Southgate appeals for calm

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate remains confident his side will avoid the relegation trap-door.

Boro face Portsmouth and Manchester City in their last two games of the season after Saturday's defeat at Sunderland left the club four points clear of the bottom three.

However, an upbeat Southgate said: "It's in our hands to get ourselves over the line at the weekend.

"Everybody tells you you've got enough and says you'll be okay but until you get there you don't stop and you never switch off.

"We're in that situation and we have to make it happen. We had a chance to make it happen against Sunderland but we didn't, so we've used up some of the cushion that we've had over the last couple of weeks.

"It's calm heads and we'll make sure we get the preparation right so that we're flying for next Saturday.

"We will need the energy in the stadium and that support. We've got to produce that performance as players and staff. Every little bit of support will help over the next two weeks.

"When you're in the bottom six or seven in the table a couple of bad results puts you on that knifedge. But I'd sooner be in our position rather than the teams behind us."