Gary O’Neil scored Boro’s goal while Yakubu scored Everton’s goal.
Southgate said: “We played very well in the first half but we needed a second goal in that spell to see us through.
“We did well on the break, but we didn’t pass the ball well enough. We showed some different characteristic in this one, we had to roll our sleeves up and defend the box. We are young and we are learning.
“But we have taken eight points from our last four away games and we are unbeaten in five since losing to Chelsea. That is as good a run as anyone else in the division.”
