Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate said he was devastated following the 3-2 defeat to Sunderland in the Premiership, a result that piles pressure on Mido's side in their battle to escape relegation. "It is cruel and I feel for the players because they have given everything," Southgate was quoted as saying following Saturday's encounter at the Stadium of Light. "I feel for the fans because we've had fantastic support here, everyone back at the Riverside will be devastated that we have lost. "But that's football, football is cruel sometimes and those tough experiences make you stronger." Southgate's men took the lead as early as the fourth minute through a Tuncay strike before Danny Higginbotham equalized two minutes later. "I think that was an important moment in the game that we didn't hang on to that lead for very long," Southgate said. Sunderland went ahead thanks to Michael Chopra's goal just before the break as Boro went to the dressing rooms one down. "We said to the players at half-time, keep believing that you will get something from it, keep doing the right things and you will get your goal," the former England defender said. Afonso Alves grabbed the equalizer in the 73rd minute but Boro lost the game in the dying seconds when Emanuel Pogatetz converted the ball into his own net. Middlesbrough are 15th with 36 points, just four above the safety zone with two matches to go.
