Fearful Boro leave Southgate fretting

IT is still too early for frantic supporters to adopt the chewed-fingernail pose so beloved by macabre television companies, but already Middlesbrough is a club racked by fear.

The Teessiders languish one place off the foot of the table after their winless run was extended to 14 games with this drab draw. And the really bad news? Liverpool are the visitors next week.

Apart from a low first-half effort from Stewart Downing and a late drive from Gary O’Neil, Southgate’s men showed little attacking flair and with pressure mounting he admitted it was time to throw caution to the wind.