Middlesbrough FC

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Boro form pleases Southgate

17 Nov 2008 - 08:04:53

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was pleased to see his side extend their unbeaten run to five games with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Everton.

Boro led early on at Goodison Park thanks to a Gary O'Neil strike, but were pegged back in the second half as former Riverside favourite Yakubu bundles in an equaliser.

After the game Southgate said: "We played very well in the first half, but we needed a second goal in that spell to see us through.

"We did well on the break, but we didn't pass the ball well enough. We showed some different characteristics in this one, we had to roll our sleeves up and defend the box.

"We defended a lot of stuff in the air and we stood up to the physical challenge, because Everton are a big, strong side. We showed we are capable of digging in and getting something from the game.

"The Chelsea defeat was a great lesson for us and we saw what the very best are capable of doing and the standards that we have to aspire to.

"But we have taken eight points from our last four away games and we are unbeaten in five since losing to Chelsea. That is as good a run as anyone else in the division."