The North-East Summit || Middlesbrough F.C. news, reviews and comment

THE NORTH-EAST SUMMIT - NEWCASTLE CLOSE IN 1-5-08
Stuart Young

Newcastle close in on the Summit title as they battle back to draw at Upton Park.

Sunderland struck late on in the Wear-Tees derby to overtake Middlesbrough into second place.

Newcastle

Kevin Keegan's side are in pole position to win the North-East Summit. They came from two goals down to claim a point away from home against West Ham.

West Ham started the game the brighter team and dominated the opening minutes of the match.

Mark Noble put the home side ahead early on with a well taken volley. Dean Ashton then doubled West Ham's lead thirteen minutes later, when he latched on to Bobby Zamora's flick-on and buried a shot past Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.

The Hammers were dominating possession in the first-half and should have protected their lead going into the break. Newcastle had other ideas though, with Geremi and Obafemi Martins both scoring before half-time.

Martins scored with a shot past Robert Green after collecting a long-ball from Joey Barton that caught the West Ham defence napping. Three minutes later Geremi equalised for the away team after Martins turned provider with a shot-cross that Geremi bundled into the back of the net with his shoulder.

Keegan's side battled well to get level before half-time and defended well in the second half. Newcastle have been the most outstanding team in the North-East over the last few games and their unbeaten run now extends to seven games.

It looks as though Newcastle fans will be the happiest of their local rivals in the summer as they will be crowned North-East Summit champions on Monday night if they avoid defeat at home to Chelsea. That is if other results don't go their way on Saturday afternoon.

The fans will really get behind their team for their last home game of the season and I'm sure the players will be up for this cracker against the Blues.

Middlesbrough

Hot and cold seems to be the theme for Boro this season and it was a hot start to the Sunderland game but a very cold end to it for all the Boro fans that made the short trip to the Stadium of Light.

Boro got themselves off to the best possible start after only four minutes. Tuncay raced on to a lobbed ball from Afonso Alves and rifled a shot passed Craig Gordon. It was the perfect way to silence the Sunderland crowd.

The lead lasted just a couple of minutes however, as Danny Higginbotham scored a well directed header to level the game.

One minute before half-time Michael Chopra fired a rising shot that beat Brad Jones in the Boro goal. David Wheater should be feeling disappointed after Chopra was able to pass the big man so easily to get his shot off.

I'm guessing that Gareth Southgate would have told his players at the break to get back into the game and keep it solid at the back. The players listened to the first part but obviously switched off when he told them not to lose their concentration.

Alves got Boro back into the game. Following a Julio Arca pass, he hit a low shot past Gordon to level the game.

A point would have been great news for all Boro fans, so you would have thought that Gareth's team could have held on and be disciplined at the back for the remaining few minutes of the game. It wasn't to be though, as Murphy headed home right at the end to keep Boro lurking around the relegation zone.

Boro have the advantage of two home games to finish off the season. A win is a must from one of these games to keep the team up. Portsmouth arrive on Saturday for a massive game at the Riverside. I'm hoping the team get a good turn out from the fans.

Sunderland

Roy Keane's men made sure of their Premiership status for another season by beating local rivals Boro in the Wear-Tees derby. Keane and his troops can now look forward to their holidays.

Although they are safe, Keane will want his team to finish as high as possible and, of course, ahead of Middlesbrough. They have an outside chance of catching Newcastle for the title of Summit champions but that will depend on results going their way.

The Sunderland players deserved their win against Boro because they fought right up until the last few moments of the game. Their fans are used to seeing the team score late goals and this has helped them all season. It is a credit to the way Keane handles his players both mentally and physically.

Sunderland travel to Bolton on Saturday. A win would see them climb to within a point of Newcastle.

It looks like Boro have fallen at the last hurdle and will not be crowned North-East Summit champions. Newcastle are still out in front but Sunderland are now breathing down their necks.

See You At The Top (that's if Boro make it.)

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