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THE NORTH-EAST SUMMIT - GEORDIES CLAIM TOP SPOT 9-5-08
Stuart Young
Newcastle lost to Chelsea on Monday afternoon but were already champions of the North-East following Sunderland's defeat at Bolton on Saturday.
Runners-up spot is still to be decided and will go down to the last game of the season. Sunderland entertain Arsenal at the Stadium of Light whilst Middlesbrough host Manchester City at the Riverside.
Newcastle
Kevin Keegan's team were crowned North-East Summit champions on Saturday evening after Sunderland's loss to Bolton.
The title now gives the team and fans bragging rights in the North-East. Newcastle fans will certainly enjoy their summer a lot more knowing that their team are better than Boro and Sunderland.
Keegan has really turned it around at Newcastle after failing to win any of his first eight games in charge. When the first win did arrive - against Fulham - the team went on a seven game unbeaten run. This broke them clear of relegation worries.
Chelsea arrived at St James' Park on Monday afternoon needing a win to keep them in touching distance of the Premiership title.
Newcastle were out to prove their worth and did so for large periods of the game as they frustrated the Londoners for an hour.
It took a goal from Michael Ballack to break the deadlock. The German international headed the ball past Steve Harper from a well flighted ball in from Didier Drogba to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Chelsea were a team needing the points as they wanted to put pressure on Manchester United for the last game of the season on Sunday. Avram Grant made some changes to his side in the second half and they delivered more of a threat going forward.
However, Newcastle looked dangerous going forward on a couple of occasions and were unlucky not to be level after Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen both created good chances. They both failed to take them though.
Frank Lampard came off from the bench and started to run the midfield, linking up well with Florent Malouda and Ballack. A second goal arrived on eighty-two minutes to make the game safe for Chelsea and to keep their title dreams alive going into the last game of the season. Malouda found room to finish after being released by Lampard's clever pass.
Newcastle head to Liverpool on Sunday to play Everton at Goodison Park. Keegan will be hoping his side end the season on a high.
Middlesbrough
Boro secured safety on Saturday with a solid 2-0 win against Portsmouth at the Riverside. This game was always going to be a nervy encounter as Portsmouth have enjoyed success on Teesside soil in recent seasons.
The first-half was played at a slow pace and reflected the desire of both teams very well. Boro were mediocre whilst Portsmouth were looking ahead to their Wembley date.
It was Portsmouth who had the best of the first half chances and should have gone ahead through Milan Baros on two occasions.
Boro began to find their feet as the half went on and created a couple of half chances through Afonso Alves and Fabio Rochemback. The first came from Alves, whose close shot was parried away by Jamie Ashdown in the Pompey goal. The second was a shot from Fabio Rochemback but his effort was blocked by Lassana Diarra.
Chris Riggott, recalled from his loan spell at Stoke, came up for a corner with five minutes of the first half remaining and powered the ball home with his head to put Boro in the lead.
The second goal arrived minutes after the restart and this time it was Tuncay who headed into the back of the net from a Stewart Downing corner. The game was safe, Boro's season was safe!
With Sunderland losing at Bolton on Saturday evening, Middlesbrough climbed ahead of them for second spot in the North-East Summit.
With one game remaining, it is now in Boro's hands to see if they can hold off the challenge from the Mackems.
Boro face Manchester City at home on Sunday. A win is surely on the cards - the City players are already on holiday!
Sunderland
Sunderland went to the Reebok Stadium knowing they were safe for another season. Meanwhile, it was Bolton who needed the points in their battle for survival.
Roy Keane's men had nothing to play for apart from the North-East Summit. They knew Boro had won so they needed to get at least a point to regain second spot.
Bolton were fighting for their lives and were first to everything in this game. Kevin Nolan was running the midfield and Kevin Davies was a constant threat throughout the match.
The home team went ahead three minutes before the break through want-away El-Hadji Diouf. The Bolton forward curled the ball into the net from twelve yards out after collecting the ball from a Kevin Nolan cross.
Sunderland had a great chance to get themselves back into the match but Kenwyne Jones wasted it with twenty minutes remaining. Bolton pushed forward for a second and got it late on courtesy of an own goal from Daryl Murphy.
The loss to Bolton means Sunderland remain in last place in the Summit race. They will be hoping a win at home to Arsenal on Sunday will give them a chance of grabbing second spot from Middlesbrough.
Newcastle fans will be wearing their shirts with pride whilst on holiday this summer after winning the race to the North-East Summit. Boro and Sunderland are still fighting for second position. Who will get the wooden spoon?
See You At The Top... Sunderland fans!
RETURN TO NORTH-EAST SUMMIT INDEX PAGE HERE
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