Time is all but up now for Boro, who are staring relegation straight in the face.

Newcastle nearly put the icing on the cake after Nolan slips Carroll in but his shot is well saved by Jones.

Guthrie swings in another corner from the right which nearly reaches Nolan before Boro fail to clear the ball, Viduka eventually driving his effort into Huth who then clears.

Hoyte floats a cross into the box which avoids everyone but looks to be coming to Emnes who doesn't throw himself at the ball to reach it and it bounces through for Harper.

Newcastle win a couple of corners, neither of which come to much as Tuncay heads the first one behind for the second corner which Guthrie hits straight out of play for a throw-in on the far side.

Lovely skill by Viduka again who gets away from two Boro defenders before slipping it to Butt who is about t pull the trigger before a great sliding challenge from Huth.

Downing does well down the right for Boro to collect a high pass before whipping in a great cross which only fails to find a Boro head because of a good claim by Harper.

Harper sends a long ball forward which Butt knocks down for Nolan who hits his shot on the turn only to see it flash well wide.

Great chance for Boro at the other end after a nice counter attack Newcastle fail to clear the ball properly and it falls to O'Neill whose powerful effort is well saved by Harper.

Newcastle win another freekick, this time a little further out but again Guthrie repeats Butt's trick of slamming the ball into the crowd.

Newcastle win a freekick right on the egde of the penalty area after Own was pulled back, however Butt's effort is driven high and wide.

Good break by Boro again and again it's Emnes who makes a mess of things after Downing pulls it back to the Dutch striker on the edge of the box who can only miss hit the ball into Steven Taylor as Newcastle survive.

Duff tries to float a cross in towards the far post looking for Steven Taylor who reaches it with his head but can't keep it in play as another chance for Newcastle is wasted.

Boro break quickly with O'Neill carrying the ball into the penalty area before trying to chip it back to King in the box but Taylor is there to head it away.

What a miss by Emnes! The Dutch striker's first effort is saved by Harper before the rebound comes back to Emnes but with half the goal to aim for the striker fires it inches wide.

From Guthrie's corner the ball drops to Bassong but he can't control it and Bates can scramble it away before Newcastle put it behind for a goal kick to Boro.

Great bit of skill from Viduka who then puts in a brilliant cross which Owen flicks towards goal with his head only to see Jones push it over the crossbar.

Great chance for Newcastle to break through Viduka as Boro back off, the ball from the Australian striker is dreadful though and Jones can claim the ball from his chipped pass.

Newcastle win another corner which Guthrie takes again, this time is headed away by Huth under pressure from Viduka.

Huth has to concede another corner and Guthrie swings it in from the same side Taylor equalised but this time the ball in is dreadful and Boro can clear.

Another corner for Newcastle nearly comes good as Viduka blocks off Jones before the 'keeper can eventually get their to punch the ball to safety.

Newcastle nearly make the perfect response after Boro fail to clear the ball from the penalty area Viduka's effort cannons off the post and before Steven Taylor slams the rebound wide.

Newcastle continue their bright start with Owen rolling the ball along the edge of the penalty area for Guthrie whose strike is wild and goes well wide.

Jonas Gutierrez tries to slide the ball through the centre of the Boro defence looking for the run of Michael Owen but the Newcastle skipper can't control it and it rolls through for Brad Jones.

Newcastle make five changes for what is being described as the biggest football game in north-east history as Michael Owen, Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan, Danny Guthrie and Steven Taylor come into the side with Alan Smith and Joey Barton out.