Middlesbro - 1 Newcastle - 2: A so-called local derby ended with Newcastle United up to 10th in the Premiership - which equals their highest placing this season and leaves them only three points adrift of Bolton Wanderers in seventh - while leaving Middlesbrough fans once again guessing at the true nature of their team and their much-discussed manager, Steve McClaren. Three days after one of the most rousing displays in their history against Basel here, Boro reverted to caution, ignoring the fact that regional pride was at stake.
In Teesside's feast-or-famine season Boro remain 14th and, although they have an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Charlton on Wednesday and a Uefa Cup semi-final against Steaua Bucharest the following Thursday, glory can hardly be relied upon in either cup. The league matters.
Middlesbrough did not play as if it did. McClaren left out four players who started against Basel, the captain Gareth Southgate, Stewart Downing, Stuart Parnaby and Mark Viduka, and, though the Australian came off the bench at half-time, with Newcastle 2-0 ahead, another significant substitute from Thursday, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, was not even in the 16.
The changes alone do not fully explain Boro's attitude or tempo. Not until the last 20 minutes did the home side impose themselves. Viduka was prominent then, worrying his compatriot Craig Moore into a hand-ball that was one of many offences missed by referee Alan Wylie and then chesting down the Fabio Rochemback free-kick from which George Boateng scored.
Boateng's shot took a deflection off Titus Bramble to fly past Shay Given and, with 11 minutes left, there was mild anticipation of another Boro comeback. But, aside from a direct free-kick from Rochemback saved by Given, there was no repeat of Thursday, or of the previous league game here, won 4-3 against Bolton via a last-minute winner from Parnaby.
Boro have now won 11 Premiership games and lost 14. And it is Portsmouth away next, where they usually fail.
Pointing out it was their 53rd game of the season, McClaren said: "I don't like losing and it's disappointing but we have bigger priorities, I know that, everybody knows that. We have to keep things in perspective. After Thursday's euphoria Newcastle caught us on a good day - for them."
McClaren was right about that. Ultimately for Newcastle it was comfortable. Their caretaker manager, Glenn Roeder, has done more than steady the sinking ship vacated by Graeme Souness, his record in the Premiership now reading: won six, drawn one, lost three. With Wigan at home on Saturday and a visit to Sunderland next Monday, Newcastle are "revved up", says Roeder, though he refused to mention Europe: "It's the old take one game at a time," he said, "and the league table will look after itself. But we have kept our season alive."
To have done so after the shambles left by Souness is admirable. This did not need to be Newcastle's greatest effort but Roeder said he urged his players to start fast. Two goals up by the interval will have been Roeder's perfect half and yet it could have been more. Shola Ameobi steered in their second on the stroke of half-time, Stephen Carr and Nolberto Solano initiating the move, but for Ameobi it could have been a hat-trick.
From a fourth-minute Solano cross, Ameobi benefited from a ricochet off Doriva but dragged a five-yard shot wide. Ten minutes later another skilful contribution from Solano set Ameobi free 12 yards out. This time he lashed his drive into the stands.
Boro began with Aiyegbeni Yakubu on his own up front but, with Newcastle first to most challenges, the Nigerian was isolated and Newcastle were able to dictate. Finally they broke through and Ameobi was able to claim an assist, his far-post header being bundled in by Boateng under pressure from Lee Bowyer. Four minutes later Ameobi was tripped by Chris Riggott - "a nailed-on penalty," said Roeder.
McClaren responded by sending on Viduka for the second half but even after Boateng scored there was no hint of the siege that did for Basel.
"Shall we win a cup for you?" chanted the home support. Given the league form, Boro might need to.
Guardian Service
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