Source: SKY_Sports
Southgate wants extra effort
Gareth Southgate believes hard work holds the key to Middlesbrough's survival hopes this term.
Boro currently sit second from bottom in the Premier League table, five points from safety with only seven games remaining.
A weekend visit from fellow strugglers Hull City could help to breathe new life back into their battle to beat the drop, with Southgate all too aware of the importance of Saturday's fixture.
He called his squad in for extra training this week in an effort to have them primed for action and remains adamant that he can steer the ailing North East club to safety.
Southgate said: "We have had a good week in training. We got the players in on their usual day off, not as a punishment for the defeat at Bolton last weekend but because it was important we worked on certain things.
"We've done that and now it's all about putting the things we have worked on into practice on the pitch on Saturday.
"We know the importance of the game. We need to win it. That's what we are working towards. We have to do everything right over the 90 minutes of the game because we know it will be tough.
"Hull will come here to give it their best shot. They've sold a lot of tickets and they'll have plenty of backing from their fans. We have to make sure we are better than Hull on the day."
Organised
While keeping things tight at the back is imperative heading down the final stretch, Southgate knows Boro must find a cutting edge if they are to avoid slipping through the top-flight trap door.
"By necessity, we have to attack. We can't throw everybody forward willy-nilly but we have to make sure that we attack when the opportunity is there and that we create chances," he added.
"We know that Hull will come here tight and organised and will do everything they can to try to stop us from scoring.
"We also know that we haven't scored enough goals this season. But we have to score if we want to stay up and that's why we have to attack.
"We have looked a bit of a threat going forward lately but we have conceded some disappointing goals, particularly at Bolton.
"We've been working to try to stop that happening again and now we have to show the pride and the passion to win the three points on Saturday.
"It's about attitude and application and having that determination in our performance to win the game."
