Southgate draws on demons to boost Boro

GARETH SOUTHGATE has revealed how coping with the demons of his playing career has helped him deal with the demands of management.

Southgate infamously missed the Wembley spot-kick which condemned England to semi-final defeat by Germany at Euro 96 and, although that was 11-and-a-half years ago, he knows he must live with that stigma for the rest of his career.

But a battling victory at Portsmouth, which has pulled Boro away from the relegation zone ahead of a challenging new year programme, reminded him how it is possible to bounce back from even the biggest footballing disaster.

Defeats over Christmas by West Ham and Birmingham, plus additions to a crippling injury list, had plunged Boro back into trouble just a fortnight after they finally appeared to put their season on track with a home victory over leaders Arsenal.

Inevitably, questions were asked again about Southgate’s suitability for the job, which he took despite lacking managerial experience and coaching certificates when his former boss Steve McClaren became England supremo.

Southgate knows the much-needed success at Fratton Park — earned by a dour defensive display which followed Turkish striker Tuncay’s fourth goal in six matches in the 20th minute — will not be the panacea this season.

But he said: “While I have not experienced everything as a manager, I have been through a wide range of emotions as a player and so there is now not too much that can get me down for a long period of time.

“I faced what was probably the most difficult thing anybody could face in an international situation and I am still here. So I know I can deal with anything that’s thrown at me.

“I had to come out of Euro 96 as the only person that everybody in the country was looking at.

“People were generally very supportive but it was me who had to live with the emotion of it and having come through that I know I can handle anything else — even though I still hate losing.”

Southgate avoided that feeling he hates and has already experienced 29 times in his 18 months of management thanks to a gritty performance by his patched-up team and yet another shot-shy display by Harry Redknapp’s side, whose amazing home goal drought goes on.

Tuncay’s goal came after a handling error by David James who, probably surprised by the lack of power in a volley by former Pompey team-mate Gary O’Neil, fumbled the ball — allowing the Turk to prod it over the line.

Redknapp denies Portsmouth’s Fratton Park goal famine is down to his side’s African contingent having one eye on national glory, or that his entire team’s confidence has been frozen by failure to perform at home.

They have now gone nine hours without a league goal on their own ground but when asked if the club’s African stars were distracted, Redknapp said: “Not a chance. They have been fantastic, these players. But you need a squad. You’re always looking to improve.

“We’ve been on a bad run but two weeks ago we were the talk of football. We were sitting fifth in the table and had games against a couple of big clubs. Now we have 31 points which, at this stage of the season, I would have snapped your hand off for in August.”

PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James 6, Lauren 5, Campbell 6, Distin 6, Hreidarsson 4 (Taylor 46, 6), Utaka 4 (Nugent 62, 6), Diop 5, Hughes 6 (Muntari 72, 6), Kranjcar 6, Benjani 5, Kanu 5.

Subs Not Used: Begovic, Traore.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Schwarzer 7, Young 7, Woodgate 8, Huth 7, Pogatetz 7, O’Neil 7 (Johnson 86, 5), Shawky 7, Arca 7, Downing 7, Sanli 7, Lee 6 (Hutchinson 75, 6).

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Riggott, Grounds.

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 6: Over-fussy in the first half but seemed to learn his lesson by letting the second flow.

MATCH RATING: ** A hugely-important win for Middlesbrough but Portsmouth’s home slump is now a real concern.