough to make an impact in the Barclays Premier League.
The Teessiders headed into the holiday programme having seemingly turned a corner with impressive league victories over Arsenal and lowly Derby to drag themselves into mid-table.
However, they then lost at home to West Ham and away to Birmingham to slip back into 16th place, just three points clear of the drop zone, and Southgate has called for a swift response against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
He said: "We have got a point to prove to ourselves because we failed to deliver against West Ham and against Birmingham.
"Now we have to got to Portsmouth and make sure we do it.
"Especially over this Christmas period, so much of it is mental. In top level sport, confidence can rise and fall.
"Every game is a different type of challenge and you have to be up for that challenge every time you step over the white line.
"We failed to do that at Birmingham and we have got to make sure when we go to Portsmouth we are right on it."
Boro took the lead against the Hammers but were pegged back by Dean Ashton's strike before Scott Parker snatched victory for the visitors.
At Birmingham, they fell behind to Stewart Downing's own goal before Mikael Forssell and a Gary McSheffrey penalty set the seal on a disappointing afternoon and left Southgate with food for thought.
He added: "We saw at Birmingham that, no matter what you are doing further forward, if you concede goals, you give yourselves a mountain to climb.
"We have conceded too many goals this season and too many poor goals, so that is an aspect we have got to get right.
"We felt confident going into it that we could get something from the game, but we let ourselves down.
"The only way to respond to that is to put things right at Portsmouth."
Boro have a poor record at Fratton Park, but they will be buoyed by Pompey's recent difficulties at home.
Harry Redknapp's men have not won in their last six attempts, although Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal was by no means a poor result.
By contrast they have, with the exception of a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on December 22, prospered on the road, winning their previous six on the trot to underline their ability.
Pompey have been a surprise package for some, but Southgate does not count himself among them.
He said: "They are not better than I thought they would be, I have got to say.
"They spent heavily in the summer. They had the basis of a good team last season, a very strong defence, a very experienced team, lots of players in their late 20s or early 30s.
"They have a superb goalkeeper and a very strong back four, and they spent over £25million or so on new recruits, and people like (Sulley) Muntari and (John) Utaka have looked good players in this division.
"They are a strong team, but they have had a little difficult spell at home themselves recently and we have got to go and make sure we give a response to what we did at Birmingham."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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