Southgate proud of players

Boss can only back team after late defeat

Last updated: 23rd August 2008

Southgate proud of players

Southgate: Upset at loss

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Gareth Southgate could only praise his Middlesbrough players after they came so close to causing a shock against Liverpool at Anfield.

Boro took the lead with 20 minutes to go and appeared to be on course for their first win at Liverpool for more than 30 years.

But two goals in the last six minutes courtesy of a Jamie Carragher deflected effort and a wonderful Steven Gerrard strike, meant the Teessiders went home with nothing.

"I am immensely proud, it would be easy to pick holes in the mistakes which led to the second goal but they have given absolutely everything," he told Sky Sports.

"They have given a good account of themselves against one of the top teams in the country and I have said they have got to leave here with their heads held high.

"They have got to take belief after that performance as we pushed Liverpool all the way and to be honest we would have been disappointed to come off the field with a point the way the game went so to get that result is cruel for them but we have to take the result on the chin and we will come back stronger from it."

Southgate was pleased with how his side matched up to Liverpool throughout and caused them problems.

"We have got people in the team that can score goals and we had to be organised defensively and they have worked their socks off and stuck to their plan of keeping their shape as you can't go gung-ho at a place like Liverpool," he continued.

"We had chances even at 1-1 to even win the game and it hasn't happened for us and we need to learn form the last ten minutes but I am not going to be critical as they were fantastic today."

Mido

The Boro boss was also pleased with the impact of sub Mido, who looked like scoring the winner two weeks in a row.

"It was a great finish, he had a good impact on the game," said Southgate.

"He gave them problems in the air and we were able to play through them - I am delighted for him, he worked his socks off in the summer and it shows the importance of a strong squad, we lost the keeper [Brad Jones] before kick-off and it would be hard for me to leave anyone out of the side at the moment as they are playing so well."