Source: SKY_Sports
Last throw for Southgate
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate admits Monday's derby clash with Newcastle is his 'last throw of the dice' as he looks to guide his side to safety.
Boro travel up the A19 on Monday evening to face their rivals in what is the biggest Tyne-Tees derby in years.
A victory for either side would give them a huge chance of escaping the drop, whilst defeat would almost certainly mean relegation.
And Boro boss Southgate admits his side need to take something from St James' Park.
"For us in some respects it's possibly the last throw of the dice," he said.
"Because of the importance to both clubs it's going to be built up to something way more important in the reality of life than what it actually is.
"But it's a game of football that we have to go and try and win. We won't be favourites, we've not managed to get a point on our travels for the last 10 games and we've got to reverse that trend.
"As a group of players and staff, we have to consign today to history. The last two weeks, we have been looking for a miracle, really, to get a result against the two teams we have been up against.
"The reality is, as I've said for a number of weeks, we have to go to Newcastle and win. We have realistic opportunities and we have to take them.
"We have to deal with the atmosphere. We need the momentum of a
win there to carry us into the last couple of games.
"We've got it all to do but we've known that since 10 weeks ago. We've been in that bottom three for a long time now and it's hard to keep lifting people.
"The fact is, we're playing teams we're capable of getting results against. Newcastle's a crunch game, not just because we need the points but you can stop them getting them and take momentum into the last two games."
