Out of Tyne?

IT will be some match at St James Park tonight, not necessarily in terms of its prettiness or the quality of the football but because of the significance of the outcome.

Whoever loses between Newcastle and Middlesbrough will surely be relegated from the Premier League. And, if it’s a draw – smart money will go on that one – then both could go down.

Newcastle and Middlesbrough have had appalling campaigns. Newcastle have won just once in 17 games, Boro twice in 22. Each side knows that they have to win the match this evening. It’s only the continuing wretched form of Hull that’s given either of the north-east clubs any cause for optimism.