Steele calls for Boro improvement

Last updated : 25 November 2010 By BBC Sport

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele says that Boro must improve at both ends of the pitch if they are to avoid relegation from the Championship.The Teessiders lie 18th in the second tier of English football, three points from safety, and have conceded 27 goals in 18 games, scoring 17.

"It's an all-round thing. We're not keeping enough clean sheets or scoring enough goals," Steele told BBC Tees.

"We're in a fight to stay in the league, it's as simple as that."

Boro's poor start to the season cost Gordon Strachan his job as manager, with Tony Mowbray taking charge at the Riverside in October.

Mowbray guided his men to two wins in his first three games at the helm, but has since seen his side beaten by both Swansea and Millwall.

"Everyone's finding it tough at the moment," added Steele.

"We can't buy a win at the moment, as we saw against Swansea and then against Millwall, we weren't good enough.

"Come Saturday [against Hull] it doesn't matter how we play, we've got to get the three points.

"Every game is must-win, we have to go into every game trying to win and hopefully it'll take care of itself."

Steele, 20, had not made an appearance for the Boro first team before this season, but established himself as number one at Riverside following Brad Jones' departure for Liverpool and earned a call-up to the England Under-21 squad.

He has been working with former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Stephen Pears, who has returned to the club as goalkeeping coach.

"I just want to keep playing, and from a personal point of view playing well, and hopefully that can continue and hopefully the team can get the results and the wins we deserve," said Steele.

"He (Pears) has been involved in my career since I was a young boy and to have him back is absolutely massive.

"Hopefully I can keep improving under his wing and hopefully he can keep teaching me and making me a better person and a footballer."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport