Southgate happy with derby point

Nov 30 2008

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was a satisfied man despite seeing his side held at home by derby rivals Newcastle.

The Teessiders fought out a 0-0 draw with their Tyneside rivals on a cold, foggy afternoon as they bounced back from last weekend's 3-1 home defeat by Bolton.

Southgate said: "It was very much a point gained, a hard-earned point, but one we certainly deserved."

He added: "We had the majority of the game, certainly in the second half - it was pretty much one-way traffic for long periods of the second half.

"We allowed them a few breaks and they had a chance near the end which we shouldn't have allowed them to have, but I am very pleased with how we played.

"Sometimes you draw a game and you are disappointed with the performance, but I thought bar the finishing touch, we had pretty much everything.

"We defended solidly, passed the ball well, created not clear-cut chances, but we looked a threat all the time. I am pleased with how we played."

Southgate admitted his heart was in his mouth when former team-mate Mark Viduka, who was booed roundly by the home fans among a crowd of 32,160, went for goal at the end.

He said: "You know what he is capable of. I am not too impressed with him - he has not played all year and then he comes and plays against us. I thought he was supposed to be our mate.

"He is a quality player and he has to accept he is going to get the sort of reception he got. We loved working with him here, he was terrific for us."