Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate concedes he has now become accustomed to playing the vulnerable role.

In a season of FA Cup shocks, Boro managed to avoid becoming the latest Premier League victim with a battling, yet goalless fifth -round draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

Against Bristol City and Mansfield in previous rounds, Boro were viewed as prime candidates for a giantkilling, yet they managed to avoid being toppled. And if they beat the Blades in the replay, Boro face another team from the lower divisions in the quarter-finals - Cardiff at the Riverside.

But you have to go back to 2001 for the last time Boro were beaten by lower league opposition in the FA Cup, since when they have overcome 13 potential banana skins.

"I've spent most of the season as second favourite for the sack, so we're used to dealing with this kind of thing," was Southgate's honest assessment.

"So am I peeved about constantly being viewed as vulnerable? No, it's not a problem. We have to focus on what we can control.

"When you come to places like Sheffield it is tough, and if we had lost then it wouldn't have been as big a shock as some of the ties in other rounds.

"But we've dealt with the pressure quite well. We told the players to just go out and play their football, although at times we have probably tried to do that too much.

"But on an afternoon few will remember, we've only lost one of the last 10 away games, so we're not giving much away which is a good platform to build on."

Southgate has fielded his strongest side in every round of the FA Cup so far, unlike others who have opted for the 'weaker' approach and paid the price.

"Some teams have enough players to be able to do that," remarked Southgate.

"If you were Liverpool (who lost at home to Barnsley) you would feel you put out a strong enough team to win the game.

"We have tried to make as few changes as possible, although very often some have been forced upon us.

"You know in the Cup it (a giantkilling) can happen. There is such a thin dividing line. United had a free-kick that hit the post and if they had gone in at half time 1-0 up, then it would have been a tall order to come back.

"That's the beauty of the competition."

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