Southgate lasts the pace at 'Boro

Middlesbrough and Newcastle, the two north-eastern clubs in the Premiership, had an unsuccessful 2006-07 campaign. Next season they will be joined by the other big rivals from the region - Sunderland.

Rookie manager Gareth Southgate had more stability in his team than his Newcastle counterpart Glenn Roeder who was shown the back door last month to be replaced by Sam Allardyce, formerly of Bolton.

Southgate received favourable comments from almost all ranks within the game. Yet, he must again seek dispensation from the FA Premier League to continue with his job due to delays in obtaining the required coaching licence to retain his job.

Southgate has recently embarked on his A Licence course at Lilleshall along with his first-team coach Colin Cooper.

Yet, he has been unable to start his UEFA Pro Licence course, a must for managers in the Premiership by the start of the season.

But, it seems, the former England defender cannot really be blamed as many reckon the FA should carry part of the blame as well.

Now, the Premier League have warned that as from 2010 there would be no more exemptions to the this ruling. All coaches intent on managing in the top flight will have to acquire the Pro Licence.

In 2006/07, Boro added just a point to the previous season's total.

Their poor away form persisted with only two wins to show, gaining six fewer points in respect in respect of 2005/06. At the Riverside, Boro denoted a plus by claiming a further seven points.

Martins and Owen

Roeder was given enough time to establish himself at St James' Park. However, his side lacked consistency even though he did sign a formidable striker in Obafemi Martins.

The Nigerian's partner up front, Michael Owen, was beset by injuries but he would not be acting appropriately if he were to leave the club this summer.

Indeed, goal-scoring was again a problem for the Magpies. They were shut out on 17 occasions in the league - one more than the previous campaign.

In defence, they have been vulnerable for many a year... last season was no exception.

They only chalked up seven clean sheets and had the largest number of points dropped in the division in comparison with the previous season. Newcastle won 15 points less than 2005/06.

The fans were full of hope at the end of the 2005-06 season when the side finished strongly, claiming six wins in seven outings and had qualified for the UEFA Cup. But things turned out to be different.

In the UEFA Cup, Newcastle qualified for the group phase and went on to the fourth knock-out round, where they succumbed to AZ Alkmaar on the away-goal rule after a 4-4 aggregate.

In the domestic contests, Newcastle lost in the quarter-finals of the League Cup to eventual winners Chelsea 0-1 at St James' Park. That upset was followed by the most disastrous outcome of the season - a 5-1 hiding by Birmingham at home in the third round of the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough had a good run in the FA Cup, bowing out to finalists Manchester United 0-1 in a quarter-final replay at Old Trafford.

But in the League Cup it was different as they went out to lowly Notts County 0-1 in round two at the Riverside Stadium.