Source: Northern_Echo
Southgate wont shirk the difficult decisions
A RESOLUTE Gareth Southgate has insisted he is strong enough to make the big decisions that will turn Middlesbroughs faltering home form around.
Boro host Derby County this evening on the back of three successive home defeats, all of which have been accompanied by outpourings of discontent from the Riverside faithful.
Saturdays 1-0 reverse to Watford was arguably the most dispiriting of the lot, and Southgate is expected to make a number of personnel changes tonight as he attempts to secure a first home victory since September 12.
Justin Hoyte, Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes could all return to the starting line-up after the Boro boss admitted that Saturdays fragile first-half display had confirmed long-standing fears about certain members of his squad.
In the past, Southgate might have let things drift because of a reluctance to ruffle feathers. But with the experience of last seasons relegation continuing to weigh heavily on his mind, he is determined to act decisively in an attempt to end his sides barren Riverside run.
I havent decided on the team yet, but obviously when youve had three defeats like weve had, you have the right to make changes, said Southgate, who will be without the suspended Julio Arca as he tackles a Derby side that have not won away from Pride Park all season.
Im always one for giving people opportunities, but we have a good squad with people coming back to fitness and we might have to shuffle the pack to get the results we want.
Because weve been picking up points away, you tailor your team selection accordingly.
We got the result at Reading, so maybe there were one or two performances I wasnt sure of that I let ride.
Maybe I gave people another opportunity, but when you have a defeat, that goes out of the window. Theres no comeback from anybody after a performance like Saturdays.
As a manager, it gives you the freedom to make big decisions.
You have to choose what you think is right and be bold enough to go through with it.
Steve Gibson will face a big decision of his own if things do not go to plan tonight, but with the Teessiders just four points off the top of the table, the Boro chairman is not expected to jettison a manager who still enjoys his complete backing.
Having retained Southgates services in the wake of last seasons relegation, Gibson is prepared to give the former Boro skipper every opportunity to oversee a return to the top-flight.
I assume I have his (Gibson) backing, and Ill think like that until I hear otherwise, said Southgate. Ive not really spoken to him recently.
Ive not seen him after the games in the last couple of weeks, but he would want us to continue with the way we work Monday to Friday, but to start getting the results at home.
He was at the game at Reading, so he would have been disappointed that we didnt pick up the result on Saturday because hes the same as us, hes striving to get things right at home and he wants the atmosphere at home to be one that the supporters are enjoying.
The disparity between Middlesbroughs home and away form is stark. The Teessiders have picked up more points on their travels than any other team in the league, but boast an identical home record to 19th-placed Barnsley.
Saturdays defeat exposed some worrying deficiencies in their attack, with neither Leroy Lita nor Jeremie Aliadiere posing much of a threat to Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach.
It is now more than 270 minutes since Middlesbrough scored at the Riverside, but rather than blaming his sides strikers, Southgate is urging his players to cut out the ponderous passing that slowed them down at the weekend.
As a team, we have to move the ball more quickly, he said. The quality of how we pass is important if teams are going to sit off and try to frustrate us.
We have to move the ball quickly enough to attack their weak side, and that means every pass has to be the right weight for your team-mate and has to be in front of people so they can run onto it.
One ball thats played behind somebody and you lose the momentum of the attack and lose an opportunity to score. Its the fine details like that we have to get right.
MIDDLESBROUGH (probable) (4-4-2): Jones; McMahon, Wheater, St Ledger, Hoyte; ONeil, Williams, Digard, Johnson; Lita, Emnes.
Stokes former Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association over an incident involving West Ham defender Matthew Upson on Saturday.
Huth appeared to swing an arm into Upsons face as the pair jostled for position at a free-kick, but the incident went unnoticed by referee Martin Atkinson.
