Bring the noise, says Southgate

News conference: Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has issued a plea urging supporters to turn up the volume at the Riverside for the final two home games of the season.

Portsmouth and then Manchester City are due to arrive on Teesside and Southgate wants fans to generate an atmosphere around the ground to inspire the team.

"We saw at Sunderland the influence supporters can have," he told BBC Tees.

"Everybody knows the importance of the game and fans and players united can get us through the situation we're in."

Portsmouth have suffered from a lack of form since they booked their place in this season's FA Cup final, winning just one of their last four games.

606: DEBATE We SHOULD and MUST get something from this game London_BORO

Despite this Southgate believes their manager Harry Redknapp will have the South Coast side firing for their visit to the North East.

"I think it would be dangerous if our attitude going into the game was that Portsmouth were just going to turn up for a day out," he said.

"They're going to want to go into the cup final on the back of better form than they've had in the last two matches."