Southgate shrugs off the doom-mongers

GARETH SOUTHGATE insists he is ready to become the fall guy for Middlesbrough’s faltering season if it helps protect his young squad.

Boro slipped to 19th in the league table as a result of this dismal draw and they were booed off by what remained of the 24,303-strong crowd, who lost patience after their side managed only one genuine shot on target, while keeper Brad Jones staged a defiant one-man stand at the other end.

Just how Rovers left the north-east having not taken their tally from the past six league games to 12 points was a mystery to manager Sam Allardyce. But as the former Newcastle manager reflected on a missed opportunity, his opposite number could have been forgiven for wondering where his side’s next win will come from.