RESULTS:
Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)

By Jonathan Stevenson

1804 It's time for me to bid you all farewell, once more. Don't forget to tune in to Match of the Day 2 tonight, on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website at 2200 GMT. Though you will be forgiven for not massively paying attention to the first 75 minutes worth of highlights for each game. Guess I'll see you soon. Adieu.

1800: PLAYER RATER UPDATE
Matchwinner Jimmy Bullard is leading the way and why not, on 7.42, but surely that will rise? Fulham's Chris Baird is struggling, on a lowly 5.09. Will he care after they just bagged three points?

1758: "That was absolute rubbish. I am embarrassed by that result and performance. Sorry but I cannot say anything positive about that."
smyeb2 on 606

I take it you're a Villa fan? Though football wasn't exactly the winner either, to be fair to the sport.

1756: "Anything Ronaldo can do, Bullard can do better!"
Adrian, via text

1753: FULL-TIME Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa

1751: Simon Davies is booked for a late tackle. Villa pump the free-kick into the box, but no-one is anywhere near Antti Niemi and he catches comfortably.

1750: "Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Bullard steps up in style, Fulham to escape the drop. Inspirational, just don't concede."
EnglandLad23 on 606

1748: John Carew heads over from a cross from the right. Villa have 90 seconds plus stoppages to save something from this one.

1746: GOAL Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa
Jimmy Bullard curls home a beautiful free-kick from 25 yards, that even gets Roy Hodgson pumping his fists in celebration. If a goal was ever out of context with a game, this was it. Belting finish.

1745: Curtis Davies is booked for a late challenge on Diomansy Kamara. Fulham have a free-kick 25 yards out, dead centre...

1743: "4-4 doesn't sound so stupid now does it?"
Anonymous, via text

Yes, yes it does. It's 1-1. Do the math.

1739: Diomansy Kamara is sent on as Fulham go for the win, with Clint Dempsey taken off.

1738: Suddenly it's a quarter to goalscoring chance. Brede Hangeland fluffs his lines from the penalty spot, mis-timing his shot straight at Scott Carson, before John Carew sees his tame effort saved at the other end by Antti Niemi. Strike a light.

1735: What the blazes is wrong with today's games? Utter, utter boredom for 75 minutes and then it all goes mental. Still, better than nothing. Anyone's game this, now.

1734: "If they're not careful, this might turn into a football match."
Dan, my colleague and superior, sat right next to me, via his mouth

1732: GOAL Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa
Fulham hit back with a vengance, playing some tidy football down the right and Jimmy Bullard picking out Simon Davies, who beautifully helps the ball past Scott Carson into the corner of the net. I must say, I didn't see this coming.

1731: What a chance. You don't get better one than that. Martin Laursen ghosts in at the back post from another Shaun Maloney corner, but the not-so-great Dane balloons over on the volley from three yards.

1730: Erik Nevland is taken off and replaced by Brian McBride.

1728: GOAL Fulham 0-1 Aston Villa
Howler, a real howler. A Shaun Maloney corner is flicked on by Juventus-bound Olof Mellberg and Aaron Hughes, the former Villa defender, horribly sticks a leg out and diverts the ball into his own net. Frankly the game doesn't deserve a goal, but if it did, it deserved that goal. Nightmare.

1727: "Isn't there somewhere these two teams could be sent as punishment?"
CycloneArmageddon on 606

The moon?

1726: Marlon Harewood tries to break the tedium by shooting ambitiously from range. It's nowhere near scoring.

1724: "Any chance of the ref sending off all the players and bringing the mascot back on? Much more fun to watch."
Mike, via text

That would be worth the licence fee. This isn't.

1722: "Jon, I don't suppose you could just make stuff up? This is an extremely boring match."
anonymous_via_text on 606

Great name, yeah go on then. Diego Maradona flicks the ball up, ghosts past three men and hits a 74-yard pass into the path of Johan Cruyff, who doesn't even have to break stride. Cruyff turns (of course) his man, before getting to the byeline. He aims his cross to cannon back off the crossbar so that the on-rushing Pele can overhead kick in from the penalty spot, which the great man duly does with aplomb, almsot bursting the net in the process. Back to the game, and Marlon Harewood is given offside. Gutted.

1713: That is a chance. Paul Konchesky curls in a lovely cross from the left and Clint Dempsey rises highest in the melee, but he can only direct his header wide from six yards.

1710: "Full-time prediction: Fulham 4-4 Aston Villa. Anyone agree?"
The Transfer Rumour Man on 606

Worst prediction since then England captain Tony Greig promised to make the West Indies 'grovel' prior to their 1976 Test series. Greigy's team got smashed 3-0.

1707: "I hit the new teacher who was our coach with a free-kick, he said if I did it deliberately I was in the team, if it was an accident I was in detention."
Phil, via text

Accident, wasn't it?

1706: Marlon Harewood races down the right and sends over a fine cross, which just evades John Carew.

1706: The second half starts. Boo.

1704: My word. The referee shoves the Fulham mascot off the pitch because he was breakdancing in the Aston Villa penalty area and stopping the second half from starting. I know what I'd rather see after that dire first 45 minutes. Good moves, masco.

1703: Marlon Harewood comes on for Gabriel Agbonlahor at half-time and it might be a double hammer blow for the young Aston Villa striker. He has pulled his hamstring and, I would have thought - though it's true I'm no doctor - that he is out of England's game against Switzerland on Wednesday.

1703: "My defining moment in football was when I came on as sub and I got the ball six yards out. It seemed like forever, I looked across to hear my mum shouting in slow motion 'passssss, for god's sake, paaaaass'. I did, and the other guy scored... Now I work in a call centre. Calderwood out!"
Anonymous, via text

Send us your name pal, cos for some reason that text might just be the greatest one I've ever seen. Utterly hilarious.

1659: "Balls and playgrounds don't mix. I hit the girl I fancied in the face with a corking volley. Not good."
Anonymous, via text

I'll bet you were anonymous for a while after that too, weren't you, Anonymous?

1656: "Embarrassed Villa fan here - we can do a lot better than this, and hope we do in the second half. We're missing Ashley Young."
Seaside_Exile on 606

1654: PLAYER RATER
It would be fair to say that there were not exactly a lot of superstar displays at Craven Cottage in the first half, but two players have managed to creep over the magic 7 mark - Jimmy Bullard (7.19) and Eric Nevland (7.07). One wonders if Bullard's been marked up for his lustrous barnet.

1651: If you need a break from this tedium - only a break mind - then pop along to our coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations. It's the business end now, with hosts Ghana taking on Nigeria in a potentially mouth-watering quarter-final in Accra. Chris "Chrissy" Whyatt is the man in the know, say hello from me.

1648: HALF-TIME Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa

1647: England new boy Gabby Agbonlahor gets nailed as he goes on a run, not once, but twice - with Simon Davies perhaps lucky to escape a booking for the second one.

1646: It really is dull o'clock. Thankfully, we're into stoppages. Yawn.

1644: "They banned balls at my school for safety reasons, so we had to play with twigs. I had awesome twig skills."
Anonymous, via text

That defies all belief. And logic. And science. Awesome.

1642: "Jonathan, is the game that boring we have to listen to drab 'I remember when...' stories?"
RedDevil16 (AKA RD16) on 606

Yep, it really it. It's woeful in every single way.

1641: Almost a chance. Shaun Maloney, who has seen a bit of the ball, does his man down the left and swings over a right-footed cross that somehow evades everyone as it runs along the six-yard box and goes to safety.

1640: "Playground football? Brilliant. Accounts for almost half of my 1200 goals."
Pele, via text

1638: A mis-hit clearance falls to Shaun Maloney, but the former Celtic forward curls another shot well over, though it did come to him quickly.

1637: "I was the Michael Owen of my school. I sat borderline offside and poached goals every game. I scored loads and I got my shins kicked a lot. Poaching is dangerous work."
olympicgoat on 606

Offside? I don't think we ever played offside, you just had to defend deep. Really, really deep.

1635: "I remember the day when I scored from the halfway line in my playground. Remember that goal like it was yesterday."
Dean in Scotland, via text

It wasn't yesterday by any chance, was it?

1633: Shaun Maloney srpints down the left and cuts inside, but instead of picking out one of three Villa players in good attacking positions as well as space, he curls a shot 15 yards wide of the goal. Woeful.

1632: "I used to be the Ronaldo of playground football.... now I'm just fat."
_Critchy_ on 606

Depending on which Ronaldo you were talking about, you might have followed in his footsteps more than you think.

1628: "Jeepers I've been watching the game for 25 minutes and I don't think anything of any interest has happened. The Match of the Day editing team are going to have a hard time with this one."
thepiedpiper on 606

They sure are mate. If anyone wants to watch it, though, Match of the Day 2 is on BBC Two at 2200 GMT and streamed on the website at the same time.

1626: "Playground football was very awesome. Never have I scored so many goals. Inter-class 'classies' will live long in the memory."
Anonymous, via text

1622: "I went to school with a lad called Jonathan Stevenson back on Teesside. He wasn't the sharpest and he sounded like Yogi bear. It's not you is it?"
Subterranean Homesick Boro Fan on 606

Not unless I'm so stupid I've forgotten where I went to school. Which, although unlikely, is possible, I'll give you that.

1617: Gareth Barry nearly engineers a shooting chance in the penalty box, but Fulham manage to clear the danger. From the corner, Villa - the Premier League's most deadly set-piece side - cannot fashion another opportunity.

1613: "The last half an hour was end-to-end, like playground football," said Boro boss Gareth Southgate. How awesome was playground football? Oh to live those days again. Let's hope this game goes similarly insane at some stage.

1612: "I live in Stavanger in Norway and can only wish Roy Hodgson all the best. He did a very good job here training Viking and now he has a huge job to do there. I cant see Fulham getting anything from this match today though. All the best to Roy though, top man."
nigeweir on 606

What a lovely message. I'm welling up. Genuinely.

1611: "At least Lawrie Sanchez had Fulham scoring, even if they conceded a fair few as well. Under Hodgson they've stopped scoring and kept conceding."
agsrule on 606

1609: Clint Dempsey shoots from range, but Scott Carson gets down easily to save. That's as exciting as it has got so far.

1607: (See 1555) "If Derby stay up we should all give him our wages for May! But they should worry about beating the lowest ever points tally first."
Ross, via text

1601: It's all kicking off at Craven Cottage. Actually, we've just kicked off. That's all.

1559: "Is it just me or were Fulham better with Sanchez?"
Shetland_James on 606

Hang on, we haven't even started yet.

1557: The teams are out. Let's get involved.

1555: "Stevenson, I see you like having a laugh at Derby. So, if Derby stay up this season you should give me your wages for May."
chris-harding69 on 606

Nice to see some of you lot are taking your current plight well, anyway. Enjoy the Championship - I'd love to be there myself.

1553: "No manager has time," says Fulham boss Roy Hodgson. They need a win and fast, because that gap at the bottom is starting to look dangerous.

1550: "It'll be interesting to see if Villa can create as many chances without Young, the Premier League leader in the assist table."
ZZTop on 606

1546: "Right, time to see if my tip for fourth can keep up the pressure. And no, I don't mean Fulham."
yorker_129-7 on 606

1542: "Watching Newcastle and Boro fans attempt to score points off each other is truly just like watching two bald men fight over a comb."
sjmbeef on 606

Isn't that what famous video-sharing websites are for?

1540: "Stevenson. Stop having digs at Derby for goodness sake! Us Derby fans are sick of it from the media this season!"
Rob, via text

Just win some games then (hi pot, I'm kettle).

1538: PLAYER RATER LATEST
It's a pretty close run thing over on Player Rater. Our users have Stewart Downing top of the pile on 6.56 - but there's a whole bunch just fractions behind behind him including goalscorer Michael Owen. But the beauty is - it can all change. You can be a part of that change. Make it happen.

1535: "Dong-Gook Lee and Jeremie Aliadiere appall me. They're the least effective partnership since Del Boy and Rodney tried to fix that chandelier."
JJRC, via text

1533: "19 attempts on goal and just one goal, how we need Afonso Alves to start playing ASAP."
Tom in Middlesbrough, via text

Well if he keeps up the scoring rate he enjoyed in Dutch football, don't rule Boro out of a push for Europe just yet. Of course he's unlikely to score seven goals in a game in the Premier League - even Derby have tightened up their defence recently.

1531: Kevin Keegan seems a little hoarse in his post-match interview. "Michael deserves a goal - the media can make what they like of him," says the Newcastle boss.

1530: "I shall be 71 this year and Newcastle never been a threat to anyone since I went into long trousers."
boblinc on 606

1525: A stunning finish to what was not the best game in the world - you know for the last 10 minutes, it was just like watching Newcastle the last time Keegan was around.

1525: FULL-TIME Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbrough

1522: Oh my days. Stewart Downing curls a gorgeous free-kick against the post with Shay Given stood motionless. From the rebound, Jeremie Aliadiere blasts the ball into the top corner from 10 yards - but the assistant referee unbelievably rules it out for offside. I'm not sure he was, you know. What drama.

1521: Boro free-kick, 25 yards out, just right of centre...

1520: Mark Viduka shoots at Mark Schwarzer after a neat through ball from Joey Barton - Barton has looked much better playing in a central position.

1519: David Wheater almost capitalises on some very nervy defending from the home side, but his turn and volley is saved by Shay Given.

1517: GOAL Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbrough
Didn't you just know it? Julio Arca swings in a cross from the right and Robert Huth rises high to loop a header agonisingly - for the majority of the crowd - into the top corner. It's his second goal for the club and it has stunned St James' Park.

1515: David Wheater heads wide from a corner. Five minutes plus stoppages for Newcastle to hold on now.

1513: TEAM NEWS Fulham v Aston Villa
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson gives new signing Erik Nevland his debut at Craven Cottage, replacing Moritz Volz. American striker Brian McBride, who has been out with a knee injury since August, is named on the bench. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill makes one enforced change from the side that drew 1-1 with Blackburn, bringing in Shaun Maloney for the suspended Ashley Young.

1511: Adam Johnson comes on for Boro's Brazilian Fabio Rochemback.

1509: I take back whatever I've said about Claudio Cacapa - that was brilliant. Shay Given parries a David Wheater shot straight out to Lee Dong Gook, but just as he seems certain to score, the big defender comes from nowhere to smash the ball out of play. He's just saved a certain goal, you know.

1507: The Newcastle fans seem a bit nervy. Can you blame them? Michael Owen has the chance to wrap up the points after great work by Joey Barton down the left, but his left-foot volley slices horribly off target.

1504: "If DGL scores now Keegan should walk away from football."
the voice of reason on 606

How can I argue with the voice of reason?

1501: Middlesbrough bring on Lee Dong-Gook for the injured Lee Cattermole.

1500: Fabulous cross from the left from Charles N'Zogbia, but Robert Huth's positioning is faultless and he expertly guides the ball back to his goalkeeper with James Milner loitering dangerously.

1458: Gary O'Neil just cannot finish. He twists Claudio Cacapa inside-out and rifles a shot inches wide of Shay Given's right-hand post from just inside the box. Don't rule Boro out just yet.

1456: Alan Smith is withdrawn and Mark Viduka comes on in his place. Keegan won't be shutting up shop, will he?

1455: Michael Owen is denied a second by a brilliant block from David Wheater, with Joey Barton tamely hitting the rebound straight at Mark Schwarzer. Newcastle take off Emre and bring on James Milner.

1452: Alan Smith is cautioned for a reckless tackle on Lee Cattermole. Suddenly, it's got lively.

1450: GOAL Newcastle 1-0 Middlesbrough
Michael Owen rises high to head home a cross from the left from Emre. Good, good header from the England striker. Under-achieving?

1449: "Newcastle fans don't expect a lot. We just want to win the FA Cup. Once. That would be wonderful."
SydneyToon on 606

1447: "This must serve as a reality check for the Toon - forget ambitions of Europe, we're in a fight for Premier League survival now. This is a disgrace."
Tom, via text

1446: Robert Huth takes the worst free-kick I have ever seen. It went higher than Mount Everest.

1445: Emre concedes a free-kick on the edge of the Newcastle box. There's a few Boro players who might fancy some of this action.

1443: Shay Given parries a Stewart Downing shot out to Gary O'Neil, but he fires straight at Shay Given from the rebound instead of squaring to the onrushing Jeremie Aliadiere.

1442: Fabio Rochemback is booked for a foul on Damien Duff. Boro have started the second half better.

1439: "I think it was Lily Tomlin who said, 'delusions of grandeur make me feel a lot better about myself.'' Who'd have known a 68-year-old American comedienne would share such common ground with Newcastle fans?"
LJ Morgan, via text

1437: Boro have the first half-chance, Gary O'Neil's shot from Jeremie Aliadiere's pull-back blocked by Steven Taylor. From the corner, David Wheater glances wide.

1436: The second half gets under way at St James' Park. Let's have some goals for crying out loud.

1435: "Greatest underachiever? What about Stan Collymore, for pete's sake?"
Yet another anonymous, via text - will you lot please put your names on??!!

Yeah, know what you mean about Stan. For two years while he was at Forest he was the ultimate striker - fast, strong, direct, stunning shot in both feet, defenders couldn't live with him. When he left, I thought he would conquer the world. Still, he's a brilliant pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live these days.

1430: "The Michael Owen we have known will never be back, just like the Brazilian Ronaldo. He should change his way of playing, adapt to ageing like Ronaldo, and try shooting from afar or playing a more Cantona-like game."
LiveVedas on 606

1428: "Michael Owen is possibly the greatest underachiever in Premier League history. Discuss."
Anonymous, via text

1424: PLAYER RATER LATEST
Newcastle v Middlesbrough:
Damien Duff is leading the way on 6.79, with Claudio Cacapa struggling on a paltry 4.71.

1420: "All that work done to alleviate my hangover; Pot Noodle, Bounty bar, newspaper- all undone by the sight of two of the least interesting teams in the country, nay, the world, lock horns."
sjmbeef on 606

1419: HALF-TIME Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbrough

1416: Michael Owen looks lost. He gets the ball 22 yards out, surrounded by four Boro defenders, tries to take them all on a la Maradona, and loses the ball to the first half-challenge. When will the real Michael Owen stand up? Will he ever?

1414: "You never put up my messages - why oh why do I write and spend money?"
Anonymous, via text

Is that a rhetorical question?

1412: "We are a massive club and what Sam did was a disgrace - the mess our team in is due to Big Sam, I hope he never gets a job in football again. Keegan is no better. We deserve the best because we are in the top three biggest clubs in this country if we get it right."
Newcastle_best112 on 606

Just thought I'd throw that one in the mixer. Tick, tick, tick...

1410: Emmanuel Pogetetz gets into some space down the left and crosses, Steven Taylor slicing an attempted clearance, luckily for him, straight into Shay Given's arms.

1408: Enormous shout for handball there as Emre pumps a long free-kick into the Middlesbrough box. Nothing given by Mike Dean, though it looks as though the ball strikes Emmanuel Pogatetz on the arm. Difficult one, to be fair to the ref.

1405: Over 300 minutes without a goal under Keegan now for Newcastle. Who writes his scripts these days?

1404: "Poor game so far. Very lacklustre. Newcastle don't have a player who can grab the game by the scruff (of the neck)."
David, France, via text

1402: Nicky Butt gifts possession away and Stewart Downing has a chance to run at the Newcastle defence, but he tamely shoots straight at Shay Given when he had other options. It's got scrappy and Newcastle have stopped playing their football.

1400: (See 1335) "Thanks for the offer Tim. If Stevo complains too much I will let you know. He is not a bad lad though and others complain far more than him. By the way, go easy on him as he is getting a lot of grief over Forest today."
My boss, again, via email

At least there aren't any Bournemouth fans in the office, though. Oh, hang on...

1359: "If when a keeper drops the ball it's a foul, surely Paul Robinson should be the most fouled player in the Premier League?"
MrDebatable on 606

1357: Alan Smith looks far more comfortable playing as a striker today, he's winning his share of flick-ons and hunting down the defenders when they have the ball - don't forget, defending starts from the front, yeah?

1355: "Emre and Duff are the key here. If we can get those two involved enough we will win. Boro seem to be playing for the draw as normal!"
blacknwhitegeps on 606

Duff looks lively, in fairness to him. He just skipped past a couple of tackles and tried to create an opening, bit more like the old Duffer.

1352: Michael Owen - without a goal in nine league games - heads home from a corner, but the ball had gone out of play and it's ruled out.

1349: "Why do referees seem to think if a keeper drops the ball it's a foul? It was the same in the Everton-Chelsea Carling Cup game - Cech dropped the ball, ref ruled he'd been fouled."
arathrael on 606

I agree. It's a ridiculous part of the modern game - referees need to be taught that players are allowed to stand close to a keeper without neccessarily fouling them.

1345: A mix-up between Shay Given and Claudio Cacapa, but the defender eventually clears the danger. Most of the possession is with the home side, they aren't looking too bad at the moment.

1344: "Stevo, Forest are officially dead."
setyourselfonfire on 606

What a brilliant user name. And no comment. I've made my views on the current set-up very clear over the past year, there's no point going on about it (am I going on about it now?).

1340: David Wheater is booked for a challenge from behind on Alan Smith, a deserved one, too.

1339: (See 1332) "Shearer's not entirely on his own. I saw him before he took his seat, chatted for a bit and he gave me a humbug. Lovely chap."
Anonymous, via text

Good chat, Ted.

1336: Joey Barton goes close, scuffing one shot and then having a second effort blocked. From the resulting corner Mark Schwarzer drops the cross and Michael Owen stabs the ball home - but ridiculously, referee Mike Dean gives a free-kick to Boro. Owen was nowhere near Schwarzer, that is the worst decision of the day wrapped up already. Shocker.

1335: (See 1327) "Hello Jonathan's boss, just to let you know I'd happily do his job without complaining!"
Tim, Wolverhampton, via text

1332: Two minutes late, but we are under way. An unshaven Alan Shearer is sat high in the stands, on his own.

1330: "I'd like to thank Forest for handing the mighty Swans the league, England handing Wales the Grand Slam, and now to see Newcastle beat Boro!"
David, Wales, via text

Cockiness will get you nowhere, pal. I've forgotten how it feels to gloat. Gutted.

1328: The team walk out at an expectant St James' Park. Kick off is nigh.

1327: (See 1309) "Nice try... but you are condemned to write this from an uncomfortable seat in a cold office at BBC HQ - sorry!"
My boss, moments ago, by email

Heartbreaker.

1325: "Afternoon Jonno, have you recovered from Wednesday, that day of pulsating action otherwise known as deadline day? Oh by the way, did anyone hear that explosion in Newcastle last week? Apparently a bubble burst..."
Blueman15 on 606

Do you mean Thursday? Yeah, I've just about recovered, a good day spoiled by a distinct lack of invention on the part of managers/chairmen. Let's never speak of it again now.

1320: "Jon, are you going to have a pop at me again today for having two teams?"
Chacor on 606

Yeah, you big disgrace.

1318: For those of you wanting some proper chat, this is the 119th Tyne-Tees derby. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six home games against Boro, though the last three have been drawn. Boro's last win on Tyneside was a 2-1 triumph on 17 March 2001, when Croatian goal-getter Alen Boksic bagged a brace.

1315: "There's going to be two shock results today. Both Newcastle and Fulham to win. Good odds. Lets just hope!"
Ian, Coventry, via text

Smallest sentences ever? Awesome.

1312: "Good result for Forest yesterday Jonathan ;)"
Re�l_Giant_Terrier on 606

Pipe down, sunshine. Let's keep this one clean, yeah?

1310: "I've got my money on Middlesbrough today 2-1 - King Kev's reign hasn't impressed yet."
Chris, Newcastle, via text

1309: "Jonathan, where's your HQ? Are you set up in the BBC somewhere or are you just at home on your sofa doing this!?"
MichaelDawson20 on 606

Daws, good to hear from you pal. Great performance yesterday, by the way. I'm at Television Centre, west London. But if my boss is watching this, I'm pretty sure I could do as good a job (if not better) from the comfort of my sofa. There's no place like home, after all.

1307: Usual rules apply. Get involved on 606 and text me on 81111. Just don't mix it with the rugby, or if you do (Tommy Forders will be live-ing today), don't forget to come back. I don't want him out-hitting me, OK?

1305: Now, I don't want to get into an early fight with Newcastle fans (as if), but isn't it about time King Kev and his boys turned on the style today? I know you've had two tough games at Arsenal, but goalless in 270 minutes since the big man got involved again and not much for the Toon Army to get stuck into. It's not what you had in mind, it's not what we had in mind. It might be what Boro fans had in mind, mind.

1304:Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton makes his first start of 2008 as manager Kevin Keegan seeks his first win since his return to Tyneside, while Emre also returns, with David Rozehnal and James Milner making way. Middlesbrough are without injured strike duo Tuncay Sanli and Mido while new signing Afonso Alves is awaiting a visa. Emanuel Pogatetz and Lee Cattermole are recalled.

1302: There's some big team news on the way from Newcastle v Middlesbrough - Joey Barton starts. More to follow...

1300: There are two games today. The first one is a derby. The second one isn't. Standard.