Middlesbrough face a FA Cup replay after drawing 0-0 with Sheffield United.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "We knew this would be a tough game with a new manager coming in and a great chance for them to cause an upset, so they had plenty of motivation.
"But in the end we're still in there fighting which is the most important thing, although we can't afford to look beyond the replay.
"Obviously, it's getting to the stage where it gets exciting, and there's a great spirit amongst the players. They want to do well and to win it.
"But as a team we're at our best when we focus on the next challenge, otherwise we get a bit carried away with ourselves."