Middlesbrough FC

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Aliadiere news boosts Boro

04 Jan 2009 - 10:27:36

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate believes Jeremie Aliadiere did not suffer a serious injury during Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup third round win over Barrow.

The France striker was stretchered off in the first half of the clash with the non-league side at the Riverside Stadium.

Barrow midfielder Mike Pearson did break his leg following a second-half challenge by Boro's Marvin Emnes, but Southgate believes Aliadiere has escaped serious injury.

"We think Jeremie is okay," he said. "He's had an X-ray and we feared a possible fractured fibula, but it seems it might just be deep bruising.

"The injuries are the only sour note of the day."

The Teessiders booked their place in the fourth round draw courtesy of two goals from misfiring Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.

But afterwards Southgate admitted the performance of his players failed to live up to the occasion.

"In the middle of the transfer window - which I believe is everything that is wrong about the game - we saw today everything that is right about the game," he continued.

"We've seen a team from the lower divisions come and ride their luck in front of 7,000 of their fans and it's been a healthy football day.

"I knew it would be far from easy and although we had chances to win by six or seven, it could have been 2-2 and that's the FA Cup.

"When their keeper made his saves I thought there was a punchline coming and it came.

"We made it difficult for ourselves for the last ten minutes and we should have been out of sight by then.

"We've learned some good lessons to take forward. We're not ruthless enough in either box and that's what we need to win matches."