Venables’ first game at the (joint) helm was another defeat, away to Sunderland on 9^th December. Boro were now rock bottom in 20^th place in the league. The only way was up. The influence of any new manager usually takes a little bit of time to show, but Venables concentrated on a back-to-basics approach, tightening up the permeable defence. The team conceded only two goals in the next seven league games, having let in twelve in the previous seven. Starting with a home win (the first of the season) against Chelsea, they even managed to avoid the traditional post-Christmas blues and went on a ten-game unbeaten run, gradually dragging themselves up and away from the bottom of the table and towards safety.

 The FA Cup didn’t prove to be much of a distraction from the primary mission of survival. Hamilton Ricard scored with a superb curling effort to progress against Bradford in round three, but Wimbledon sent us crashing out in a replay at Selhurst Park.

 Even big teams such as Liverpool found the newly-tightened defence a difficult proposition and were sent away without points. Goals were still at a premium at the other end as well - aside from a 4-0 win over Derby – and seven of the ten games in the unbeaten run were draws, but that was much better than defeat after mind-numbing defeat, and the points total was looking much, much healthier. The last game of the run was against Villa away, where Ehiogu scored against his former club to secure a 1-1 draw.

 The next league defeat suffered was at home to Southampton on 24^th February, but by then Boro were out of the bottom three. March started with a 0-0 draw against Charlton Athletic, and then it was time for the annual visit to St. James’ Park in Newcastle. Newcastle were now a comfortable mid-table outfit, still hoping they could become a permanent fixture amongst the big boys at the top end, but ultimately falling short. Even Bobby Robson’s management couldn’t help them break out of their torpor and Boro were not in a charitable mood on this particular visit. Alen Boksic decided to turn up, scoring with a magical free-kick to give us a rare taste of victory on Geordie turf.

 Chelsea beat us 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the next game, which was followed by a 0-0 draw with that other North East team. We then expected nothing less than our customary battering at Highbury by Wenger’s Arsenal, but contrived to win the game 3-0 despite having only one or two shots on target in the whole match. Two of the goals were own goals, and top-flight safety was within reach.

 A first goal by late-season arrival Dean Windass wasn’t enough to prevent a home defeat to Ipswich, but at least we were back on familiar territory: beating a team like Arsenal and then losing to Ipswich. This is a little unfair to the Tractor Boys, to be honest. They had come up from the First Division for this season and were expected to bounce straight back down, but eventually finished 5^th and qualified for the UEFA Cup.

 Leicester away provided one of the most memorable Boro goals in recent years, with the enigmatic Mr. Boksic turning a defender this way and that before delivering an exquisite lob into the goal from more than twenty yards out. Ince and Ricard added the other goals in a 3-0 win that took us up to 15^th in the table. A 2-0 home defeat to Manchester United – on their way to a 7^th Premiership title – was follow by a 1-1 draw with already-relegated Bradford City.

 Safety had been secured well before West Ham came to visit the North East. Job and Karembeu scored in the 2-1 victory, but what happened after the game is more memorable. As the team and the management staff performed their traditional end-of-season lap of honour, there was clearly-audible hostility and discontent directed towards Bryan Robson from the stands. It was clear that he wasn’t going to be able to continue working at the club in any capacity. He had brought some exciting times to the club, of that there was little doubt, but ultimately his coaching skills had been found to be lacking. It was time for both Robson and the club to move on.

 So, Boro had finished a comfortable 14^th after the flirtation with relegation. Uncertainty now stood like the awkward shy man in the corner at a party, waiting for someone to tell him where to find a drink. Who would be the manager next season? Would Venables stay on as sole manager? Would the real Alen Boksic please step forward?At least we weren’t in the shoes of Manchester City, who joined the Cities of Coventry and Bradford in relegation. There was something to build on.

 As for me, I had challenges of my own. I fought through massive sleep depravation and the appearance of an irregular heart-beat (I am going to suggest “Red Bull gives you Arrhythmia” as a new tag-line) and tried my utmost to be a good father and husband. My son was still just a pooping and eating machine, but I was looking forward to being able to impose my world view on the boy when he became old enough to pay attention to my foibles. For now a Boro romper suit and a cuddly Roary the Lion would have to do.