Middlesbrough Football Club

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

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35049

Southgate wary of sack threat

18 Jan 2009 - 11:49:48

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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate accepted after his side's 3-0 defeat at West Brom that his job was under threat.

Boro remain just above the drop-zone after Saturday's fixtures but Southgate would not be surprised if he was axed by chairman Steve Gibson.

He said: "If Steve thinks there needs to be change, he'll make a change. I could have no complaints if he did based on the results we've had.

"The circumstances we're in as a club, and the things we've worked on together, lead me to believe he is totally supportive of what we're doing.

"But you have to accept as a manager, and the nature of the industry, that change can happen anytime and I don't sit here thinking 'I'm bullet-proof.'

"I'll continue to give every ounce of energy to this club until someone tells me otherwise.

"We've been beaten 3-0 at the bottom team and how we come through this is the important thing. We understand the spotlight will be on us. Everyone will be asking plenty of questions about us.

"We have to stand strong, we have to take the criticism, and we have to respond with what we do on the field. We have to stand firm as a group."