Craig Bellamy's 51st-minute strike proved enough to guarantee City three Barclays Premier League points against Boro at Eastlands.

The result means Boro have now gone 13 games without a win and remain in the bottom three, facing a desperate battle to avoid the drop.

But Southgate told Sky Sports News: "I'm disappointed we've not won again - we've done so many things right and it's frustrating.

"We looked solid and created chances away from home and not finished them, it's as simple as that.

"Performances like that are the reason we are where we are (in the table).

"We folded at Fulham and West Brom but today we've done pretty much everything right.

"We haven't finished our chances but we've created them and we've got to maintain the belief we can do that (survive)."

City's real hero was £6million new boy Shay Given, who produced four magnificent saves to deny Afonso Alves and ensure the hosts recorded a deserved win.

Boss Mark Hughes said: "You need that experience behind you to settle everybody down.

"We are delighted with the win - we're showing a decent spell of form and we're enjoying it at the moment."