Newcastle had the best of the opening twenty minutes, Parker dictated things in midfield, the pacey Martins and Siberski looking sharp at front. On fifteen minutes the Geordies should have taken the lead. A rare Woodgate slip allowed Martins a clear run on goal. His chip floated over Schwarzer and landed on top of the crossbar.
With Downing influential Boro came back in to the game. He cut in from the left and sent in a right foot drive which Harper turned round the post. Euell started to find room in midfield. He hit a stringing shot straight into the arms of Harper. But with Viduka and Yakubu both looking out of sorts Boro failed to create much up front in the first half.
Taylor had found live difficult against Duff and Milner in the first half and he was replaced by Huth at half time. Rochemback replaced the ineffective Viduka. A move that saw Euell pushed up front.
Attacking the North Stand Boro started the second half brightly. Rochemback created things from midfield. Two Downing inswinging corners caused havoc in the Newcastle defence, one clipping the far post.
Yakubu cut in from the left but his ambitious shot flew well over the bar. Starting to have more influence on the game, Yakubu did well down the left hand side; cut the ball back for Rochemback, his well struck shot beat Harper but Taylor was on the line to clear. Despite plenty of the ball it looked as if that deserved goal wasn't going to arrive for Boro.
With five minutes remaining another great Downing delivery from a corner was met by Yakubu and the ball flew past Harper into the back of the net.
After an indifferent start a deserved win for Boro. Downing had a fine game and looked international clash. It was a shame that some of his great deliveries into the six yard box were wasted by our strikers not making runs into dangerous positions. Rochemback did well when he came on. Huth looked strong at the back and with Woodgate, despite one slip, looking a class act our central defence looks very strong.