Middlesbrough Preview
By Matthew Jones
November 3 2002
Newcastle go into Monday's game with THREE injured players (Bellamy, Bramble and Cort) and Andy O'Brien is doubtful. As a result of this, Marcelino and Gary Galdwell will be called into the squad.
Newcastle are without the suspended Nikos Dabizas and injured trio Craig Bellamy (knee), Titus Bramble (hamstring) and Carl Cort (knee). Republic of Ireland defender Andy O'Brien is doubtful because of a back injury, so Sir Bobby Robson has called reserve central defenders Steve Caldwell and Marcelino into his squad.
Newcastle (from): Given, Griffin, Hughes, O'Brien, Bernard, Jenas, Solano, Dyer, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi, Lua Lua, Harper, Caldwell, Acuna, Marcelino, Elliott.
Striker Alen Boksic is a doubt for Middlesbrough because he has flu. Full-back Robbie Stockdale, who missed the 2-2 draw with Leeds last weekend with a long-standing heel problem, could return though.
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Crossley, Stockdale, Parnaby, Queudrue, Southgate, Ehiogu, Cooper, Greening, Boateng, Geremi, Marinelli, Whelan, Wilkshire, Boksic, Maccarone, Nemeth, Job.
MOST SIGNIFICANT STATS
The Monday night Premiership action features a North East derby as Newcastle play Middlesbrough for the 101st time in the League.
This is the fourth successive home game for the Magpies, who are riding the crest of a wave at the moment. A 1-0 win over Juventus, was followed by a 2-1 victory over Charlton and last Tuesday's 2-1 eclipse of Dynamo Kiev when a Gary Speed header and Alan Shearer penalty saw the Tynesiders come from behind to win and maintain their hopes of qualifying for the second group phase of the Champions League.
Middlesbrough got off to a flyer. Five wins and two draws in their first nine League games shot them to third. But they've lost ground subsequently. Most notable with a surprise 1-0 defeat at struggling Charlton and 2-2 home draw with Leeds when the fall out from George Boateng and Nick Barmby has taken attention this week.
The Cleveland club are chasing a fifth win in eight Premiership outings, while the Magpies have their sights set on sending 'Boro the same way as Sunderland, West Brom and Charlton - all beaten in Newcastle's most recent home League games.
'Boro's 50th Premiership match under Steve McClaren is their first at St James' Park since the 3-0 loss last Boxing Day. Newcastle have picked up 13 points from a last possible 18 in this identical fixture.
Alan Shearer, who scored Newcastle's 100th goal in Europe when he converted the winning penalty against Dynamo Kiev midweek, and scored in both League games against Middlesbrough last season, needs one more strike to top 100 League goals for the Magpies.