IF Middlesbrough fans had thought their club were turning the corner then the brakes have just been put on.

Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to struggling Southampton has resurfaced fears around the Riverside of a season battling against relegation.

The Saints' victory, only their second of the campaign, ended Boro's recent run of good form that had seen them take seven from a possible nine points.

But the confidence that had been instilled into Steve McClaren's side - following wins over West Ham and Leicester and a draw to Chelsea - disappeared against Southampton.

What must be worrying for McClaren is that his squad seem to wait until the second half before they pick it up a gear.

And after comebacks against both Leicester and Chelsea, another was on the cards against Southampton at 2-1 until James Beattie struck his neat second five minutes before full-time.

The first 45 minutes of action was absolutely dreadful. There is no other words to describe it.

And McClaren is determined to make sure that all of his players do not repeat a similar display.

The former Manchester United number two is hoping to ensure that the 11 he selects to go out on to the field in the future start looking at themselves.

"If you look at all the great teams through history they have all got players of character and responsibility," said McClaren.

"They all know their jobs and they know what other people's jobs are. That's what we are trying to get these players to develop.

"My aim is to get my players on the field to take responsibility for their own performances. Ultimately it's them who cross the white line."

During the week it is was reported that skipper Paul Ince was unlikely to be offered a new contract on Teesside next season.

But Saturday was a firm indication as to how influential the former England international is in the middle of the park.

Ince was ruled out with a viral infection and summer signing Mark Wilson deputised.

With respect, Wilson looked bright but to fill the breach left by Ince was always going to be a hard act to follow.

And McClaren admitted that Ince was missed, he said: "He provides excellent leadership on the field as well as off it.

"With a player like him, provided he is fit, he has got a good chance of coming back into the team."

And the Boro chief also revealed that there is a chance that Ince could be given new terms, adding: "He is happy with the club and the way we are playing and what we are trying to do.

"He is happy with his own contribution and we are happy with his contribution so we have left it at that.

"We have got a good understanding and when the time is right we will."

Ince's leadership and tough-tackling was sorely missed against the Saints, and the visitors capitalised on Boro's failure to take control of the match.

In the first half Colin Cooper headed against the cross bar and Croatian Alen Boksic's acrobatic attempts from the rebound went wide.

Two-goal hero Beattie should have done better when he blazed a shot over the bar with only Mark Schwarzer to beat, but that was as good as it got.

However, the game burst into life in the second half after Beattie opened the scoring on 66 minutes.

Tricky Latvian Marian Pahars found left-back Wayne Bridge down the line and the latter's perfect cross was met with a sweet volley from striker Beattie.

Five minutes later it was two when Pahars picked himself up from a Curtis Fleming foul inside the area and slotted the ball into Schwarzer's left corner.

That goal came just moments after McClaren had made a triple substitution - with Paul Okon, Szilard Nemeth and Carlos Marinelli entering the fray.

Nemeth impressed and will be certainly on the verge of getting his first Premiership start at Charlton on October 13.

And it was the Slovakian who was brought down by Southampton stopper Paul Jones for a penalty to give the hosts a lifeline.

Croatian Alen Boksic smashed in the resulting spot-kick on 74 minutes.

But with an increase in tempo there was still very little in the way of goalscoring opportunities for Boro.

And when Cooper was robbed by former Boro winger Stuart Ripley, who crossed for Beattie to score the third, it was game over and the mass exodus from the Riverside started.

But McClaren is still hopeful of a good season, but hinted that he will find out more about his players in the coming months.

"It's in the big matches when you find out about what type of players you have got," he said.

"We find out how mentally tough they are and we will see that in the next ten or 15 games.

"The people who have seen us in our last four games will see that we have been playing entertaining football.

"I have had letters, messages and people saying that they are pleased with what we are doing so that is encouraging.

"We did that in patches on Saturday but we are obviously disappointed with the result.

"It will take time and it does not happen overnight - if it did we would be challenging for the Premiership title."