Let's end it on a high

Last updated : 10 May 2002 By Reggie Holdsworth
The season started on a low and has spluttered throughout , never realy getting into full swing. We are now ending on a low, after our FA Cup semi-final defeat we have failed to pick up a point and could end up in the bottom half of the table.

Let's get behind the lads show them that we appreciate their efforts, we came close to glory again this season. Boro will be backed by around 3,000 fans at Eland Road but a late flurry at the ticket office could see that number increase.

Earlier today there were still around 700 tickets left for tomorrows game. The ticket office will be open on Saturday morning if you want to wait and see what type of day it is.

Boro will once again be without Alen Boksic, although he was named in Croatia's preliminary 25-man squad for the World Cup today. Noel Whelan will probably partner Szilard Nemeth up front.

Franck Queudrue is suspended after his sending off against Blackburn, so his place will be taken by Colin Cooper or young David Murphy, probably the former.

In midfield Paul Ince and Robbie Mustoe could play their last games in a Boro shirt, unless their ongoing negotiations are sorted in the close season. There could be another start for Stewart Downing wide on the left while on the right Boro must wait to see if Jonathan Greening passes a late fitness test.

Probable line-up: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Cooper, Southgate, Ehiogu, Ince, Mustoe, Greening, Downing, Whelan, Nemeth.

If you fancy a bet put your money on Gareth Southgate to score the first and/or last goal, he has managed to bag one on each of his last two visits to Elland Road, albeit with Aston Villa.