Southgate's focus on United
18 Mar 2007 - 05:02:53
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has backed his side to put Saturday's disappointment of losing to Manchester City behind them in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final replay at Manchester United.
The Teessiders slipped up 2-0 at home to City in a match where Southgate opted to rest key duo Jonathan Woodgate and Mark Viduka.
The pair will return for Monday's trip to Old Trafford which Southgate has backed his side to win despite the form of the current Premiership leaders.
"I have got to take responsibility because I made a couple of changes and if that sent the wrong message to people, then that is my responsibility," said Southgate after Saturday's defeat.
"We inevitably had more than an eye on Monday and when you have got a game as big as that coming up, it is very hard for a player to put that out of his mind.
"It was a difficult one for us but we have learned a lesson. We were not good enough on the day - simple as that.
"We have to pick ourselves up very quickly. We did not get the result we wanted but we have got a fantastic game to look forward to on Monday in which we can put everything behind us.
"I might be a complete idiot and a weirdo but I still think we can go there and beat them."
Meanwhile, Southgate confirmed that Emanuel Pogatetz could face a spell on the sidelines after appearing to damage his knee ligaments after just ten minutes of the Riverside clash.
"He has gone to hospital to have an X-ray and we will know more in the next few hours," added Southgate.
"There is a possibility he might have been knocked on a nerve which has just made his leg go a bit numb, but until we get the full extent it is a bit difficult to speculate."