Boro Face Geordie 'Cup-Tie'!

Last updated : 05 May 2009 By Boro Mad

Gareth Southgate: "It's a night when boys will grow into men, but I believe that our players will handle it.

"We have some young players, that's true, but we also have a lot of experience.

"We can draw on the experience of the likes of Stewart Downing and Tuncay, who have played in European Championships.

"I think the atmosphere is going to be incredible.

"Something that the like of which we haven't seen for some time, especially if the Newcastle crowd is whipped up for 20 minutes before the kick-off.

"But we know what big matches are all about. We will embrace whatever we have to and we will deal with it.

"You have to get the balance right between hard work and rest.

"One of the important sides is making sure that the players are right mentally as well as physically.

"I know that there is going to be a huge focus and our players won't be able to go anywhere without coming into contact with people talking about the game.

"It's incredible that it has all come down to this after 35 games, but we always felt that this fixture was going to be very important.

"People are saying that it is going to be tense and tight, and there will be an element of that.

"But it will also be played like a cuptie. When you've got a cuptie mixed in with a derby then you know that the game will have an extra edge."