MIDDLESBROUGH v EVERTON - BLUES BACKLASH AT BORO AS YAK IS BACK?
Gareth Southgate’s Boro ended the year on a high with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth and a 4-point gap between them and the relegation zone. They have now won more games away from home than at the Riverside this season. On New Years Day they entertain an Everton side who have enjoyed a superb start to the season but have found their route into the top 4 blocked by the Premier League’s footballing goliath’s in the shape of United and Arsenal over the festive period.
The Toffees have now lost 2 of their last 3 matches but have only lost 1 of their last 5 away games and that was a late defeat to United so it’s hardly all doom and gloom. David Moyes will see this match as the perfect fixture to get their European qualification challenge back on track. They have a decent record against Boro in recent times with just 1 defeat in the last 8 encounters between the sides. In that 8 match period Everton have won 4 times. However, they haven’t got the best of records when it comes to visits to the Riverside as 1 win in 6 would suggest.
This will be the return for the Yak to his old club. Yakubu the £11.25million man has enjoyed a hot run of goals recently but failed to score in his last 3 games. He scored 25 goals in 73 Premier League appearances for Boro but is unlikely to get a warm reception from the Middlesbrough faithful.
Expect a tight match with few goals but also expect a Blues backlash as Moyes’ men take all 3 points on Premier 10.
Pundit’s Pick: The return of the Yak (away win)
Tags: 01/01/08, Boro, David Moyes, Everton, Middlesbrough, New Years Day, Toffees
