Read more about Middlesbrough.
Southgate stays defiant over Boro future
Middlesbrough, 10:07, May 12, 2009 ,
Gareth Southgate says he is the right man to lead Middlesbrough despite them looking doomed to relegation from the Premier League.
The Boro boss watched his side throw away an early lead handed to them by Habib Beye's own goal in Monday's Tyne-Tees derby at St James' Park as Steven Taylor, Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands hit back to hand the Magpies a 3-1 win.
The result was a record 11th straight away defeat and leaves the Teessiders stuck in second-bottom spot - level on 31 points with bottom side West Brom - three points from safety with just two games remaining, at home to Aston Villa on Saturday and at West Ham on the final day.
Despite Boro's plight, Southgate is ignoring talk that he should be sacked and insists he will carry on his work at the Riverside, while he has still not given up hope of avoiding relegation.
He said: "We have to lift ourselves even though it's out of our hands and we're relying on other results.
"I still believe I'm the right man to take this club forward and I won't be walking away from it. We're still in it. Only when it's mathematically impossible will we down tools but we're definitely not giving up the fight."
Punters who feel Southgate has no chance of keeping Boro afloat can use a £10 free bet to tip West Brom to leapfrog his side and leave them rock bottom going into the Championship next season.