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Match Report
 

Ripper on Riverside

                 Middlesbrough                             2
                                         Juninho '5
                                         Festa '78

                                   Newcastle United                         2
                                         Speed '10
                                         Pistone '18

                                                   Newcastle boss Bobby Robson decided that discretion was
                                                   the better part of valour after seeing his side pegged back in
                                                   a thrilling derby encounter. United were just 11 minutes away
                                                   from victory at Middlesbrough when defender Gianluca Festa
                                                   claimed a point off the Teessiders in a 2-2 draw. Boro were
                                                   worth their draw after a spirited second-half comeback, but
                                                   there was a feeling in the Newcastle camp that a foul on live
                                                   wire midfielder Kieron Dyer in the move that led up to the
                                                   equaliser had gone unpunished.

                                                   Robson declined to attend the post match press conference
                                                   in case he got himself into trouble with his comments, but
                                                   Boro boss Bryan Robson - today charged with misconduct
                                                   over comments made to referee Neale Barry at Coventry -
                                                   was happy to discuss a game which he felt his side should
                                                   have won.

                                                   ''I think we deserved a draw but if any team deserved to win
                                                   it, it was ourselves,'' he said. ''We had more clear-cut
                                                   chances. We had two very good chances in the first half and
                                                   two in the second half. In the first half, we were a bit
                                                   hesitant in our defending but we got into the game and
                                                   started to play a lot better.

                                                   ''Bobby has done a great job at Newcastle and we knew it
                                                   would be a difficult game. There's a lot made of tactics but
                                                   it's how you apply yourself on the football pitch. There was a
                                                   bit more spice to it and we kept on missing some good
                                                   chances. We should have done better with our finishing. But
                                                   it was nice to see the goal go in.''

                                                   Boro got off to the perfect start when Brazilian Juninho
                                                   headed them in front with just five minutes gone, but in a
                                                   whirlwind start to the game, it was the visitors who found
                                                   themselves leading after 19 minutes.

                                                   Welsh midfielder Gary Speed had levelled with a powerful
                                                   right-foot drive on 10 minutes, and then Italian Alessandro
                                                   Pistone weighed in with his first ever goal for the Magpies to
                                                   silence the home fans. But Juninho inspired the Teessiders
                                                   to a rousing second-half display and it was fitting that he
                                                   played a major role in the build up to Festa's 79th-minute
                                                   equaliser.
 
                                                   ''Juninho did well,'' said Borough boss Robson. ''That's two
                                                   games now since I left him out and it's brought an edge
                                                   back to his game.''

                                                   While Newcastle left the Riverside Stadium disappointed not
                                                   to have hung on to all three points, Borough were left to
                                                   reflect on a growing injury list. Midfielder Mark Summerbell
                                                   was carried off earlier in the game with what proved to be a
                                                   dislocated shoulder and his season is over, while defender
                                                   Christian Ziege aggravated a groin strain and is now a major
                                                   doubt for Saturday's home game against relegated Watford.