Saturday April 9th 2006
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Davies (Maccarone 62), Ehiogu,Riggott, Queudrue (Taylor 45), Morrison, Boateng, Doriva, Rochemback, Johnson (Viduka 45), Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Parnaby.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Carr, Bramble, Moore, Elliott,Solano (Dyer 66), Bowyer, Emre (Faye 81), N'Zogbia, Shearer,Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Clark, Ramage.
The annual visit to the Acid Rain capital of Europe brings with it the usual trepidation. The smell of the place is frightening, and that does give cause for concern at this "little town in Yorkshire". Will we get kicked out by the over-enthusiastic Smoggy stewards for wearing gas masks; will we come down with scabbies; will we get an infection from the seats and have to stand all game?
It's all part and parcel of a day out at the Riverside. And of course there are the friendly locals. The Neanderthals who give the "Time Team" a whole series of TV programmes without leaving the ground.
The highlight was obviously winning ... but the chant from the Toon Army at the Smoggies "Gary Glitter's Red And White Army" came a close second. And in the end we enjoyed our little visit, although they reckon the symptoms of scabbies doesn't show up for a week ... so we'll give you the verdict next week.