Boro close in on front-runners

A header by England defender Ugo Ehiogu put Middlesbrough on course to cut the gap on second-placed Liverpool to one point in the Barclaycard Premiership.

The former Aston Villa man nodded home from a corner in the 23rd minute to give third-placed Boro a 1-0 lead at the break.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer equalised on the stroke of half-time at St James’ Park after West Brom had been on course to take an unlikely 1-0 advantage into the break.

The goalscorer was Slovakian wing-back Igor Balis, who just beat Shay Given with a drilled shot in the 27th minute.

Magpies full-back Andy Griffin had earlier hit the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot which deceived West Brom goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

But Shearer snuck in just before the half-time whistle blew to leave honours even.

Southampton took the lead after 64 seconds against Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium when Brett Ormerod headed in Wayne Bridge’s cross from the left, having hit a hat-trick in midweek for Saints.

The lead could have been at least trebled had Peter Schmeichel not rolled back the years to produce save after save to keep the rampant home side at bay.

The Dane could not stem the tide forever though and Ormerod, who began his career with Accrington Stanley, made it 2-0 with two minutes to go to half-time.

A brace from Stern John helped Birmingham to a 2-1 lead at West Ham.

The Trinidad & Tobago striker, who registered a hat-trick against the Hammers’ east London neighbours Leyton Orient in midweek, beat former Blues defender Gary Breen and caught David James out at his near post in the fourth minute to open the scoring.

But Glenn Roeder’s side equalised after 6 minutes when a Birmingham attack broke down and the ball was fed into Joe Cole by Paolo di Canio, and the young England midfielder beat Nico Vaesen with a neat finish to make it 1-1.

However, Steve Bruce’s men bounced back and regained the lead through John, who scored his fifth goal of the week to make it 2-1 with two minutes to go to the break.