Southgate focused on beating the drop

Gareth Southgate is confident that he can handle the pressure of Middlesbrough's battle to avoid relegation. Their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday was their 13th successive winless outcome in the league and leaves them second bottom of the table, but Southgate is determined to see his side battle through. "No one needs to take pressure off me," the Middlesbrough manager said.

"It is for me to carry, because the players need to be able to go out and play. I am not shirking my responsibility. "Taking responsibility is what I have done all my career as a captain and a manager. I don't have an issue with that. It is what I am paid to do." Of his team's task to beat the drop, he added: "The fortunate thing for us at the moment is the league is still so tight. "We probably need five wins to stay in the division. But we have to get the first one. It is pointless thinking about anything else."

* PA Sport