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We need the Boro fans to be our 12th man to drive us to Wembley, says Southgate
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07 March 2008
The Riverside will be full for the first time under Southgate for Cardiff's quarter-final visit and the Middlesbrough boss knows his side can set the standard to bring back the stay-away fans for the remainder of their relegation fight.
Southgate said: "We have the opportunity to take everyone to Wembley and we want to take that opportunity. We want to send our supporters away happy and give them something to look forward to. We said from the off we want to do well in this competition and we are still in there fighting.
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Carnival: the Boro fans turned out when Southgate welcomed Alves to Boro
"The fans are always important. Last week after the Reading game I said it felt flat and that opened myself up to criticism because I know the team should have been better and it is our job to get the fans behind us.
"But I have played in that stadium and they have to realise what a fantastic input they can have in a game. When they give the support they can it is a cracking place to play in."
Boro will come up against former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who scored one of the goals of the season in the previous round against Wolves.
Southgate, who reluctantly allowed the former Holland international to leave Teesside, knows the veteran striker will be looking to make his mark on Sunday.
He added: "We saw in the last round he still has the ability. One chance and it is in the back of the net.
"He was terrific to play with, an excellent professional with terrific drive and tremendous desire to win and score goals, which is not always the case with all centre forwards.
"He was one if you won 4-0 and he had not scored he would sulk all the way home on the bus. He was a leader in the dressing room demanded the best from everybody.
"Steve signed him for our first year in Europe because of his experience on those type of nights and his goals played a big part getting us back in Europe as well. He was going through a run of games without scoring and we kept saying he would get one when we needed it and against Manchester City he did it when it mattered.
"Some young players would not like it because he is demanding I love playing with players like him and Paul Ince because you knew they would set high standards.
"If you can't cope with it from a team-mate you can't cope with it from 30 or 40 thousand every week. They set standards and they make you realise how important it is to win matches.
"For me it was difficult not to renew his contract because I played with him but I felt it was right and he understood. He has shown he can still score goals and we will have to be at our best to keep him out."
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