Gareth Southgate has been at Middlesborough since 2001, as a player for the first 5 years, and since 2006 as a manager.  During this time, boro have become a mirror image of their manager, a hard working, uninspiring, underachieving team, but always hopeful of improving.  Listening to Southgate speak, you would be forgiven to think that boro were - week in week out - on the verge of turning the corner.  There have been enough false hopes this season, including the victory ofLiverpool, to drive even the most patient fan crazy.

Gone are the days when i used to watch Match of the Day just to see a glimpse of Juniniho terrorizing an opponents defense with a lack of fear or intimidation.  Those were truly David vs Goliath battles and every neutral used to egg the Brazilian wizard on.  Today in contrast,  the boro fans are subjected to an over priced, under performing, Alves, who has as much confidence as a virgin husband on his wedding night. Despite all this, i still have a soft spot for the boro - as i do their manager - and i wish them the best.

Newcastle are in a similar predicament.  Their current 'messiah' - Alan Shearer, has yet to win a game, and if he does not win tonight will surely struggle to keep Newcastle in the Premiership - something almost unthinkable during the glory years of Kevin Keegan.  I have also always had a soft patch for Newcastle, but their current owner makes this almost impossible to justify, and if i could only save one of the two teams this season it would be boro.

A couple of weeks ago i was lucky enough to take a visit to the North East and this is a region that bleeds football, having two of their 3 big teams relegated this season would have a huge impact and would effect the area in a negative way, more so than any other area in the UK in my opinion.  

Whatever the outcome of tonight's game, both sides still have it all to do stay up, this was made all the more clear this weekend where West Brom won their second game in a row to draw level with their two - more established relegation rivals. Now, not only do they have to keep in touch with Hull (both are 3 points adrift), but they also have to keep an eye over their shoulder at a West Brom side fighting like a wounded animal.  

Boro and Newcastle going down and West Brom staying up? Now that's a scary thought.

ET

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