I finally entered my seat and took a deep sigh in seeing the vast array of empty seats (ooops! My mistake), filled seats and that gave me a good feeling that this was going to be an entertaining game.

Our line –up was expected, you couldn’t argue with the change of O’Neil out injured so step Julio Arca a fans favourite to which he scored in this fixture last season so that a good omen for us.

The game was a little gritty to start, both sides midfield seeing a lot of the ball as they kept it, gave it away, then we got it back, then they got it back and as much as it sounded confusing I just seemed to feel frustrated that no-one from either sides midfield actually ran at them, took a man on and made a dangerous pass.

My concern in my preview was Mr Obefemi Martins; in the first half my concern nearly turned into shock as he swivelled with the ball, turned past Wheater and hit the bar. I hoped that would be a wake up call for us to up our game.

Downing whipped in a good cross for Alves to nod it over, again a well-worked move with Aliadiere beforehand, heading it down only for Alves not to have a death touch like Inzaghi in mid-week.

So half time, get a bit warm and hopefully look forward to Boro’s counter attacking and for us to ram one in and shut the Geordies up.
We attacked well, really well. Alves was an option and what made it even better he was a threat. Downing crossed in time and time again, an in form striker would have relished the opportunities.

We saw the return of the fat greedy bastard; Viduka braced the Riverside faithful for the second time and in terms of the run of the mill script that follows Boro, I was worried.

He looked lively but us poms could keep him out as the Duke was fishing. He showed more input than Michael Owen could all game, what a fall from the top he’s had. He needs to get out of there before slips further into the mediocre.

On the whole I think both teams would be relatively happy with a point, Newcastle slightly more than us to be fair as the away team.

The pace of action is frenetic, though there are some moments of respite for those that need them, the fight and actions scenes are played out in ‘Bourne’ time, fast and brutal, whilst the old Bond girls seem to be every bit as tough as their male counterparts. Olga Kurylenko plays ‘Camille’ who has her own reasons for wanting a dictator in the making dead, whilst Gemma Arterton’ ‘Agent Field’ is only a brief showing and somewhat of an oddity in the mix as she dallies in the backyards complete with dirty mac and wellies….I’m really not at all sure of the reasons for that! Missing is the gadget loaded Bond, with an array of weapons that assisted him in dealing with small armies at the push of a button, the bone crunching killer replaces the suave, sophistication of old, and to be honest some of the danger to Bond himself, I never once felt he was threatened, let alone fighting for his life.

8.0/10 Tis true that Bond appears to have lost both his sense of humour and the elitism that made him stand apart as Sean Connery’s 007, but not all is lost, a few quips here and there are evident in this exhilarating thriller, though the realisation that a smile is not a sin would not go amiss. There is plenty to sink your teeth into, and although I do not think Bond should follow Bourne, it has at least brought the franchise up to date, what follows will depend on how well they give Bond his own identity as a ‘British’ agent.

Newcastle had gained a massive positive after earning a point against Chelsea last week but we need to take control and kick them while there down.

However it doesn’t hinder the fact that they’re a joke, a pure utter joke and the 8th biggest club in world? Yeah ok then, even the mackems as well as us smoggies can’t let that slide before our letting our spleen burst with laughter. You have an owner fearing for his “life”, a crafty cockney  sitting in an office playing on Football Manager whilst sipping on a latte (in a nifty office in London), a chairman who never appears to do anything or say anything. One of England’s arguable top 5 strikers of all time whose apparent wage is alledgedly £110k a week sits on the bench after being dropped by a manager whose renowned for managing a team with the nickname ‘crazy gang’. I mean the words “haha” needs to be heavily mentioned!

They’re picking up in results to be fair, Joe Kinnear is there till he’s told where to go by some deluded foreigner who wants to take over the world after winning the Champions League. It’s issue after issue with the skunks and for how high and mighty they once were now it’s time to stick it to them.

I hope that Nicky Butt isn’t playing, he’s quite good for them, a good tackler and a good passer, he seems to make Newcastle tick (just). If we do start our 3 speedsters in Tuncay, Aliadiere and Downing we need to run at them and hopefully it will give us some good entertainment watching the Geordie back four shit themselves.

My slight alarm is Obefemi Martins pace, he’s a quick little player with an eye for goal and when Newcastle needs him to score 5 times out 10 he will (and let’s hope we’re 1 in 5 that doesn’t let him) He usually gives them a 70mph strike. He will be most likely partnered by former Boro target (f*ck me) Shola Ameobi who’s as much use as good manners in Sunderland.

I like to think we can win, obviously I want us to win and Middlesbrough would be a place of jubilation when going out on the town.

Let’s beat the bast…I’ve swore too much, Skunks!

Come on Boro!!

2-1 or a late one from the away team to 2-2.

MarkA

I am struggling with the table plan, you see I know Scotty (who has a lovely red vicars outfit) and Brummie (who won the draw for the purple PVC bishop’s outfit) don’t like each other, but I have run out of room and have to sit them next to each other. I just hope they don’t argue otherwise Scotty will spend all night bashing the purple bishop at the table. We had enough of that last year. Some stains just won’t come out.

Before that we have the neighbourhood watch meeting next week. Herr Muller / Shickelgrubber (I must ask him about that) is still not willing to host the meeting. He’s a funny bloke, he’s had an argument with the old lady next door, he wants to take over the bottom of her garden, he swears it’s his last territorial demand. Anyway, I have volunteered to host the next meeting  now. There’s some dodgy looking bloke moved in at the end of the street. I suppose I should introduce myself and invite him.

Well, here are your predictions …….

Aston Villa v Fulham

Villa have finally made it into the top 4 after weeks of trying and have a real chance of staying there this season. After a good home point last week they will be determined to consolidate that position.

Fulham, by some miracle, managed to escape from the Mecca with a point and that will give them great confidence going into this game. However I cannot see them being that lucky 2 weeks running and I see a home win here.

Prediction : 2-0

Middlesbrough v Newcastle United

“They” finally lost last week. Phew - I was getting worried there. Glad to see normal service has been resumed and I can only hope that this is the start of a slippery slope for “them”.

Newcastle picked up a fantastic point last week at Chelsea and although they are still in the drop zone, confidence will be high for them now. They also have all their strikers fit and raring to go. Away win.

Prediction : 0-3

Stoke City v Hull City

Stoke got a much needed win last week and know how important their home form is to their ultimate survival in this league. The will relish 2 home games against the sides that came up with them

Hull got a great point last week, and while they are not winning they will be buoyed by the fact they are managing to pick up points. This is not as simple as it looks on paper and I see another hard fought draw here.

Prediction : 1-1

Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers

Sunderland were poor at home for the first time in a long while last week and the defeat they suffered has sucked them back down towards the bottom three. They too know the importance of their home games to their survival.

Bolton got an easy win last week. OK, OK it was only against “them” but a win is a win I suppose. It has eased them away from the bottom of the table so I cannot see them with the same intensity and they will be made to pay for that

Prediction : 2-1

Wigan Athletic v West Bromwich Albion

Wigan picked up a great and unexpected win against Everton last week. They will feel it is no more than their football deserves and will now look on playing the basement team as a chance to put some breathing space between themselved and the bottom teams.

The baggies have been cut a little adrift, but as Spurs showed this season you can soon get that back. However they need to start winning - and soon. However I can only see a defeat for them today.

Prediction : 2-0

Manchester City v Manchester United (Sunday, KO 13:30)

This promises to be the most fascinating Manchester derby for years. City are a completely different side at home compared to away, and the confidence in the City camp will be sky high after their win last week.

Had this been at Old Trafford it would have been an easy home win. United are on the brink of being out of the title race and cannot afford to drop any more points, but I can’t see them winning here in another hard fought game.

Prediction : 1-1

Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers (Sunday, KO 15:00)

Portsmouth will be disappointed to have been held at home last week, however with so many draws they will have been relieved not to have lost any ground on the teams above them.

Blackburn are in the middle of a dreadful run at the moment and need to get out of this before they too are adrift at the bottom. Is Ince’s job on the line ? I cannot see them winning here as Pompey are so strong.

Prediction : 2-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (Sunday, KO 15:00)

Spurs picked up more points last week and are using their home games as a good springboard to better things. While not completely out of trouble they are looking more accomplished now.

Everton suffered a surprising loss last week bringing to an end a good run of form and showing how unpredictable the league is this season. I fully expect them to bounce back and take the points home with them.

Prediction : 1-2

Chelsea v Arsenal (Sunday, KO 16:00)

Chelsea slipped up at home last week but remain top (somehow). They were frustrated in midweek and will not want to make it 3 draws in a row. They know how important home wins are for their challenge.

Arsenal slipped out of the top 4 last week and are probably out of the title race. Will they put all their eggs in the Champions League basket ? Either way I can see no other result but a home win here.

Prediction : 2-0

Liverpool v West Ham United (Monday, KO 20:00)

Why do I have to wait until Monday before seeing my beloved Reds ??? Well I suppose they saved the best til last. They battered Fulham last week totally and I cannot believe they did not pick up all three points.

The hammers are happier after picking up an away win last week, to ease the pressure on their manager. No such luck this week, they too will be battered at the Mecca and leave the North West with nothing.

Prediction : 3-0

TRAIN WITH THE BORO!

In conjunction with National Express, Boro are running a special rate rail service for supporters attending the game at Fulham on December 20.

Through the offer, a limited number of return rail tickets are priced just £45 adults and £23 under-16s, while there is first class availability at £80.

Seats will be on carriages reserved for Boro supporters, with the outward bound train leaving Darlington at 9.29am. The return time is yet to be confirmed but will be around 7pm.

Fans can also travel by coach with the MFC Travel Club with prices for members £24 adults and £22 juniors. Prices for non-members are £29 and £27. All season card holders are automatically members of the Travel Club.

Tickets for the game (3pm) are available from 9.30am on Thursday November 27, priced £30 adults, £20 over-65s and under-20s, £10 under-16s.

To book match, rail or Travel Club tickets either call 0844 499 1234 or call in at the Riverside ticket office 9.30am-5pm Monday-Wednesday, 9.30am-8pm Thursday-Friday November 27-28, 9.30am-3pm on Saturday November 29 or 9.30am-12 midday on Saturday December 6.

Bookings can also be made via the ticket facility at the MFC Official retail store in Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough,9.30am-8pm Thursdays, 9.30am-5pm Fridays, 9.30am-3pm Saturday November 29, 9.30am-12 midday Saturday December 6.

The first goal was shocking, yes granted Pogatetz’s foul on Elmander warranted a free kick but not a yellow card. The result from that? Crap marking allowed Grentar Steinsson to score a free header only for it ricochet of Kevin Davies back. Within 2 minutes later they did it again, 1 touch from Matt Taylor was enough to slice open the back four and allow an all left footed player score with his right.

We made an attempt to fight back, but with poor passing and lack of movement restricted us in our player. We had to rely on the quick players and catch them on counter attack but because Bolton had already score 2 they didn’t need to press against us so we had to improvise our attacks and boy did that not work. Gary O’Neil was denied his 3rd of the season by having a clearance off the line by skipper Kevin Nolan. Alves attempted to square it to Downing who was poaching around the box, only to be well cleared by the Bolton defence.

Boro weren’t blessed with chances in the first half, so it was a case of dusting ourselves down and listening to the manager to implement a new tact.

Bolton still had that resilient, confident swagger whereas any Boro attack came about pretty much nothing materialised still due to the lack of productivity and flair.

On the cusp of the beginning of the end for Boro, captain Poggy did what any Boro fan and player of course would want to do, smash the ball in the back of the net and give us hope.

This did happen for a brief amount of time, only for Swedish international Johan Elmander to score his 2nd of the season and really sticking to the Boro much to everybody’s annoyance.

This is not a dig at Southgate but we are no good at chasing the game, the only times we do actually chase the game and get level we stay put almost satisfied with the draw. This season so far the only team to have scored first and Boro to get 1 point or more is West Ham, last season however saw Newcastle (twice), Sunderland (twice), Spurs (twice), Reading and Man Utd.

Things need to change, we need to bounce back and be ready for what lies ahead on Saturday.

Bolton appear to be the victims of this rather topsy-turvy league, a win and they straight up there (with us:D) and a defeat sends them crashing down and arm in arm with the Geordies. Slightly under pressure Gary Megson will want to bring a little continuity to the trotters starting with a win against us.

Boro however have a 5 game unbeaten run, and with good performances at Villa and Everton a return to the Riverside is just what we need to keep us up the table and get some points on the board.

My first concern is that Boro become ‘typical Boro’ and lose in pathetic fashion just like this fixture last season, which saw Gavin McCann squeeze one in to keep the relegation fight ongoing for the trotters. My second concern is our centre backs, Riggott now ruled out for 3 weeks, Poggy dropping out of the internationals and Huth’s continuous injury. If Poggy is injured and Huth doesn’t make a return more so than likely we will Jonathan Grounds partnering David Wheater. My third concern is with someone like Grounds at the back, would he mature enough to deal with that sod Kevin Davies? Let’s hope so as Grounds is a good player and it would be a good test such as his league debut versus Liverpool last season.

Enough of this concern for Christ’s sake we’re doing fine, and the fact that Tuncay bagged a hat trick in mid-week makes me rub my hands with anticipation.

I think we’ll win, but I only think we’ll win if we get into Bolton straight away and not give them enough time to digest themselves into the game and put their own stance on it and dictate the pace.

We’re quicker, we’re home and we’re doing good, bring them on! I’ve looked forward to this game since Sunday night and in front of the Riverside faithful I’d expect a good, strong and winning performance.

2-0 Boro.

The credit crunch is also starting to bite. Some horrible little oik stole my Harrods bag from the gents. Which reminded me of who we were playing this week, I always like a bit of Cottage based action. And that I had predictions to do ………..

Chelsea v Newcastle United

Chelsea are doing well to keep pace with the champions elect . Another routine win last week and confidence will be high in the camp. It is difficult to see anything other than a home win here.

Newcastle just can’t seem to get any momentum, and being denied a win by a last minute equaliser last week will not have helped confidence. Newcastle are naturally poor travellers and will be returning to the North East with nothing here.

Prediction : 3-0

Liverpool v Fulham

The Reds were once again in imperious form last week sweeping aside Bolton with ease. They have a full head of steam and are charging full speed towards the title. It is difficult to anyone stopping them at the moment.

Fulham are actually in a nice little run with back to back wins and their general play has picked up. However with the league being so tight they know a couple of defeats can suck them back into relegation trouble, and I see them being swept aside at the Mecca.

Prediction : 3-0

Manchester City v Arsenal

City got a much needed point last week after being in virtual freefall towards the relegation zone. Their general play and fight was much better and they will be glad to get a home game as they have looked very strong so far at home.

I think the game is up for Arsenal and they are looking to hold their place in the top 4. The defeat to Villa has even at this early stage of the season left them with too much to do for the title and with Walcott injured I can see them slipping to another defeat here.

Prediction : 2-1

Middlesbrough v Bolton Wanderers

“They” managed to fluke another point last week. I really am looking forward to their post Christmas slump and am praying “they” will pick up as few points as possible between now and the festive period.

Bolton were comprehensively outplayed last week, but can be forgiven as it was against my wonderful reds. They know the importance of a win in this tight league as defeat could put them back in the drop zone. Easy one this - away win.

Prediction : 0-2

Portsmouth v Hull City

Portsmouth picked up another useful away point in a quite dire game at Upton Park last week and Tony Adams has made quit an encouraging start to his reign. However they need to tighten up at home if they are to push towards the UEFA places.

Hull will be glad to pick up a point last week after 3 successive defeats. They will find it difficult here but will go there determined to get a result. I can see them returning back north with something, and I will hedge my bets and say it is a point.

Prediction : 1-1

Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion

Stoke were given a footballing lesson last week, although to be fair it was the first time this season they have been outclassed like that. They will be glad that this weeks game is at home where they have been strong and against a promoted side rather than a top side to give them chance to repair their dented confidence.

Albion are currently propping the league up and also had a tough game last week at home to Chelsea. The thing that will keep them going is a win would put them level on points with their hosts and looking towards mid table. However I think despite that the points will stay in the Potteries.

Prediction : 2-1

Aston Villa v Manchester United (KO 17:30)

This will be a fascinating game and Villa know they will be in the top 4 if they win. A fantastic win at the Emarites last week made up for the disappointment of the previous 2 games and they will be hoping for more of the same.

United battered Stoke last week and will be arriving at Villa Park confident. However they will also be under pressure as they know they have to keep winning to keep the top 2 in sight. I think this will be a great game to watch and will end honours even.

Prediction : 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers (Sunday, KO 13:30)

Spurs, surprisingly to some, lost at Fulham last week and found themselves back in the drop zone. Their main problem is the goalkeeper and that is a worry for Harry. They will be expected win at home though.

Rovers have slipped quietly into the bottom three. It was only a few weeks ago they were looking at top 6, but such is the way the league is this season they are in the middle of an awful run at the moment. I can see Spurs winning this - just.

Prediction : 2-1

Sunderland v West Ham United (Sunday, KO 16:00)

Sunderland got a great away win last week that catapulted them up the table into a position that now looks relatively safe. However such is the nature of the league they could find themselves back struggling if they lose this one and other results go against them.

The hammers are anything but happy. They are in a poor run of form despite their point last week and will not relish a trip to the North East in December. This one has home win written all over it.

Prediction : 2-0

Wigan Athletic v Everton (Monday, KO 20:00)

Wigan picked up an excellent away point last week although they will feel it should have been more as the were much the better side when it was 11 v 11. Their position will be a worry to them but they too know a couple of wins put a totally different complexion on their season.

Everton somehow failed to beat “them” last week. (I am getting a little concerned how many times I am saying that this season). But they totally dominated the game and are unbeaten in 5 games. They will see no reason why they cannot extend this. Away win.

Prediction : 1-2

They’ve pulled off a few spectaculars since they came into existence. Card displays in the North Stand? Check. Huge surfer for the North Stand? Check. Banners ? Check.

The 12th man are brave, they had a go. It would have been easy to avoid the flack (much of it personal) and done nothing. Instead they’ve had a go. They’ve never claimed to be superfans. They’ve never claimed that you have to be a superfan to be a member. Quite the opposite, they’ve done their best to engage with the average fan and encourage them to make some noise, show a bit of passion, and hopefully have some of this passion rub off on the team.

Of late theres been a few “musical differences” between the people in the group. OK, this will happen, when you get a group of individuals who are determined to have a go and make a difference, your bound to get different views and perspectives. Thats life, they have dealt with it and moved on.

And in moving on the 12th man website is in the process of being updated and, for want of a better term, reactivated. Hopefully by the time of the game against the barcodes from up the road.

B17 is more than happy to wish the 12th Man and it’s various members all the best with the re-launch of the web site.

More power to their flag waving, surfer launching, chant encouraging elbow.

Keep Checking Back to B17 for Details On The Re-launch

The festivities take place on Stockton High Street 2.30pm-4pm.