Middlesbrough FC

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• Manager:Tony Mowbray

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Southgate happy with defence

05 Oct 2008 - 10:10:00

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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate praised his side's solid foundations and put the credit for Saturday's timely 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the feet of his defence.

The Teessiders secured their first away win of the season courtesy of Jeremie Aliadiere's late winner as they ended a dismal run of four straight defeats.

Boro also claimed a clean sheet despite being without regular central defenders Emanuel Pogatetz, Robert Huth and Andrew Taylor and being forced to rely on second string choices Chris Riggott and Jon Grounds.

"We were excellent across the back five today," enthused Southgate.

"It's the type of game where centre-halves get the opportunity to stand out and they certainly did that today.

"Our mentality going into the game was different and you could sense a determination about them.

"The irony is we've played much better football in our last two games and taken nothing.

"We said we had to keep doing the right things which we did defensively, then take our chances when they came.

"We managed to finish one of them today and that was the important thing."