GARETH SOUTHGATE was putting on a brave face in the wake of another harrowing afternoon at the Riverside, but the inner turmoil he was suffering spoke volumes for a plight that has now grown so extreme that even his own supporters have turned against him.

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer restored Michael Owen to the starting line-up for tonight’s must-win derby clash with Middlesbrough.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson rang the changes as he attempted to move a step closer to the Premier League title.

A frenzied relegation battle is no place for a purist, which is one of the reasons why Middlesbrough’s band of travelling supporters left this ground with faces longer than the Tees on Saturday.

Middlesbrough will be without suspended midfielder Matthew Bates for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke.

DAVID JAMES has seen almost everything during his long and colourful career, but the England goalkeeper still considers himself a novice when it comes to relegation battles.

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte is doubtful for tomorrow’s crucial Barclays Premier League clash against Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has few new injury problems ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final trip to Everton.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has named an unchanged squad for tomorrow night’s Barclays Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur.

Gareth Southgate has Marlon King available as the Middlesbrough manager bids to end a run of 14 Barclays Premier League games without a win against Liverpool tomorrow.

STEWART DOWNING turned in an inspired display as Middlesbrough shook off their relegation fears to book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the fourth successive year.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will be without midfielder Didier Digard for tomorrow night’s FA Cup fifth round replay with West Ham.

IT is still too early for frantic supporters to adopt the chewed-fingernail pose so beloved by macabre television companies, but already Middlesbrough is a club racked by fear.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has revealed he has the chance to field an unchanged side for what would be only the second time this season for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Wigan at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough are without striker Marlon King and defender Chris Riggott for tomorrow’s trip to West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

THERE must be a sadomasochistic streak buried deep within Shay Given. Having finally extricated himself from the Newcastle United madhouse, booking into the loony bin that is Manchester City seems akin to a particularly extreme form of self-flagellation.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is boosted by the return of midfielders Didier Digard and Gary O’Neil for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Manchester City.

GARETH SOUTHGATE insists he is ready to become the fall guy for Middlesbrough’s faltering season if it helps protect his young squad.

Striker Marlon King is poised to make his home Middlesbrough debut in tomorrow’s crucial Barclays Premier League basement battle with Blackburn.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is hoping for better news on the fitness front as he prepares to put a patched-up side together for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth round trip to Wolves.

Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz is struggling to be fit for the Premier League trip to West Brom tomorrow.

OVER half the Premier League has been struck by an identity crisis.

Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 1

Stewart Downing is expected to be included in the Middlesbrough squad to face derby rivals Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League after having his transfer request refused.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is expected to give a number of squad players a rare start in tomorrow’s FA Cup third round tie against Barrow at the Riverside Stadium.

PAUL SCHOLES is confident Manchester United will benefit from a more “normal” second half to the season.

Defender David Wheater is set to return to the Middlesbrough starting line-up for Monday’s daunting trip to Old Trafford after sitting through his side’s defeat to Everton on the bench.

EVERTON boss David Moyes singled out 18-year-old debutant Dan Gosling for special praise as his injury-ravaged side secured their seventh away win of the season at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough 0 Everton 1

Everton manager David Moyes’ hopes of his side continuing their excellent away form today suffered a double blow with both Joseph Yobo and Leon Osman ruled out against Middlesbrough through injury.

Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil has a chance of being involved against Everton on St Stephen's Day after returning from injury.

JIMMY BULLARD is a man in demand.

Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 0

Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard is a major doubt for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger brought back his big guns after his side’s dismal midweek Champions League defeat in Porto for today’s crucial early kick-off against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is facing up to a defensive crisis as he prepares for Arsenal’s visit to the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

PHIL BROWN may insist he has no interest in taking charge at Sunderland, but nobody would dare accuse English football’s most in-demand young manager of lacking ambition.

German defender Robert Huth returns to the Middlesbrough squad for tomorrow’s trip to Hull in the Barclays Premier League.

IT is always best to expect the unexpected at Newcastle United, so perhaps the notion of the club being hauled onto an even keel by Joe Kinnear — frozen out of football for four years, with question marks over his health and whose methods appeared to belong in football’s stone age — is not so surprising.

Striker Mido is back in contention for Middlesbrough’s Premier League derby against Newcastle at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

IT is proof positive of the Premier League’s febrile environment that, a month after Gary Megson was wondering whether he would still have a job in the new year, he is now making bold demands for funds for a January spending spree.

Emanuel Pogatetz and Mido have both been passed fit for Middlesbrough’s Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton at the Riverside tomorrow.

Everton 1 Middlesbrough 1

Everton, aiming for their fourth successive Premier League victory, had Ayegbeni Yakubu back following a heel injury against his old club today.