Southgate goes for broke
27 Feb 2007 - 12:42:19
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has promised to field his strongest possible line-up for the FA Cup fifth round replay at West Brom, even though his side have an important Premiership clash with Newcastle United this weekend.
The Championship side go into the match as the slight favourites to progress to the quarter-finals but Southgate is in an upbeat mood going into the game.
"All I'm thinking about is going to West Brom and giving it everything we've got," he told the Evening Gazette.
"All I'm concentrating on is trying to help the team reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup and earning another big day at the Riverside.
"We really have to go for it. You're always going to lose players through injury. It happens all the time.
"But we'll field the strongest possible side against Albion and if there are any risks, then they're no different to the usual ones.
"In any case, I don't think there will be any problems in making sure the players perform against Newcastle, because it's a local derby. We'll have 11 triers at Newcastle and we'll have the same against West Brom.
"I can understand why they are the favourites. They're in the middle of a fantastic run, while our away form hasn't been anything to write home about over the season as a whole.
"But we've been improving and I know we'll go there with the right attitude. I'll remind the players that the bookies feel that West Brom are the favourites.
"Maybe it will help to increase the tempo and our determination to prove them wrong."
