Shola and Caldwell strikes defeat Boro

By Peter Donnelly
November 5 2002

Newcastle United continued their good run of form on Monday night, beating Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough. Boro are a decent side these days and enjoyed a good first half, but went in a goal down. Newcastle took charge in the second half though and killed the game late on.

Boro's Geremi was getting a lot of joy down Newcastle's left, with Laurent Robert unwilling to track back. Newcastle also backed off and let Boro have shots at goal, a very risky policy.

Two penalty claims were turned down for Middlesbrough too, when Stevie Caldwell held Ugo Ehiough and Aaron Hughes brought down Massimo Maccarone - both in the box, though whether Italian Maccarone was forced down is questionable.

However, we got the first goal of the game in the first half when Amoebi fired home an excellent left foot shot from just inside the box.

It was Newcastle's turn for back luck though, as Alan Shearer got his 100th club goal for the Toon chalked off by the ref for nowt. Shola won the ball for Shearer and Big Al fired home.

I the second half the Magpies took more control and Stevie Caldwell sealed the game in the 87th minute. Boro's keeper flapped and Caldwell took advantage in style.

*The former Celtic youth player actually scored when he made his senior debut for Newcastle two years ago, in the Worthington Cup vs Bradford. The new Dabz?

Anyway, as you know this was our fourth win in a row so here's the other three: