Source: Daily_Mail
Gareth out: Southgate sacked by Steve Gibson after Middlesbrough beat Derby
Gareth Southgate was sensationally sacked by Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson last night, just hours after securing a valuable home win to take his side one point behind leaders Newcastle.[LNB]Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is among the leading contenders to take over at the Riverside and he will top Gibson's wish list as he looks to bring in an experienced successor immediately.[LNB]Southgate's number two and former Boro defender Colin Cooper is expected to be in temporary charge for Middlesbrough's visit to fellow promotion chasers Preston North End on Saturday, [LNB]Out on a limb: Southgate observes his final game as Boro boss[LNB]Gibson has resolved to remove Southgate from the Riverside hot seat amid fears he has completely lost the confidence of the club's supporters.[LNB]Although last night's 2-0 win over Derby County ended Boro's run of four successive home defeats, it was in front of the Riverside's lowest ever league attendance of just 17,459.[LNB]Winger Adam Johnson took his season's tally to eight in a comfortable victory which appeared to have eased the pressure on the former England international and Middlesbrough captain.[LNB]In his press conference after the game, Southgate admitted he knew he was on the brink if Middlesbrough had lost their fourth home game in a row.[LNB]He said: 'You wonder about the consequences of defeat. You know a fourth home defeat on the bounce would have been difficult for everyone involved with the club to accept. There would have been more speculation and that would have made life much more difficult for all of us.[LNB]'The margins are fine. We are a point off the top but it would have been very different if we had not won.[LNB]'We showed character and resilience, we were effective rather than attractive, but we didn't want to put our fans through anything but a win and the burden is lifted until Saturday.'[LNB]But if he thought the win had given him a stay of execution, he was mistaken. Southgate was then called up to Gibson's office at the Riverside Stadium and told he was no longer in charge.[LNB]After standing by Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and Southgate, the decision will not have been an easy one for the popular Boro chairman.[LNB]Although the win has kept Middlesbrough in touch with the Coca-Cola Championship joint leaders Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion, who were both relegated with Boro last season, it has not resolved the dramatic fall in attendances on Teesside this season.[LNB]Last night's crowd was a new record low, breaking the previous record which was set in Watford's 1-0 win on Saturday, a game Gibson missed.[LNB]Southgate, who led Boro to their first ever cup win and lifted the Carling Cup, was appointed three years ago by Gibson after he failed to lure Terry Venables back to the club.[LNB]The former England defender had a tough first season as McClaren's successor, replacing an ageing and well-paid squad and bringing in players while still trying to set up his own scouting network. He was also forced to study for the UEFA badges throughout his reign, completing his pro-licence in the summer, ironically just as Boro were relegated from the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]As well as contending with the drop last season, Southgate was heavily criticised for his transfer record and was forced to allow record £12 million signing Afonso Alves leave in August after the Brazilian striker flopped miserably with just four goals. Blackpool 3 Sheffield United 0Ipswich 1 Watford 1Nottingham Forest 1 Barnsley 0Scunthorpe 2 Newcastle 1 QPR 4 Reading 1West Bromwich Albion 0 Swansea 1Championship round-up: The rest of Tuesday night's action[LNB] [LNB]
