Fourth win for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough were the only team in the top half of the table in action but their North-East rivals Newcastle United, who started the day in 11th place, moved up to sixth with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion thanks to two goals from Alan Shearer.

Southampton moved up to 13th from 18th as two goals from Brett Ormerod were enough to beat Manchester City 2-0 at St Mary’s while bottom-placed West Ham United were left still looking for their first home win of the season after losing 2-1 to Birmingham City — Stern John getting both for the visitors.

Middlesbrough’s current position of third matches their best-ever finish, achieved back in 1914, and although they are unlikely to stay there, they are playing some good football at the moment and have also kept four successive clean sheets.

They made all the early running against a disappointing Bolton and after Massimo Maccarone had an early effort ruled out for offside they got their deserved breakthrough after 23 minutes when defender Ehiogu headed home from a corner.

Maccarone then missed another good headed chance midway through the second half before Geremi, the Cameroon international on loan from Real Madrid, got the second in the 68th minute.

West Brom went ahead against the run of play after 28 minutes at St James’ Park when Igor Balis cashed in on some sloppy defending to send a low shot past Shay Given.

Newcastle equalised just before halftime after the refereeharshly penalised Albion’s debutant keeper Joe Murphy for picking up what appeared an accidental back pass.

With the entire Albion team camped on the line Nolberto Solano rolled the ball to Shearer who drilled a low shot through them all.

The former England striker got the winner in the 69th minute, sweeping in a Solano knock-down.