BATTERED Middlesbrough must bounce back from a bruising defeat at Southampton and restore pride and momentum at Doncaster tomorrow.

The Teessiders were given a torrid time by the rampant table-toppers and were left smarting and looking second best in every department.

It was billed as the best attack in the Championship against the best defence but Boro’s previously water-tight back-line was torn apart as Southampton stormed to a seventh successive win at St Mary’s this term.

Brazilian frontman Guly Do Prado twice headed home in the first half as Saints punched holes in a brittle defence then David Connelly sealed it after the break as he leathered home after a 24 pass move that carved Boro open with embarrassing ease.

“But we have to look at this in context,” said a philosophical Mowbray, who this week celebrated his first year in charge of his home town club.

“It is a long season and there are many more battles to be won. On the day we were second best and we have to accept it.

“We came away and lost to the team that is top of the table, and a very good team at that. That happens in football.

“In certain areas of the pitch we were poor, especially up front. We did better after the break and asked more questions of them but it wasn’t enough. And let’s not be over-critical. It was a bad day at the office but we’ve done pretty well with what we’ve got this season.”

Boro slipped back to fourth spot with the defeat and now only goal difference keeps them ahead of a clutch of teams on the same points tally and another handful just behind.

But they go to second bottom Doncaster tomorrow then host fourth bottom Watford on Saturday and Mowbray knows his side needs to make that count.

“We have to bounce back and play well against Doncaster and Watford,” he said. “We have to react in a positive fashion.

“To stay up there we know we have to win these games, the points tally has to click along and we have to put this one result behind us quickly.

“The good thing is we haven’t got a week to dwell on the defeat.”

The Boro boss denied though that the Saints mauling – a second successive away defeat and the first time all season they have leaked more than two goals – was a harsh reality check.