Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

Southgate hails vital victory

01 Mar 2009 - 11:40:42

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate claimed his side finally received the rub of the green after Saturday's vital 2-0 victory over Liverpool.

The Teessiders ended a 14-match winless run in the league and moved out of the relegation zone with the morale-boosting victory.

Boro enjoyed a rare slice of luck this season when Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso put through his own goal in the first half before a second-half goal from Sanli Tuncay secured three precious points.

"The fact that the first goal went in off one of them was the kind of fortune we've not been having," said Southgate.

"We're saying it's good fortune but we felt they would be vulnerable by taking two players out of their near post area.

"We had to withstand a fair amount of pressure at times but the first goal is crucial in the Premier League.

"We spoke at half time about getting a second goal which is so important and we had good chances to get a third.

"We earned that result. We defended very well as a team and when the goalkeeper was required he was excellent."