The Teessiders are five points from safety with just seven matches remaining and a ninth successive loss away from home - their worst run since the Second World War.

Kevin Davies put Bolton ahead with his 12th league goal of the season in only the eighth minute, only for Gary O'Neil to equalise seven minutes before half-time.

However, Gary Cahill fired home just before the interval, Matt Taylor curled in a fortuitous free-kick over the heads of the defence and Ricardo Gardner added a late fourth.

With Blackburn and Stoke both winning Boro face a daunting task if they are to survive with seven matches remaining.

"We didn't do enough of the things we need to do to win football matches," said Southgate.

"We defended really poorly and we haven't done enough to deserve anything from the game. To come here and lose 4-1 is very disappointing.

"We didn't start very well defensively as a team, we were second to too many things, but we always looked like we would be a threat on the break."

The Middlesbrough manager added: "I don't think there was anything in the game at half-time in terms of the performances of the two teams.

"I thought we looked a threat at times throughout the afternoon, especially in the first half when we have hit the post and scored a very good goal.

"Having gone a goal behind we changed the shape to counter what Bolton were doing and then after the equaliser we were fine at 1-1.

"There was nothing in it and at that stage we looked to have the upper hand.

"But we have conceded really poor goals and, as always, the concession of goals changes emotions and the third is the key to it - we shot ourselves in the foot.

"All the while there is one [goal] in it there is hope but I think you could see in the body language of the team the lack of belief to come from two goals behind.

"We finished the game in really poor spirits because we tried to throw people forward and became disjointed."

Bolton moved on to 37 points and appear to be safe and even usually cautious manager Gary Megson accepts his side are probably going to be okay - although he will not allow his players to become complacent.

"Obviously it is a great result. We have played that game today with the knowledge if we put in a good performance and get a good win this was a really defining Saturday," he said.

"We are eight points above the relegation zone with probably a better goal difference than most in there so it is going to be difficult [to be caught].

"But I don't think we can turn around and say if we finish on 37 points that will be enough.

"At times today we didn't pass brilliantly or finish brilliantly but right the way through the game we battled and worked our socks off and we got our just rewards."