Middlesbrough News

The former Liverpool player now stands over another free kick... 34' Guthrie is the fulcrum of the Newcastle side.

Strikers Marlon Harewood and Shola Ameobi teamed up to fire Newcastle 10 points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a 2-0 win over rivals Middlesbrough.

GORDON Strachan will attempt to end a career-long hoodoo tomorrow afternoon, after revealing that his wretched St James' Park record even includes a defeat in a testimonial that had already been fixed to end in a draw.

ADAM Johnson has not ruled himself out of taking his place in the Middlesbrough line-up for the Tyne-Tees derby.

Aston Villa v Stoke. Click here to bet. Click here for Aston Villa news Click here for Stoke news Click here for head-to-head stats Stoke defender Robert Huth is suspended for the short trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.

GORDON Strachan's Middlesbrough have big problems at the back for tomorrow's game.

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones admits midfield is his 'problem area' Dave Jones has warned his Cardiff City players against complacency after Chris Burke's winner at Middlesbrough fired the club to third in the Championship.

THE former agent of ex-Middlesbrough player Stewart Downing has been charged with five counts of fraud.

Sunderland v Aston Villa. Click here to bet. Click here to follow us on Twitter! Click here for our special Transfer Centre! Click here for more football headlines! Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole will not be risked against Aston Villa but John Mensah could add to manager Steve Bruce's defensive options.

THESE are worrying times on Teesside . Steve Gibson , the Middlesbrough chairman, might have been discussing ways of saving the area's steel industry before the game, but this morning he should be assessing ways of saving his football club's season.

Chris Burke scored the only goal of the game as Cardiff moved up to third in the Coca-Cola Championship with a hard-fought victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

STOKE, England: Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen enhanced his reputation as the Premier League's penalty king by saving Hugo Rodallega's late spot-kick to rescue a 2-2 draw against Wigan on Saturday.

Middlesbrough subs : Coyne , Williams, Hoyte, Taylor, Grounds, Arca, Bent, Emnes, Franks.

ONE of Stephen Fry's best lines is: "I think animal testing is a terrible idea. They get all nervous and give the wrong answers." If Middlesbrough's players were being tested in this game, they'd have been handed the cap marked 'dunce'. Pool, on the other hand, are the eggheads.

SO much for turning a corner then. Whereas Saturdaya s four-goal win at QPR had initially looked like a change of direction, in the wake of tonighta s humbling three-goal defeat to Blackpool, it now resembles nothing more than a temporary detour on the road to ruin.

WHEN they're bad, they're bad, but when they're good, they're capable of being brilliant.

Stoke striker Dave Kitson has hinted he could be open to a permanent move to Middlesbrough in the January transfer window.

Gordon Strachan claimed his first win since taking over at Middlesbrough as his side moved up to sixth with by thrashing QPR at Loftus Road.

Q.P.R. 5/4 Draw 9/4 Middlesbro' 9/4 Click here for QPR news Click here for Middlesbrough news Click here for head-to-head stats QPR will be without Steven Reid for the home game against Middlesbrough.

Comeback kid: Stewart Downing is looking forward to some consistency at Aston Villa after returning from injury Photo: AP The 25 year-old suffered a fractured foot while playing for Middlesbrough, ironically against Aston Villa , in May, before he was recruited for 12 million in the summer.