Southgate Admits: 'Others Have Written Us Off'!

Last updated : 27 April 2009 By Boro Mad

Southgate's men then face a potentially pivotal trip to derby rivals Newcastle before entertaining Aston Villa.

Southgate: "We have got to be prepared for that, and we will be.

"In the last two seasons, we didn't get safe until the penultimate Saturday, so we have been in this sort of situation before and in may respects, we are still behind the back and that relieves some of the pressure.

"We have got to go and perform as well as we possibly can and try to get results from these matches.

"It doesn't feel any more tense than the last two seasons when we actually had points on the board.

"The important thing is that the mood within the players has stayed good and stayed positive.

"It is understandable that everybody else will write us off because we are where we are and the fixtures we have got coming up.

"We have got to try to defy the odds and defy the expectations. The players are fighting to do that.

"It is very much everything to play for, but a tall order, we understand that. But we have got to keep fighting."