Middlesbrough's positive run can end at Stamford Bridge

The turn of the year has seen Middlesbrough hitting remarkable form that astounded everyone, including their fans, as they went through eight league and cup matches without defeat.

The results saw rookie manager Gareth Southgate at last enjoying a good run at the Riverside. In August he came under fire for not possessing a UEFA coaching licence but was given the green light from the Premier League to continue in his new role.

Boro's opponents today, Chelsea, are unbeaten at home since Jose Mourinho took over in August 2004 but Middlesbrough believe they can avoid defeat this weekend and stay on the right tracks.

The positive north-east side's run so far was:

January 1: Home vs Sheffield United 3-1 (Viduka, Yakubu 2).

January 7: Away vs Hull (Cup) 1-1 (Viduka).

January 13: Away vs Charlton 3-1 (Cattermole, Arca, Yakubu).

January 16: Home vs Hull (Cup) 4-3 (Hines, Viduka 2, Yakubu).

January 20: Home vs Bolton 5-1 (Speed o.g., Xavier, Viduka 2, Downing).

January 27: Away vs Bristol City (Cup) 2-2 (Yakubu, Christie).

January 30: Away vs Portsmouth 0-0.

February 3: Home vs Arsenal 1-1 (Yakubu pen).

Last week, Chelsea captain John Terry was back to his role in the heart of the defence as the Londoners continued with their bold bid to retain the championship crown for a third year running.

This week, Southgate brushed off a stinging attack by Massimo Maccarone on him and his predecessor Steve McClaren.

This brings to mind another Italian player - Fabrizio Ravanelli. At M'boro he was paid more than £40,000-a-week wages and, like Maccarone, gave his boss and club a rollicking after he left.

United march on

Man. United-Charlton: The 4-0 annihilation of Tottenham in London last week restored Man. United's six-point lead at the top, having now notched their ninth away league victory.

Alex Ferguson has good reason to smile as his dream of regaining the title is becoming a reality.

Fans will appreciate the fact that the players who made United a great team over the past decade, like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, are once more in the limelight.

But Ferguson also remarked that one of the major reasons for United's top placing was Rio Ferdinand's superb form in defence.

Newcastle vs Liverpool: Both sides saw their good runs of late dented. Newcastle lost 1-2 at Fulham while Liverpool could only draw 0-0 at home to mid-table side and neighbours Everton.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has played down fears that Michael Owen would not play again this season and revealed a new strategy to get the England star back to full fitness.

Liverpool are relieved that the club's takeover bid has been completed and hence the team can focus solely on their football.

Momo Sissoko could be given his first outing today after more than three months out to heal a dislocated shoulder.

Arsenal vs Wigan: League Cup finalists Arsenal, who dropped two precious points at Middlesbrough last week, entertain strugglers Wigan tomorrow.

This week, Arsene Wenger admitted that goalkeeper Jens Lehmann could leave the club in the summer.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell conceded that the club's relegation plight is 'hurting' him personally.

The Gunners will have to do without central defender Phillip Senderos after his sending off at Middlesbrough.

Bolton W. vs Fulham: Fulham's five league visits to Bolton saw them attaining two draws and a win.

The Wanderers will look at this match as another chance to make progress up the table although boss Sam Allardyce remarked that he would rather go all the way in the FA Cup and lift the silverware at Wembley than lead his side into the Champions League.

On their travels, Fulham have hit a poor run of 12 league and cup encounters without a win. Their last away victory was at St James's Park, defeating Newcastle 2-1 (McBride, Bocanegra - Parker), last September.

Reading vs Aston Villa: Reading will be looking to build on what they have achieved so far this season but they have to look behind them and remember what has happened to Wigan this year.

Reading, still unbeaten in 2007, are a joy to watch these days. Their commitment is there for all to see, even when playing away from their own Madejski Stadium. At the moment, Reading are in the UEFA Cup zone.

Shaun Maloney, who has followed Stilian Petrov from Celtic to Villa, admitted that it was the Martin O'Neill factor that had prompted him to cross the Hadrian Wall to English soccer.

Everton vs Blackburn: Everton were hurt by Rafael Benitez's jibe last week that they were a 'small club' after pulling down the shutters at Anfield to earn a point from the derby.

Mark Hughes, of Blackburn, said that the return of David Dunn (after he spent three seasons at Birmingham) can lead the side into Europe for the second successive year.

This season, in addition to the 1-1 draw at Ewood Park in the first round of the Premier League, Everton were beaten 1-4 (Johnson - Derbyshire 2, McCarthy, Pedersen) by Blackburn in the third round of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.

Portsmouth vs Man. City: Portsmouth's great start to the season, that left the Pompey fans aspiring for a place in Europe, is now faltering after the side have only won one game from their last eight outings.

Man. City manager Stuart Pearce had an auspicious debut as England U-21 coach earlier this week as his lads came back from 0-2 down to share the spoils with Spain at Derby's Pride Park.

On the only three occasions Portsmouth and Man. City met at Fratton Park in the Premiership, Pompey won twice to City's once.

Sheffield United-Tottenham: Tottenham Hotspur again failed to rise to the occasion in front of their own fans against an elite side. Last week, they lost 4-0 to Manchester United at White Hart Lane.

The club is depleted by injuries to key defenders and off-form goalkeeper Paul Robinson added more woes to the Spurs with his shaky performance.

Spurs are hoping that Ledley King will play again this season despite yet another injury setback.

Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last three league matches at Bramall Lane. That run includes wins over Arsenal and Fulham.

West Ham vs Watford: This match offers a good chance for West Ham to return to winning ways at the expense of the bottom side in the standings.

Since Alan Curbishley took over at Upton Park he splashed lots of cash to strengthen the team but has only one win to show - vs Man. United.

From the other eight league games West Ham collected only three points from a maximum of 24.

Watford, who beat West Ham at Upton Park a fortnight ago in the fourth round of the FA Cup, will look at this fixture as one they can win to avoid the drop.