Derby will be key, says Southgate

Interview: Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has admitted he is disappointed to go into next Saturday's Tees-Wear derby with both sides needing points for safety.

"We've got to go to Sunderland and win. We could have put the season to bed against Bolton but we've missed that opportunity," he told BBC Tees.

"I hope [the game] needs no motivation now. We know the importance of a local derby anyway and we need the points.

"It's a blow. We're making progress but we've had a kick below the belt today."

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Southgate was disappointed as his side began Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Gary Megson's Bolton the brighter side.

"We were punished as we didn't take our chances, we had three or four in the first half," he said.

"When you're having a spell like that you've got to keep doing the same things and we started the second half sloppily."