Southgate's Battle With The Empty Seats

Last Updated : 03-Sep-2007 by
And I loved the match report for the Brum game in the Telegraph, saying Southgate wants to win over the doubters.

Telegraph: If the relationship between club and supporters is like a marriage, as Gareth Southgate ventured, then Middlesbrough's victory over Birmingham was the equivalent of a lorry load of flowers sent by an errant husband in the hope of placating a disaffected spouse.

The sight of 12,180 empty seats at the Riverside was evidence that the love affair between Middlesbrough and their public has soured since the new stadium opened to full houses a decade ago.

Yet in the thunderous ovation Middlesbrough received after they outclassed and outfought an abject Birmingham, there was evidence of a romance rekindled.

"My dream was to get that sort of response from the fans," Southgate said.

"It's a bit like a marriage. If you want to do things in life, it's not as fulfilling if you don't have anyone to share them with."