Southgate looking to move on

26 August 2009 07:26
Gareth Southgate has called on his Middlesbrough side to bounce back from their Carling Cup exit at Nottingham Forest. The Teessiders entered Tuesday's second round meeting with the Reds unbeaten after four games of the 2009/10 campaign. However, they slipped to a 2-1 extra-time defeat at the City Ground, with Luke Chambers and Radoslaw Majewski cancelling out Adam Johnson's opener. Southgate was disappointed to crash out of the cup early on, but has already turned his attention to a Championship date with Bristol City this weekend. "We've got to move on very quickly and make sure we show we can react to a defeat because Bristol City are one of the teams that are going to be up there or thereabouts. "A record like that is going to go at some point and I would rather it be tonight than Saturday. Momentum "We wanted to have a go and that's why we fielded a strong team because we wanted to maintain that momentum. "I felt we did that because we started for an hour very well - it was as good as we've passed the ball all season. "We created good chances and took our goal well, it was a really good move and well finished." Southgate also insists that there have been no developments regarding the future of some of his key men. "There's nothing concrete on any of our players, there's a lot of noise from outside but nothing confirmed on anyone at the moment," he added. "Tuncay had a knock. He's one who there is a bit of interest in - in this country and abroad - at the moment and we will have to see what develops." Fitness Meanwhile, Forest boss Billy Davies was delighted to get a morale-boosting victory under his belt, with the Reds having endured a difficult, and injury-ravaged, start to the new term. "I've said for weeks and weeks that I have been pleased with the attitude and spirit of the players and the general fitness of the side," said the Scot. "That was evident again and Middlesbrough are a top team who have been working together for a long time, and that's what we need with this team - time. "We need time to get over these consecutive games, time to get one or two guys back from injury and time to work with individuals on certain things and if we can do that we will get better. "I've been proud of the players' performances since the start of the season - the Watford game here last week aside. "It will be nice to get to the international break and rest these guys. Some of them have played nine games in a month and that is way too much."

Source: SKY_Sports