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SHEFFIELD UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH - SOUTHGATE IMPRESSED BY BORO AWAY FORM
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is backing his side's resilience on the road to provide the foundation for another FA Cup charge.
The Teessiders face Coca-Cola Championship side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday in the fifth round knowing a continuation of their improved away form will give them an excellent chance of making the last eight for the third season in succession.
Boro are unbeaten in seven games in all competition, and have lost only one of the nine away fixtures they have played since the 4-1 defeat at Manchester United on October 27.
Only Birmingham have got the better of Southgate's side during that period with Barclays Premier League wins at Derby and Portsmouth and FA Cup victories at Bristol City and Mansfield combined with draws at Bolton, Reading, Blackburn and Newcastle sending confidence soaring.
Southgate said: "Our away form especially - four wins and four draws from our last nine - has been very pleasing.
"Historically, we have been a bit of a soft touch on the road, and that has been a really good sign.
"The players have to take enormous credit. They are a strong unit at the moment.
"They have been able to put aside all the other issues which came up in January and they have focused on the job in hand."
The departure of Blades boss Bryan Robson means the former Manchester United and England midfielder misses out on facing the club he spent seven years managing - guiding them to both domestic cup finals in 1997 only to lose twice and then suffer relegation from the top flight.
Boro have fared reasonably well in the FA Cup since, making the semi-finals in both 2002 and 2006 under Steve McClaren and going out in a quarter-final replay at Manchester United during Southgate's first campaign in charge last season.
Having stabilised their league position - the Teessiders have climbed to 12th place in the table and are now seven points clear of the drop zone after taking nine of the last 15 points on offer - they are ready to mount another bid for cup glory.
Record signing Afonso Alves is still working his way towards full fitness, as is £6million striker Mido, who has not started a game since October 20 because of a troublesome pubic bone injury.
However, Southgate has been delighted with the doggedness his team have shown in recent weeks and their ability to cope with setbacks both on and off the pitch.
He said: "In recent weeks, we have gone behind at Bristol City in the cup and in the game at Newcastle, and the players have not panicked, they have been very positive in their response.
"They have to take a tremendous amount of credit. There is a strong team spirit amongst them now and they have got to keep that."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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