Southgate was furious at his side’s capitulation in the 4-1 defeat at Bolton at the weekend, and is well aware they cannot afford a repeat this time around.

He said: “The players owe it to themselves and they owe it to the fans to perform much better against Hull on Saturday.

“We had a terrific backing from our fans at Bolton and they did not deserve to sit through what was served up.

“We are fighting to stay in this league. We have to be a lot better against Hull.

“We will have our home fans behind us and it’s time to give them something to shout about.

“We need them behind us and we have to earn that right.”

Boro have won just one of their last 19 league games and are in severe danger of slipping out of the top flight.

Their chances have not been helped by a knee injury to skipper Emanuel Pogatetz, who was undergoing a scan today as medics attempted to determine the extent of the damage.

He left the Reebok Stadium on crutches on Saturday evening and there are fears that his absence could extend further than the Hull game.

Southgate will miss one of his most committed and experienced performers if he is out of action for any extended period, but his problems are more far-reaching.

The last four league games, which have yielded only a single point, have seen Boro score only three goals while conceding 10, and the manager knows a vast improvement is needed at both ends of the pitch.

He told the Evening Gazette: “We have to attack as a team and we have to defend as a team, and we have to do it well.”