Southgate admits it's time for Boro to scrap

Despite being denied a valuable three points at Newcastle on Monday only by an injury-time leveller from Lee Clark, the draw has done little to improve Boro's position in the Premiership.

A season that was supposed to have been one of closing the gap between themselves and the league's top four has descended into a campaign of growing worry at the start of 2006.

Only five points separate Boro and the relegation zone, with only West Brom and Portsmouth's form stopping Steve McClaren's men from dropping into the bottom three.

McClaren, after Monday's 1-1 draw at St James' Park, chose only to look at the six-point gap they have to make up to eighth place in a tight top-flight.

But Southgate, more than happy with the encouraging signs of draws in Boro's last two outings, was more critical, insisting the league table doesn't lie.

"We have to put points on the board and make sure we are in this division next season," said Southgate, knowing the club's next league fixture is a daunting trip to Arsenal on January 14.

"That means everybody at the club pulling together, including the fans, to make sure we achieve that before we drop any further.

"Are we in a relegation fight? We are 16th in the table, we are five points above third bottom. We need to get out of this position quickly.

"It's a realistic position to be in when you consider what we have achieved if you put Monday's performance to one side.

"We don't deserve to be any higher than we are. We have to show the attitude and desire that we did at Newcastle and we will lift ourselves up if we do that."

Southgate feared the campaign was not going to go according to plan as early as pre-season, after successive crushing friendly defeats to Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid.

Those fixtures followed the departure of Bolo Zenden to Liverpool on a free transfer and an inability to replace the Dutchman has proved costly, particularly given Stewart Downing's long lay-off with a knee injury.

Even before the current seven-game Premiership run without a win, Boro had struggled to find consistency and it is now over a year since they won back-to-back games in the league.

"It is a time when we all have to pull together. There are things that haven't been right for a little while - I can't say what they are," said Southgate.

But he was encouraged by the way Boro went close to claiming only their third Premiership victory over the Magpies in 19 meetings.

"We can put those things to one side and we have to show the type of attitude we did at Newcastle to get ourselves out of the position we are in.

"We are not performing as well as we can. That's why we are 16th in the league. The clean sheet at home to Manchester City was important and to draw at Newcastle, where we have not got a good record, gives us something to build on."

Chief executive Keith Lamb has told McClaren that the squad is going to have to be trimmed before fresh faces can be added this month - with Sporting's Rudolph Douala a top priority.

Southgate, aware that attendances at the Riverside Stadium are down, sympathises with the club's stance, but believes new additions would inject fresh confidence.

"The squad is strong enough to climb back up the league but you always welcome fresh faces through the door," said the 35-year-old. "You always want to improve and it would help matters to see more players come in. But that's out of our hands.

"The club has to run itself in the right way. They have to balance the books and you can't spend money that's not available. Clubs in the past have got into trouble by doing that so it's the sensible approach.

"We haven't had a full house this year so when you are looking to strengthen the squad that is going to have an effect as well."

One of the players being touted as a possible departure is top-earner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Hasselbaink, out of contract in the summer, came off the bench at St James' Park to put Boro in front three minutes from time with a goal that had looked like being enough to claim a vital victory.

The strike proved the speculation surrounding his future will not affect his personal performance and Southgate said: "All players want to play and that's understandable. He is professional and came on and did the business.

"When you have a game 48 hours after the last one, it's important that players come off the bench and contribute. Jimmy did that. He gave us a great chance to win the game."

Southgate's defensive partner Chris Riggott is expected to be available for Saturday's FA Cup trip to Nuneaton Borough, despite breaking his nose against Newcastle.

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