But the crowd of only 28,875 at the Riverside on Sunday takes some explaining.The match could be picked up pay-to-view on some obscure TV channel, but that is hardly an excuse for the missing 7,000 Boro fans.
We know many of the fans on Teeside have lost faith in Gareth Southgate, but the start of the season always brings obtimism.
For once you can BELIEVE you're going to win something ... even if (in the case of Boro AND Newcastle) we never do.
But the Boro fans seem to have had enough.
7,000 missing this time ... and it can only get worse.