Source: SKY_Sports
Southgate still hopeful
Gareth Southgate believes Middlesbrough can still harbour aspirations of beating the drop this season.
With time running out, the North East outfit remain inside the Premier League relegation zone.
They are currently three points adrift of safety with six games remaining and are facing a tricky run-in.
However, a much-needed 3-1 victory over Hull City last weekend has given Boro hope and Southgate insists his side are capable of clawing their way out of danger.
"I said last week we had nothing to lose, because we were out of the league as things stood, and we are still in that position," he said.
"What we did last week was give hope to our fans and to the team. We played with a passion and a resilience that is the sort of commitment we are going to need over the next six matches.
"The reality, looking at the fixtures we have left, shows the home games will be very important. Fulham is the next one of those (on Saturday) and, despite the fact they are a good side, it's a game we have to look to win."
He added: "We have given ourselves hope and I think that becomes a chance if we win on Saturday. Then it really does open things up a bit.
"But there is a long way to go and we have got some difficult fixtures, we play two of the Champions League semi-finalists (Manchester United and Arsenal), so it's a tall order. There is everything for us still to do, but we are in there fighting."
Southgate was not surprised by the performance his players put in against the Tigers last week, but accepts that level now needs to be maintained through to the end of the campaign.
"It was what I felt during the week that we would get," he said.
"I think for the players it showed them what they need to do to win football matches at this stage of the season. They have to continue to do that."
