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MIDDLESBROUGH v ASTON VILLA - POGA PREDICTS UPTURN IN FORTUNES
Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz has warned the Barclays Premier League basement-boys his side can only get better.
Boro entertain Aston Villa at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday lying uncomfortably just one place and two points above the relegation zone.
Pogatetz, who is back in harness after undergoing surgery on both knees during the summer, freely admits the Teessiders have under-achieved during the opening months of the season.
However, he is confident they can improve markedly, and is not so sure the sides around them can.
Pogatetz said: "We know this is a very difficult time at the moment, but it is still in our hands to make it a good season.
"If you look at the table, we are not the only team that is in such a poor position.
"There are a lot of other teams and if we get a couple of wins, everything will look a lot better.
"Until Christmas, we have to get points and then the Christmas period will be maybe the most important of the season. We have to find our form now.
"But we know we have not been at our best; I do not know if other teams can get better than they are.
"We know we can get better, we are not at 100%, that is why everyone is confident we can get out of this situation, because we know we can play better.
"I do not know if all the other teams who are below us or in a similar position can say that.
"That's why everyone is confident that maybe in one month or two months, we can be in a lot better position."
Boro have not won a single league game since their 2-0 victory over Birmingham on September 1, a run of eight fixtures which has yielded only three points.
However, two of those points have come from draws against Tottenham and Bolton in their most recent outings, and with games against Reading, Derby, West Ham and Birmingham to come before the turn of the year, they believe they have a chance to move away from trouble.
Pogatetz said: "Everything is very tight at the moment. If you look at the table, we are not far off maybe 12th or 11th place, so it is a very important spell, especially with Christmas coming up.
"We really have to find our form now because it is a very important period coming up.
"If we do well then, everything will look a lot better, and we have to make sure we start against Villa at home.
"Home games are the most important for us this season, especially the ones coming up."
Pogatetz returned to action as an early substitute at the Reebok Stadium when Andrew Taylor limped off with a foot problem, and could make his first start of the season tomorrow.
Manager Gareth Southgate still has a depressing injury list with which to contend, although he could have both Jonathan Woodgate, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, and Taylor back this weekend.
Fabio Rochemback and Robert Huth could also be in contention, but Julio Arca is likely to remain on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury and striker Mido's groin injury is proving frustratingly stubborn.
Southgate said: "It is a frustration for us and particularly for him. He is very down about it.
"He wanted to come here and score goals and play a big part for the team."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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