Middlesbrough
Boro continued to confound the pundits who were certain they would be embroiled in that season’s relegation mire. Though not exactly contending for honours, they had established themselves in mid-table and had won many friends with their positive, attacking approach. That style had yielded them 31 goals that season and in their mood they were capable of giving every premier league team a thorough examination. Paul Wilkinson was their main man who had already scored 10 goals that season. They were up against Everton that week who also defied the critics and were languishing just above the drop zone in 17th place.
