GARETH SOUTHGATE has highlighted the importance of Middlesbrough's match with Southampton by claiming there is an even bigger urgency for victory than there was in Lisbon on Thursday.

The Saints arrive at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow struggling against relegation and in confident mood knowing all about Boro's track record on a Sunday this season.

From ten matches on Sundays, Boro can boast only one win, and that was to another team fighting the drop, West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, Bryan Robson's first game in charge, back on November 14.

Even at the Riverside Boro have failed to pick up maximum points although they do remain unbeaten at home during their poor Sunday run, having recorded four draws .

But a point is unlikely to be enough against Southampton tomorrow if manager Steve McClaren is to gain his wish of climbing back into the UEFA Cup places before the end of the campaign.

Charlton, Tottenham and Bolton are all battling with Boro for a place in the top six but even Newcastle, Manchester City and Aston Villa can consider themselves in contention.

And Southgate, disappointed but not disheartened by Thursday's UEFA Cup exit to Sporting Lisbon, admits the Southampton clash holds far greater importance than the game in the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

"Make no mistake, Sunday is a cup final for us," said the Boro captain, who knows the team will have to reshuffle again after Tony McMahon picked up a knee injury in Portugal.

"We have to get a side out and try to lift everyone because Europe is where we want to be again next year and victory against Southampton is essential if that is to happen. We have not done so well in games after playing in Europe but we must put that right as well.

"It's vital that we win on Sunday because we will then have two weeks to get players back from injury and they will have a crucial role to play for us.

"Players like Jimmy (Floyd Hasselbaink), George (Boateng), Ray (Parlour) and possibly Mark (Viduka) could all be back and that would be a great time to have them as the final few weeks begin to come round."

Despite losing 4-2 on aggregate in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup to Sporting, Boro can take great heart from the way they performed in Lisbon, where they were without ten squad members.

Southgate actually finished the game on the pitch with two teenage debutants in midfielder Adam Johnson and defender David Wheater, a sign of the club's incredible list of absentees.

But it could quite easily have been Boro in the draw for the quarter-finals of the competition yesterday with Newcastle United after creating three glorious chances against Sporting.

Szilard Nemeth and Stuart Parnaby both had opportunities in the first half to reduce the deficit from the first leg, while Joseph Job somehow missed from a few yards out with all the goal to aim for.

Southgate insists there is little room for dejection and tiredness with Sunday's game only a matter of hours away.

"Mentally we have to lift ourselves after this disappointment," said Southgate. "It's such an important game on Sunday.

"We can't afford to drop anymore points.

"We are in eighth place but the way I look at it is that we are only two points from fifth place despite the fact that we have had this difficult run."

l Manager Harry Redknapp is backing his senior players to lead Southampton to their first away win of the season at Middlesbrough.

Redknapp suffered the disappointment of seeing his side beaten 4-0 at home by Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend.

But the Saints' boss was forced to name a weakened side against United and is confident of a better showing at the Riverside Stadium with four key players fit and available again.

Jamie Redknapp, Graeme Le Saux and Claus Lundekvam have recovered from injuries, while Nigel Quashie returns to strengthen the midfield after being cup-tied.

Redknapp said: ''I've got people coming back in, which is nice to have. It's a big boost to have everyone back in. You need your most experienced people and your best players.

''Middlesbrough have had a few injury problems but they have a solid squad.

"It's a tough game for us but we're in good spirits and there's a good look about our team at the moment.