WOODGATE GETS GOOD RECEPTION FROM BORO

JONATHAN WOODGATE walks past striker Britt Assombalonga, who is pretending to be the receptionist at Middlesbrough’s training ground greeting visitors.

“I’m good at this,” jokes £15milion record signing Assombalonga, who was dropped to the bench in midweek after missing chances for struggling

Boro. “Come in, welcome...”

Woodgate (above) says: “Look at Britt over there. Smile on his face, upbeat, staying positive. He’s not moping, chin on floor. No-one is. That’s how I want it.”

The former England defender, 39, has not received such a warm welcome to management.

A relegation struggle could be ahead. Cost cutting and a squad reduced in numbers by owner Steve Gibson (above) have left Woodgate heading off a storm.

This is the other side of being a rookie manager, down the ladder from Woodgate’s contemporaries like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. “It is a pressure situation being a local lad and manager of Middlesbrough,” according to Woodgate, who locks horns with Fulham today.

The best bit? “Winning. Just winning. When that whistle goes and you’ve won that game, I think every manager will tell you it’s an unbelievable feeling. It lasts a couple of hours, then you have to go again.”

Winning has only occurred twice in 14 games.

Behind the scenes he has done a lot right. Players dine together daily. Suits are worn on match days for a “going to work” feel. He’s sung songs with fans at community events.

But on the pitch it’s not clicking. “Has anything surprised me?” adds Woodgate. “It’s relentless. You get in on a morning and you’ve just got people at your door left, right and centre.

“You’re trying to watch a game and you’ve only done 10 minutes then someone comes in.

“You do another five minutes and there’s another knock. But I like the responsibility.

“When you’re a player you can put it right in the next training session.

“When you’re a manager, you’ve got to wait for the next game. You do things in training, but it comes down to the result of the next game. It is on my shoulders, but something I relish.”

Boro ground out a point in the goalless draw at Huddersfield on Wednesday and were competitive in their last home game against West Brom.

“That’s why I’m encouraged, because I know it’ll change,” he says.