Kick-off: 19:45
Venue: St James' Park
Attendance: 52047
Referee: Halsey, M

Live Commentary

90mins

The referee blows for full-time at St James' Park.

89mins

Alan Shearer header from 18 yards caught by Bradley Jones.

88mins

Guidoni Junior Doriva booked for a foul on Alan Shearer.

87mins

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is booked for a foul on Charles N'Zogbia.

82mins

Daniel Graham comes on for Szilard Nemeth.

76mins

Another good strike from James Milner but this time his 30-yard volley goes wide.

74mins

Cracking shot from James Milner forces Bradley Jones to tip it over his crossbar.

71mins

Darren Ambrose fires a shot over the bar from 30 yards out.

69mins

Stephen Carr crosses for Newcastle but it's too long and drifts out of play.

64mins

Boudewijn Zenden is replaced by Stewart Downing.

62mins

Darren Ambrose is booked for a foul on Franck Queudrue.

57mins

Corner from James Milner finds Charles N'Zogbia on the edge of the box but he curls his shot wide.

55mins

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink atempts a lob from 18 yards but it is caught well by Shay Given.

53mins

Boudewijn Zenden drills in a shot from 20 yards but it's blocked by Peter Ramage.

52mins

Shola Ameobi volleys over the bar from 18 yards out.

50mins

Ray Parlour crosses to Szilard Nemeth who drills a shot wide.

46mins

The second half gets underway with Newcastle looking to improve on their first half performance.

45mins

The half-time whistle goes with chances at a premium in this first half.

41mins

Robbie Elliott swings in a cross for United and Bradley Jones again does well to hold it.

38mins

Franck Queudrue sees a cross cleared away by Robbie Elliott.

35mins

Good corner from Charles N'Zogbia finds Shola Ameobi but his header is wide of the target.

34mins

Kieron Dyer goes off injured to be replaced Shola Ameobi.

33mins

Dangerous cross from Alan Shearer but Bradley Jones does well to claim it.

30mins

Boro press the United back four but George Boateng is pulled up for a foul on Andy O'Brien.

27mins

Cross from Darren Ambrose cleared by Gareth Southgate.

25mins

Ray Parlour gets in another cross, but this time it's cleared by Jean-Alain Boumsong.

22mins

Ray Parlour sees his cross cleared by Robbie Elliott.

19mins

James Milner fires in a left-footed volley from the centre of the penalty area which Bradley Jones does well to save.

17mins

Good run from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but he's pulled up for offside.

15mins

Dangerous cross from Boudewijn Zenden cleared by Andy O'Brien.

12mins

Kieron Dyer crosses from the right wing for United but it's over-hit and goes out of play.

9mins

Now it's Charles N'Zogbia's turn to cross but again Ugo Ehiogu is there to clear the danger.

8mins

James Milner swings in a cross from a free-kick but it is cleared comfortably by Ugo Ehiogu.

5mins

Charles N'Zogbia is pulled up for a foul on Ray Parlour.

2mins

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gets Boro off to a bright start as he fires a shot wide of the post from 25 yards.

0mins

The referee gets this evening's clash underway at St James' Park.

Match Report

It was honours even for the second time this season in the Tyne-Tees derby in what was arguably the most dreadful match seen at St James' Park for many seasons.

Quite simply, both sides were woeful, unimaginative, boring and never looked like scoring.

The jeers at the final whistle told the full story of a clash that lacked both passion and commitment.

Newcastle, incredibly, started with only Alan Shearer up front as they looked to end a run of five successive defeats.

Shearer created yet more club history, as the Premiership's highest scorer became United's record Premiership appearance holder - his 268th outing enough to overtake his big pal Robert Lee.

Szilard Nemeth caught United on a break down the right in the second minute and pulled the ball back for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who failed to trouble Shay Given.

United created nothing until the 20th minute when a Shearer flick was volleyed into the ground by James Milner, presenting Boro shot-stopper Brad Jones with a simple save.

There was the worrying sight of the fit again Kieron Dyer feeling his troublesome hamstring after 28 minutes and those fears were recognised when the England midfielder limped off forlornly seven minutes later - surely a signal his season is now over.

Within seconds of Shola Ameobi's arrival Newcastle won the first corner of the game and the substitute glanced his header wide.

The second half started no better than the instantly forgettable first 45 minutes until Boro were presented with a great 52nd-minute opportunity.

Robbie Elliott was beaten by the bounce allowing Ray Parlour to break on the right and pull the ball back to Nemeth lurking on the edge of the area, but he directed a first-time effort just wide of Given's far post.

Three minutes later Hasselbaink missed the chance of the match when clean through on goal. He tried to chip Given, only to play the ball straight at the keeper for what was Boro's first and only effort on target.

Newcastle hit back with three corners in quick succession, the last of which finally brought some response from the subdued home fans when Charles N'Zogbia curled Milner's cross into the side netting.

Jones had little to do for Boro before pulling off a stunning reflex save to deny Milner after 75 minutes. A cross dropped invitingly just inside the box for the former Leeds youngster and he could not have hit the ball more sweetly, but the Australian managed to turn the ball away.

Newcastle should have won it in the last of the five minutes added on when Shearer broke on the right and crossed for N'Zogbia who, with the goal all but at his mercy, fired over.

Newcastle United Team

Middlesbrough Team

Newcastle United

Middlesbrough

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides