Southgate - Don't blame Alves

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has refused to blame £12million striker Afonso Alves for the club's goal drought. Boro have managed only one goal in the league since the turn of the year, scored by Alves against rivals Sunderland.But Southgate has brushed off suggestions that the Brazilian should be hitting the net more often."Goalscoring is a collective thing. We win or lose as a team, and we score goals as a team," he told the Evening Gazette."We are well aware of the difficult situation we are in and we have to work together as a team to turn things around.Sharp"As far as Afonso is concerned, he has looked like a player who will score goals for us over the last few weeks. He's been sharp and he has worked hard."Southgate's team currently sit a lowly 19th in the Premier League after a drab goalless draw against Wigan on Saturday. The 38-year-old recognises that Boro will have to create more chances if they are to avoid the drop this season."It was hard going for the whole team against Wigan. They came to make it very difficult for us and they are very good at that," he added"At the same time, we know that we need to be more effective against teams that come to the Riverside intending to get nine men behind the ball.Collective"But that's a collective thing and it's something we are constantly working on, on the training ground."Despite the lack of goals, the former England international believes his team has a great chance of progressing when they play West Ham in a fifth round replay on Wednesday."We played very well at West Ham in the first meeting. We scored a good goal and might have had more," Southgate said."As long as we continue to create chances then I'm certain the goals will come."

Source: SKY_Sports