Source: SKY_Sports
Lita tells fans to lay off boss
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Leroy Lita insists that Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has received too much criticism.[LNB] The pressure has mounted on Southgate following the club's relegation from the top-flight.[LNB]A bright start to their life in the Championship was soon halted as they went on a three-game winless streak - which included home losses to West Brom and Leicester.[LNB]Southgate was openly booed by the club's fans, but Lita says that was too harsh.[LNB]"The other night (Leicester) the gaffer took way too much stick, it was us the players who deserved that, we weren't performing," said Lita. [LNB]"We were told what to do and we didn't do it. The gaffer can't play for us.[LNB]"We just want to do well for him and the fans and us. We've all had disappointments, but we need to look forward, not back."[LNB]Southgate himself insists he can take the pressure on him.[LNB]"All managers are working under the same rules," said Southgate.[LNB]"You are always only a couple of results from being under pressure.[LNB]"Look at Sheffield United now. They've started okay, but had a couple of disappointing results, and their fans are upset.[LNB]"That is the nature of this division. I think situations within football clubs change all the time.[LNB]Pressure"We are relatively good internally and I think that is accepted, but we know that if we don't start producing and getting results at home then there will be a pressure.[LNB]"I don't think the fans are thinking any differently than I am.[LNB]"We both want the same thing, and that's to see the team in the Premier League next season.[LNB]"Of course there are times when we have to be patient when teams come here and shut up shop against us.[LNB]"They know that if they can keep us out for half an hour or so, then they might silence the crowd and make things more difficult for us.[LNB]"Most teams will try to do that and it's something we have to deal with.[LNB]"We have to accept that we will lose some games like Leicester. It happens. We should have beaten them but we didn't.[LNB]"But then you look around and you see that Newcastle have not won either of their last two home games and West Brom were beaten at home after beating us.[LNB]"You have to put a setback behind you, learn whatever you can from it and then move on to the next game.[LNB]"Nobody in this division frightens me in a one off game. I'm sure they don't frighten the fans either.[LNB]"We can get any results from any of our matches, but we won't win them all.[LNB]"It's a long season and we just have to try to keep improving with every game."[LNB]
