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THE NORTH-EAST SUMMIT - BORO HIT EIGHT TO END SEASON ON HIGH 14-5-08
Stuart Young

Middlesbrough fans enjoyed a feast of goals on the final day of the season as Boro put eight past Manchester City in an unforgettable match.

Newcastle and Sunderland failed to win their last games of the season. Sunderland lost narrowly to Arsenal whilst Newcastle lost out to Everton, who were fighting for a UEFA Cup spot.

Middlesbrough

After clinching Premiership survival last weekend against Portsmouth, the shackles were released and the Boro players were given the freedom to play exciting football. The lads, in their new kit, did not disappoint the fans inside the Riverside on Sunday as they were treated to eight goals, including a few crackers.

Stewart Downing started the scoring with a penalty after Richard Dunne had fouled Tuncay in the area. Dunne was harshly dismissed for the trip but the referee had no option to award the spot-kick, which Downing dispatched expertly.

Manchester City keeper, Andreas Isaksson, made a number of world-class saves to deny Boro going further ahead in the game but Afonso Alves was soon on the scoresheet, putting the Reds two up before half-time. The Brazilian fired in a low shot after collecting the ball just inside the penalty box from a clever Fabio Rochemback pass.

With the game virtually safe by half-time, the fans started to enjoy themselves. It was like a party atmosphere at times. Another six goals would top it off nicely and that's exactly what happened.

Downing got his second and Boro's third with a tremendous volley, giving the keeper no chance. Alves also got his second just moments later. He raced clear of the City defence and slotted the ball over Isaksson to make it 4-0.

Boro were not finished - that was just half way for them. Adam Johnson came on as a substitute and his run and deflected shot made it 5-0 to Boro.

The best goal of the afternoon came from Rochemback as the Brazilian smashed an incredible thirty-five yard free-kick into the top corner with his right foot. What a way to finish your Boro career!!

Jeremie Aliadiere scored the seventh with five minutes remaining. His low shot from a tight angle squeezed into the bottom corner of the goal.

Manchester City did score a consolation goal late on through Blumer Elano but it was Boro who finished the scoring. Afonso Alves got the eighth with a simple tap-in.

Gareth Southgate will be very happy that his side ended the season with two wins at home, scoring ten goals and conceding just one.

Boro fans will be slightly happier going into summer knowing they finished above rivals Sunderland. Let's hope Southgate can strengthen his side and get the team pushing for a top-half finish next season.

Newcastle

Four changes were made to Kevin Keegan's side that travelled to Goodison on the last day of the season as Joey Barton, Geremi, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka were all absent from the Newcastle squad.

Everton were chasing a UEFA Cup spot and needed to win the game.

Newcastle started very brightly and could have taken the lead through youngster Andy Carroll, whose shot was saved by Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

The home side increased the pressure on Newcastle as the half went on and were ahead after half an hour. Yakubu made it 1-0 when a cross from Manuel Fernandes found the head of the Nigerian and he made no mistake.

Michael Owen leveled the scoring just after the restart, his penalty making it 1-1 after Charles N'Zogbia had been fouled by Joseph Yobo.

Newcastle ran out of steam late on and it was Everton who ended the season on a high. Joleon Lescott found himself in space at the back post to shoot into the bottom corner, giving Steve Harper no chance. After this, Yakubu got his second and Everton's third when he calmly slotted an 82nd minute penalty past Harper.

Although Newcastle didn't finish the season on a high, Keegan will be hopeful he has shown enough endeavor to the board so that they will back him through the summer transfer window.

Newcastle did win the North-East Summit this season so Keegan and the Geordies will be able to enjoy their summer holidays that little bit more. Well done Newcastle (that was hard for me to say!!).

Sunderland

Roy Keane has done a brilliant job this season. He has guided his team to Premiership survival in his first managerial campaign in top-flight football.

Although the last game of the season ended with a loss to Arsenal, he will be more than pleased with the way his side has performed this season.

Keane's mental approach as a player has rubbed off on all of his players this season. A 'never give up' attitude has been installed into the Sunderland players and it has brought them many rewards this term. The amount of points the team have salvaged in the last minutes of games is unbelievable.

It looks as if the Sunderland chairman will be giving more money to Keane this summer. Around £50million could be given to Keane's spending purse, which would see them improve their squad dramatically.

Things are looking up in the North-East this summer. At one point in the season all three sides were involved in the relegation dog-fight but now all three have come out of it unscathed.

All three sides made it to the top eventually but it was Newcastle that won the title and are named 2007/08 North-East Summit champions.

See you next season for another thrilling race to the Summit.

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