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.

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 2 Tottenham 1

Middlesbrough 1 Derby 0

Arsenal 0 Middlesbrough 1

Portsmouth 0 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1

STICKING two fingers up at one with such a fearsome reputation as Roy Keane would be, you might imagine, a foolish move.

Turkey 0 England 0

Republic of Ireland 2 Turkey 2