Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

Mature Boro delight Southgate

10 Nov 2008 - 08:19:55

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Gareth Southgate hailed the growing maturing of his Middlesbrough players after they secured a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Two goals from live-wire striker Tuncay - the last courtesy of a defensive mistake in the 88th minute - inflicted a first home league defeat of the season on the Midlands club and lifted Boro up to eighth place in the table.

"Even if the game had ended in a draw, I'd have been really happy with the account we gave of ourselves," conceded Southgate.

"We passed the ball really well, were bright on the break and showed some resilience.

"The players have started to grow as a group and this is the best result since I became a manager because of the quality of the opposition.

"Having got four points from the two games at home, to win here was crucial for us.

"I wanted us to be mentally right and, after the first 10 minutes, I felt that was the case."