Southgate issues challenge
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is challenging his side to top their own mini-league as they head into the Christmas period.
The 37-year has revealed he sat down with his players in October before they headed for Manchester United on the back of a run which had brought them just a single point from five league games and set them the task of dragging themselves away from the Barclays Premier League basement.
They were defeated 4-1 at Old Trafford, but have since lost just one of their ensuing six games and collected nine points from a possible 18, including the last six against Arsenal and Derby, to climb to the relative safety of 14th place.
Southgate will hope that form continues tomorrow when West Ham head for the Riverside Stadium with the top 10, rather than the bottom three, in Boro's sights.
He said: "We spoke before we went to Old Trafford about having seven or eight games before Christmas.
"There was a group of teams up to 12th place and we wanted to be top of that group at Christmas - that is still within our grasp.
"We are a point off it and if we can win on Saturday, we might finish top of that group.
"We have had as good a run down there as anybody - obviously Tottenham have changed their manager and only lost one, but they are only a point ahead of us.
"We are progressing steadily, but there is still an enormous amount of work to do."
In truth, Boro are still only three points better off than derby rivals Sunderland, who climbed out of the bottom three with last weekend's controversial draw against Aston Villa.
However, the whole mood at the club has changed as injured stars start to return - Julio Arca is back in contention for tomorrow's game, while Mido's re-appearance is anticipated early in the New Year.
If draws with Spurs and at Bolton laid the foundations for an improved run it was a much more fluent performance and a deserved victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal which provided what Southgate hopes will be the launchpad for a second-half push.
He said: "The whole atmosphere of the club and the town is a lot more upbeat. Certainly, the Arsenal game was crucial in that.
"When you beat the team that has been the best in the league, you know you can beat anybody.
"It was important we followed that up by going to Derby and, just in case anybody dared use the phrase 'typical Boro', won that game because you want to start stringing a run together.
"We did that and that was as important, if not more so, as the Arsenal win.
"We have got a chance to win three on the bounce now and we have got to take that."
Key to Boro's upturn in fortunes has been the form of Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli.
The 25-year-old, who arrived from Fenerbahce during the summer, has taken time to adapt to life in English football, did not score his first goal for the club until the 1-1 draw at Reading on December 1, but has scored in each of the two games since to belatedly announce his presence.
Southgate said: "With more confidence, there is a definite and obvious spring in his step around the training ground now, and we are starting to see some of his best.
"He is a difficult player to play against because his style is slightly different to anybody else I have worked with.
"We are trying to give him that freedom to go and play."
Southgate has doubts over midfielders Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil, while Fabio Rochemback is suspended.
Curbishley happy with Hammers' hierarchy
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley claims the club have not been disrupted by the departure of former executive chairman Eggert Magnusson.
The one-time president of the Football Association of Iceland stepped down from his post in September before selling his shares to Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson last week.
Magnusson was a fans' favourite at Upton Park and has been replaced by Gudmundsson, while CEO Scott Duxbury has been charged with the daily running of the club.
But despite the reshuffle Curbishley, whose side travel to Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday, says the club have managed the transition smoothly.
"I have met the new chairman a few times," said Curbishley.
"Where as Eggert was based here in London, he lives over in Iceland, but we speak quite a lot on the phone.
"Scott has taken on the day-to-day situation so, between the three of us, that is the way we are going to progress."
Curbishley's team have enjoyed a haul of 13 points from their away fixtures this term and he is hoping they can extend that run against Middlesbrough.
He added: "We have taken more points from our away games and I hope that it continues this weekend.
"We lost at home to Arsenal, who had all their best players playing, and we were beaten by Manchester City at the start of the season. We then lost to Everton, who are on a good run.
"Although I do want to win more games at Upton Park, I have to take the points when they come."
It has been a frustrating start to the season for Curbishley, who has seen a number of first-team players sidelined with lengthy injuries.
Summer signing Craig Bellamy has a stomach strain, while Kieron Dyer is ruled out for months with a broken leg.
As a result, Curbishley has been forced to patch his squad together but says he is not too disappointed by their start to the campaign.
He said: "It has been a difficult and frustrating year because we have been unable to keep the same side twice because of injuries.
"I would like to have had more points but when you are chopping and changing each week and asking your players to play out of position, it is difficult. I could not ask any more of my players with regard to their effort."
