Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fifth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 17 February
Winning clubs will receive £120,000 from The FA
Fifth Round - Click Here

Middlesbrough striker Yakubu is off the hook over his double FA Cup penalty failure - because manager Gareth Southgate knows what it's like.

Yakubu saw a penalty saved in extra-time in Tuesday's Fourth Round Riverside replay win over Bristol City before hitting a post in a sudden-death shoot-out.

Southgate suffered the torment of failing from the spot in England's Euro '96 semi-final shoot-out defeat by Germany, and admits he was too hard on himself as a player when things went against him.

And ahead of the Fifth Round visit of Boro legend Tony Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion, Southgate stressed he will not criticise his side for mistakes.

He said: "What I want my players to do is just go out and play. They shouldn't have any fear. You might concede and you might get beaten, but that's cup football.

"Yakubu knows the faith I have in him and I'm sticking with him where penalties are concerned. His goalscoring this season and last has been outstanding and I would have placed everything on him to put away those penalties the other night. I'm not bothered about players making mistakes in either box.

"As a player, I analysed my mistakes too much, and I want my players to move on from worrying about anything they might have done in the past.''

Southgate, who skippered the Boro side beaten in last season's Semi-Final by West Ham, is relishing the clash with the promotion-chasing West Brom.

He said: "We enjoy our Cup ties at the Riverside, that's for sure. We have had some brilliant cup runs as a club over the last decade.

"If you look outside the big four clubs, as people would suggest, I'm sure our cup record stands up against many others in terms of semi-finals and finals.

"But we only have one trophy to show for it with the League Cup three years ago, and we want to add to that.''

And he says the welcome mat will certainly be out for Mowbray. "I'm sure Tony will get a warm reception,'' said Southgate. "I think it's important clubs remember the contribution of past players.

"I know our fans hold Tony in great esteem. I know he was pivotal in a very important period during the club's history and those who played with him loved him, and the fans loved him too.''

Boro centre-back Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Julio Arca are fit to return after missing Tuesday's game, but South Korea striker Lee Dong-Gook (thigh) is ruled out and midfielder Lee Cattermole (dead leg) is doubtful.

Listen to live commentary from the Fifth Round and log on to TheFA.com on Monday at 1.30pm for the draw for the Sixth Round.