Southgate: Boro lined up Strachan weeks ago

Former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate claims he was told after he was sacked that Gordon Strachan had been lined up as his successor more than two weeks earlier.

Southgate was relieved of his duties as Boro boss late on Tuesday night, just hours after guiding his team to a 2-0 triumph over Derby – their first home win in four attempts – which left the Teessiders one point off top spot in the Coca-Cola Championship.