Southgate's enthusiasm seeing Boro over the line at Spurs

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"Probably not," quipped the Middlesbrough boss. "But we've been fighting for our lives most of the season. If I'm wrapped up in the game I can't be quite as calm as Roy Keane is at the minute.

Helping hand: Robbie Keane celebrates with teammate Aaron Lennon after Middlesbrough's Jonathan Grounds scored an own goal

"I suffer with them and enjoy it when they play well."

Following their awful display against Cardiff in the FA Cup, Boro's Barclays Premier League performances against Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and now Spurs should give fans on Teesside plenty of belief in Southgate's managerial capabilities.

He said: "That's what we wanted to do in this closing spell of the season. I've talked about changing the mentality of the club. I'm pleased we've shown we've got the fighting spirit to come back."

The manner in which Southgate has asserted his managerial authority over his former teammates proves he is certainly no soft touch. He said: 'You've got to stand your ground and not be intimidated. Some players try it on a bit and only by getting good results and making the right decisions can you convince them."

Downing's decision to snub Tottenham in favour of a new five-year deal with Middlesbrough demonstrates the faith the England winger has in his former team-mate and now manager. 'He's made that transition brilliantly,' said Downing. 'It's something I possibly couldn't do but he's got to be ruthless. 'If people aren't pulling their socks up, he's the first to tell them.' With Tottenham limping towards a mid-table finish, the time has come for manager Juande Ramos to take aim. Another Jekyll-and- Hyde performance saw Spurs squander their first-half lead which came courtesy of an own goal by Jonathan Grounds, and Downing richly deserved his stroke of luck when his 25-yard strike deflected off Jermaine Jenas and past Radek Cerny.

"We don't have consistency in our performance," said Ramos, before stopping short of admitting, as expected, that wholesale changes will be made in the summer. 'Let's finish this season and then we will start thinking about the next.'