Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has admitted Boro need to win one of their next two matches or they will be relegated from the Premier League. Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Bolton was their ninth successive away defeat - the club's worst run since the Second World War - and leaves the Teessiders five points from safety.

Hull and Fulham are the visitors to the Riverside in successive Saturdays.

"We have be realistic, they are crucial for us," he said.

"We have to go and beat Hull at home and if we can do that things can turn around - where there is light there is hope.

"But to be able to do that the level of performance has to be better than yesterday.

"We know exactly where we stand and, in no uncertain terms, the players have been left knowing exactly where they stand.

"They know my feelings on things but I am manager of the football club and I have to take responsibility for results and performances.

"We are where we are over 31 games because of the things we saw at Bolton and that's my responsibility as a manager and I have to take that on board and take the flak for the players."

"We have to be bang on when we go at home against Hull next week because that is a game we have to win," he added.