Source: SKY_Sports
Southgate fighting to defy odds
Gareth Southgate insists Middlesbrough are fighting to defy the odds and stay in the Premier League.[LNB] Southgate's side are rooted inside the relegation zone after Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal and the Boro boss knows it is not going to get easier in their final four games of the season.[LNB]The Teessiders face the daunting task of playing host to league leaders Manchester United in their next match and then face a potentially season-defining local derby with Newcastle. [LNB]Boro then entertain Aston Villa at the Riverside in their final home fixture before bringing the curtain down on a difficult campaign at West Ham and Southgate feels it may well go down to the wire.[LNB]Prepared"We have got to be prepared for that, and we will be," said the Boro boss.[LNB]"In the last two seasons, we didn't get safe until the penultimate Saturday, so we have been in this sort of situation before and in many respects, we are still behind the pack and that relieves some of the pressure.[LNB]"We have got to go and perform as well as we possibly can and try to get results from these matches.[LNB]"It doesn't feel any more tense than the last two seasons when we actually had points on the board."[LNB]Boro gave their supporters hope when they defeated fellow strugglers Hull City 3-1 on 11th April, but some of that dissipated a week later when they could only manage a 0-0 draw with Fulham, a game they firmly believed they could win.[LNB]The reverse at the Emirates sends them into Saturday's clash with United with few outside the club giving them much chance of adding to their tally. A failure to do so could leave them with a mountain to climb in their remaining three fixtures.[LNB]Never-say dieSouthgate insists no-one within the camp has given up, while remaining realistic about the task ahead.[LNB]He said: "The important thing is that the mood within the players has stayed good and stayed positive.[LNB]"It is understandable that everybody else will write us off because we are where we are and the fixtures we have got coming up.[LNB]"We have got to try to defy the odds and defy the expectations. The players are fighting to do that.[LNB]"It is very much everything to play for, but a tall order, we understand that. But we have got to keep fighting."[LNB]
