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SOUTHGATE UP FOR THE CUP

Southgate - hoping to lift Carling Cup.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will send his side out against Yeovil on Tuesday night having told them they can go all the way in the Carling Cup.

The 37-year-old occupies a unique place in the club's history as the first, and as yet, only skipper to have lifted a major trophy.

He did that back in February 2004 when, after a 2-1 victory over Bolton at the Millennium Stadium, he raised the Carling Cup to finally end the Teessiders' long wait for glory.

Four years on, he has swapped the captain's armband for the manager's hot seat, but insists his players should launch their campaign believing they can repeat the feat.

Southgate said: "Maybe we cannot win the Premier League, but we can win the Carling Cup.

"We have done it before, and we will be looking for a decent run in the competition.

"It is a competition that we can genuinely win. We have to believe that.

"It is a tournament we can go a long way in, and we have done that in the past.

"We need a good run in the Carling Cup. So much about cups is in the lap of the gods, but we have to maintain the form that we have shown already."

Boro will welcome League One Yeovil to the Riverside Stadium still smarting from the one that got away on Saturday.

The Teessiders led Barclays Premier League rivals Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield with four minutes remaining when Jamie Carragher's deflected shot and Steven Gerrard's late strike produced a dramatic turn-around.

Having defeated Tottenham 2-1 on the opening day, Southgate's men were devastated to come away empty-handed, although the manager was able to take many positives from the performance.

He said: "I do not believe they will need too much raising of spirits ahead of Yeovil considering how well we played at Liverpool.

"We lost, but did not deserve to and we can take much of the spirit and performance levels we showed at Anfield into our next match.

"We will make sure that we recover properly and be ready to go again.

"It is going to be something of a contrast, going from Anfield to (the game against) Yeovil, but we must not forget that it is a competition we believe we can win.

"The key to the will be our own attitude. If we get that right then we can win the game. Our approach must be right."

Southgate will use the depth of his squad with Egypt striker Mido likely to start after coming off the bench and scoring in both of the club's league games to date.

Keeper Ross Turnbull will retain his place after getting a late call on Saturday when Brad Jones dislocated his finger in the warm-up.

In addition, summer signings Didier Digard and Marvin Emnes could come into consideration after being named only among the substitutes to date.

Defenders David Wheater and Andrew Taylor both picked up minor knocks at Liverpool, but Southgate will hope to have both at his disposal.

He said: "I do not need to rest anybody, but I do need to make sure that the players who have not been playing up to now get the chance to improve their match fitness.

"There will be changes - we already know we will be without Brad Jones because of the injury he got prior to the start at Liverpool.

"But Ross Turnbull would have played anyway in the Carling Cup, regardless of any injuries, so he will be in the side again.

"He has a very good game at Anfield, and that will do his confidence the world of good."