Dream sequence completes fifth episode

8220;We had three games in seven days last week and we8217;ve got three in six days now. What the players have been doing is super-human.8221; The former England manager singled out 19-year-old Jermaine Jenas, the man-of-the-match, for particular praise, adding: 8220;He was mammoth in the midfield.8221;

Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren, who declined to discuss his resignation as England assistant coach last week, said his team deserved at least a point.

8220;Unfortunately, the big decisions didn8217;t go our way,8221; he added. The first genuine chance of the game fell to Middlesbrough8217;s Italian striker Massimo Maccarone whose close range header from a tight angle was cleared off the line by defender Aaron Hughes. Cameroon midfielder Geremi also went close for Boro with a long-range effort that Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given did well to keep out by diving low to his right.

But it was the home side who took the lead in the 20th minute when England under-21 striker Ameobi juggled with the ball on the edge of the area before firing a crisp left-foot shot past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Maccarone had a penalty appeal turned down when he was felled by Hughes, but Newcastle also cried foul when an Alan Shearer goal was ruled out after Ameobi was adjudged to have infringed. Newcastle8217;s French winger Laurent Robert attempted an ambitious volley from way out on the left but his stinging shot only found the side netting. Early in the second half, Maccarone went close again, rattling the post with a powerful low drive from just outside the area. The temperature of the match began to rise midway through the second half and Newcastle captain Shearer had his name taken by referee Graham Barber for protesting that his shirt had been pulled in the area.