Boro Reserves beat Mackems

However, the really good news from the game was that Stewart Downing and Ray Parlour both returned from injury and played just over an hour each. Barring any reactions both could be involved against Arsenal on Saturday.

Back to the game, it was an unusually strong Reserves side, that included Mark Schwarzer and Massimo Maccarone, as well as Downing and Parlour. Only a couple of youngsters were without first team experience.

Boro took the lead through Maccarone after 18 minutes and comforably held the lead until half time.

They doubled the lead early in the second half when Jason Kennedy netted before Sunderland hit back through Daryl Murphy. However, Boro restored their two goal cushion almost immediately through Tom Craddock, the third goal inside the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Schwarzer made a number of good saves to deny the Mackems as both teams made use of their substitutes, before Adam Johnson wrapped up the points in the dying seconds.

Boro team:
Schwarzer, Liddle, Taylor, Parlout (Grounds), Wheater, Cooper, Johnson, Kennedy (Ikangu), Maccarone, Craddock, Downing (Owens)