The game seems to be drifting once more towards a goalless draw now with both sides looking out of ideas.

Charles N'Zogbia tries his luck from the corner of the box but his effort drifts wide of the far post and Turnbull was never really troubled there.

Great chance! Wheater rises highest to meet Downing's inswinging corner but his glancing header slides wide of the far post.

Brilliant save from Given! Aliadiere gets to the byline and cuts the ball back for Justin Hoyte who has ventured forward but he is denied by Given at point-blank range.

Almost an immediate impact from Viduka as Owen heads the ball down in the box but Pogatetz takes the big Australian's half volley full in the chest.

Julio Arca is allowed to drive towards the area and have an effort on goal from long range but it skids wide of Given's goal.

Alves is the man finding all the openings for Boro in this second half but his finishing has been nothing ahort of atrocious as again he balloons high and side from inside the box.

The game has officially come to life now as Newcastle clear the corner and Martins beats Hoyte and advances into the box but Wheater slides in to block his shot.

Arca and Digard combine on the edge of the box to create a chance for Alves but that man Bassong is across again to deflect his shot wide.

Bassong and Coloccini are putting on a real defensive clinic at the moment as Boro continue to press.

Newcastle can't get out of their own final third at the minute and Boro are really looking to push home their territorial advantage.

Best chance of the game! Afonso Alves twists and turns in the box and Bassong gets himself back on the line to block. Superb defending.

Quickly up the other end and N'Zogbia delivers a wicked ball into the box that Wheater does well not to turn into his own net.

Whisper it quietly but this game could be coming to life at last as Boro break quickly and only a good tackle from Coloccini prevents Alves running free on goal.

Danny Guthrie finds himself in an advanced position for almost the first time this afternoon and he almost finds the top corner with a clever bending effort.

Downing curls a superb cross in between the defenders and Shay Given but there are no Boro players anticipating it and it goes to waste.

That burst of activity was really the highlight of this opening period and as injury time approaches it appears it will end goalless.

Half a chance for Boro as Downing escapes the attentions of Beye and swings over for Alves but its a fraction too high and the Brazilian can't keep his header down.

All of a sudden Obafemi Martins explodes into life but Pogatetz is alive to block not one, but two shots from the ligthning Nigerian.

Both sides are really struggling to find any gaps in the final third of the pitch and the defences are well and truly on top.

Good pressure from Boro but Alves is needlessly offside in the right hand channel and Newcastle are able to clear easily.

The second attempt of note is also from the left boot of a Boro midfielder - this time it's Arca but again its a fraction too high.

The early tempo has dropped significantly now and you would not know this was a derby game with the way it is currently being played.

Absolutely nothing going on really here in the derby and hte crowd have fallen flat as a result for the time being.

Newcastle look pretty solid at the back so far, continuing from last week's superb display, and Boro don't look capable of creating a real chance.

Smart goalkeeping from Turnbull as Guthrie tries to feed Martins in behind but the Boro stopper is out quickly to smash away before the Nigerian can reach the pass.

Boro are really taking a bit of a hold over proceedings at the moment and Downing is again involved as he fires just over from the edge of the box.

A period of sustained pressure from free-kicks and corner-kicks for Boro but Downing's delivery fails to really cause a major problem this time.

Newcastle have looked a bit scrappy and they have struggled to keep possession in the opening stages.

Boro are starting to ease themselves into control now and Tuncay reverses for Alves this time but again Coloccini is in the right place at the right time to deflect his shot wide.

Delightful from Arca as he feeds a clever ball into the channel run of Downing but Coloccini is across smartly to cut out the immediate danger.

The crowd are certainly up for it but we are yet to see any signs of an incident sparking the players into life - as yet not a crunching tackle in sight.

Good start from the visitors as they look to take the early intiative and Gutierrez crosses to the far post but Hoyte is able to hook it away.