Southgate takes blame for defeat

Boro made several changes from their weekend Premiership side

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate took the full blame for his side's 1-0 Carling Cup exit at the hands of League Two Notts County.

"I have to take responsibility because I put a team out with lots of changes, but a team I felt was good enough to win the match," he said.

"We got punished for one mistake. We were not patient enough until the last 15 minutes where we bombarded them.

"It's a cup I wanted to be in but we're out. It's very disappointing."

County boss Steve Thompson paid tribute to match-winner Tcham N'Toya, who scored the winner in the 26th minute.

"He is strong, he is quick, he is a bit unpredictable," he said.

"A manager said to me that he could either win us the European Cup - which I do not think we will get to - or lose us the Sunday Cup final.

"Well tonight, he has won a Carling Cup match for us and I am pleased for the lad."