CHRIS RIGGOTT has moved to reassure disgruntled supporters that the Middlesbrough squad are as hungry as ever to claim a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Boro hit a new 2005 low on Sunday when they dropped to ninth in the Premiership following an embarrassing performance in the 3-1 defeat to Southampton at a stunned Riverside Stadium.

Riggott was part of the side that failed to win for the ninth occasion in the league since the turn of the year, a spell that has brought just seven points from a possible 30.

Now, with April approaching and 11 days until their next match at Crystal Palace a week on Saturday, Boro know they have to respond by claiming three points at Selhurst Park or risk falling further off the pace in the race to finish in the top six.

Even skipper Gareth Southgate, normally accommodating to speaking to the media, was completely bemused by the performance and turned down an opportunity to air his disbelief.

But Riggott insists that Boro can respond in exactly the right manner and he would not be surprised if they were to go on an eight match unbeaten run until the end of the campaign.

"I do not think anyone wants it more than this set of lads at this club," said Riggott. "But sometimes it is not always down to that, we all want to win every game badly. We are going to make sure that we get it in the next game.

"We are devastated - I am devastated to lose any game. But, on Sunday, we knew how big the game was and not just the defeat, but the manner of it was bitterly disappointing."

The home crowd inside the Riverside on Sunday showed their annoyance with the club's fall from fifth to ninth since January by greeting the final whistle with a bellowing of boos.

Riggott admits the whole squad are just as frustrated as the supporters by the club's recent form but claims there is a genuine determination to make sure this season does not end on a sour note.

Last week's UEFA Cup exit to Sporting Lisbon means there is no chance of silverware heading to Teesside for the second successive campaign but there remains an opportunity to record the club's highest Premiership finish - eighth.

Riggott said: "We cannot let the season slip away. We can sense that the fans are obviously not happy, but we are not happy either.

"It is tough at the minute, but it is up to ourselves to drag ourselves out of it.

"Of course you can understand the fans' frustrations. When you see the fortunes of other clubs changing and overtaking us, it is demoralising for the fans to see us going in the other direction.

"Only one win directly after ten European games says it all.

"It has been a good season, it has been a great season. It might be catching up with one or two of the lads. It is so disappointing for the fans, I am aware of that, and it is disappointing for us.

"We have got to get them to get behind us, but at the same time, we are aware that we need to play some stuff to get them behind us."

Bolton have taken the initiative in the race to finish sixth, while Charlton and Tottenham have also leapfrogged Boro in the top half of the table. Even tenth-placed Newcastle United, following an apparent season of crisis, sit just four points behind McClaren's men.