Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was happy to see his side book their place in next season's Premier League.
Boro boss pleased with Pompey win
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was happy to see his side book their place in next season's Premier League.
Boro were virtually safe before Saturday, but they sealed their top-flight status with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth as Chris Riggott and Tuncay Sanli headed home either side of the interval.
"I think it was a nervy game because of what was at stake. At times in the first-half it looked like we couldn't run because of the pressure but we got the goal at the important time and we deserve it because we have done enough over the course of the season to warrant staying in the division.
"It wasn't the best of games today but we have got the result we needed," Southgate told
Sky Sports.
The Riverside boss insists that he could not take anything for granted until Boro had sealed enough points.
He added: "I had a season at Palace where we were eight points clear with three games to go and we went down, so you can never switch off - everyone tells us we are safe but nobody can relax in our camp until we got that win today.
"It is important as we can now start to plan and look forward a little bit more convincingly, and there is a lot to improve on, masses to improve on.
"But we have been through a lot this season and as a group of players, and a young group of players, they will have benefited from this experience.
"I think this is the second year on the spin we have go to the penultimate game of the season needing a result and we have done it both times, but it is a tough division - we are competing with clubs that are historically much bigger than us.
"We have maintained our status in this league for the best part of 10 years which is an achievement, but we want to push on, the chairman is keen to push on and we have got to make sure we make the right decisions in the summer."
Riggott recall
Southgate admits it was not an easy decision recalling goalscorer Riggott from his loan spell at Stoke, with the Potters pushing for promotion to the Premier League.
"It was a very difficult one, because Chris has had a good spell at Stoke," he said.
"He has been frustrated here and it is great credit he has played for us today.
"Earlier in the season he didn't think he was getting a fair crack and I think having played him it made it a difficult relationship between me and him and I possibly hadn't given him the opportunities I should have done, but I had to take a look at that.
"He has answered the call and has played fantastically well today and he scored today and I hope Stoke get the result they deserve."
The Boro boss also paid tribute to his other goalscorer Tuncay, who has settled well on Teesside in his first season in England.
"I think he was a bit edgy first half and was trying too hard, but he is a smashing lad to work with. He has a good return for his first season in the Premier League and he has scored important goals for us all year and his work ethic is fantastic so I am really pleased for him," he added.
