Stewart Downing is confident Middlesbrough have the mettle to beat the drop this season.
Boro host Watford today.
"Our spirit is important because in this league we will lose games and it's how you respond that's key," Downing told the Mail on Sunday.
"We have strong characters. People like me and Ben Gibson don't want to get relegated. I am from the area, I have to live here for life.
"Victor (Valdes) lives a minute from me. He's played for Barcelona and Manchester United and wouldn't have known where Nunthorpe was on a map.
"But he loves it, countryside, kids are at a local school. It's a quiet little area. I can give him advice on the best restaurants and if he needs a plumbing job doing, I'll send my dad!"
