Southgate beams at away win

Southgate: Happy

My wife tells me that football is all about luck and perhaps she is right!

Gareth Southgate
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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was delighted with his side's win 1-0 at Wigan.

It was a day of firsts for Boro as they claimed their maiden away win not just of this season but of 2008, whilst they also claimed their first clean sheet - all thanks to Jeremie Aliadiere's first Premier League goal of the season - which came in the final minute.

Southgate was understandably pleased to bounce back from last week's home defeat against West Brom.

"It is a big win for us, after the little run that we have had - you need the win to keep the confidence going to give people belief again," he told Sky Sports.

"We knew it would be tough here today but we felt they had such a big game here last week [against Man City] we could maybe capitalise on that.

"They are a strong side and we had to stand-up physically and mentally and we did that today.

"I don't think there were many good chances in the game, Jeremie had one before his goal and Wheats [David Wheater] had a header but it was a scrappy game - it wasn't a great spectacle but away from home sometimes you have to do that. Coming here, they are a strong physical side and you have to stand up to them and we did that and that was pleasing today."

Turnbull delight

Southgate was delighted with his goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, who produced a couple of great saves to keep Wigan at bay.

"He has been outstanding all season and he was disappointed with goal last week [against West Brom] but his general performance was excellent and it is nice we have got a clean sheet - there a few things we have put to bed today, first clean sheet and first away win and they are important milestones for us."

The Boro boss admits the timing of the late goal helped to kill Wigan at the death.

"The timing of the goal didn't leave them any time to come back which is a good job the way we have been going," he said.

"They were up for it from the off and everyone knows the significance of the result. It is a very tight league and it was important to get back to winning ways as it means the training ground is a happy place for a few days.

"It has been a tough few weeks and we have got the reward our performances have deserved .We have played far better than we did today and taken nothing from the last two days - my wife tells me that football is all about luck and perhaps she is right!"