Source: SKY_Sports
Downing focussed on battle
Stewart Downing insists helping Middlesbrough stay up remains his top priority.[LNB] Tottenham failed with a bid for Downing in January and the Teesside-born winger slapped in a transfer request.[LNB]Downing, though, is insistent that he is focussed on only one thing and that is helping Boro stay in the Premier League.[LNB]"Obviously I talked to the manager about the situation [transfer request]," Downing admitted.[LNB]"I listened to what he said and I'm just getting on with the job.[LNB]"I'm trying to do my best for the club.[LNB]"The important thing is that we keep everybody together because it's difficult times.[LNB]"You need everybody doing their bit for the team, including the subs when they come on, if we are to get out of this situation.[LNB]"You speak to the players and they know we are in a little bit of trouble at the moment, but we know we can get out of it.[LNB]"We have no excuses being in the bottom three. But we want to keep the club in the Premier League because that's where we want to be."[LNB]Big gameBoro travel to Manchester City on Saturday - a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 - and Downing admits they need a result.[LNB]"We have to go to Manchester City and get something because we don't want to see teams pull away from us," he said.[LNB]"City are similar to us, and so it's a good game to win.[LNB]"Obviously they have spent a lot of money and brought in a few new players, but if it is going to happen for them then everybody has to gel as a team.[LNB]"I think it will be a different kind of game to the Blackburn one, and maybe we can go there and create a few more chances.[LNB]"The lads here know what we have to do.[LNB]"We have got ourselves in this situation and we have to get ourselves out of it.[LNB]"We have had a few decent results against Man City over the years.[LNB]"It would be good to notch another win, and if we are to do that we have to create chances.[LNB]"Obviously it would be great to personally get off the mark. It's been a strange one because it's been a long time without a goal.[LNB]"Maybe last season the goals came more easily because we were more attack minded.[LNB]"The situation we are in, there is more defensive work needed.[LNB]"But I don't mind not scoring as long as we win."[LNB]
