Southgate Wants To Put 'Hiccup' Behind Him!

Last updated : 26 September 2009 By Boro Mad

Aliadiere limped off in the first half against West Brom, and Folan came on as replacement but saw very little of the ball.

Leroy Lita and Marvin Emnes provide the alternatives.

In midfield Southgate also has four obvious options, with O’Neil and Digard putting the pressure on Rhys Williams and Julio Arca.

At the back, Southgate will be hoping the David Wheater-St Ledger partnership clicks into gear, while Pogatetz is now not too far away from a recall.

Southgate has a further option to switch Williams from midfield to right-back, which is the role he carries out for Australia.

Justin Hoyte is keen to put Tony McMahon under pressure.

Gareth Southgate: “As a manager, you want to be in a position where you have to make difficult decisions.

“The main thing we are concentrating on this week is keeping everybody together and focussed on what we are trying to achieve.

“We’ve got off to a good start in the Championship and we have to hope that the West Brom performance was a hiccup.

“The players are in good heart again. We’re all looking forward to the Coventry game.”