Southgate delighted with win

03 October 2009 18:26
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was delighted with the club's unity after his side beat Reading 2-0 to move up to third in the Championship. The victory at the Madejski Stadium came thanks to goals in each half from Sean St Ledger and Leroy Lita. It was Boro's first win in four matches and lifted the pressure on the under-fire Southgate, who praised his players and staff. He said: "I am pleased for them at the end of what has been a difficult week. They responded with a calmness and unity. "Some supporters have expressed their displeasure, which I have accepted. Our job is to manage the club through difficult times. "It's easy to manage when things are going well but the margins between success and failure are so small. "I selected Leroy Lita to play against his old club because you just knew what was going to happen. "He missed pre-season so he is still coming back to sharpness but he was terrific." Rodgers bemusedReading boss Brendan Rodgers was bemused at the difference between his side's form in the midweek win at Preston and Saturday's defeat. "Everything that was good about us in midweek wasn't good today," he said. "We showed quality to get into the areas we wanted to be in but a mixture of poor decision-making and poor final ball let us down. "We started on the back foot and we were lacklustre and it's difficult to put your finger on it. "We need to show courage and bravery at home to make things happen and we didn't do that today."

Source: SKY_Sports