Half Time Middlesbrough 0 West Ham 1

So far so good! I questioned the selection of Freddie the Fly Tipper but his goal separates the teams. Middlesbrough weren't at the races for the first 20 minutes but have come into the game more subsequently and Green has been forced into meaningful action twice.

Faubert is playing well and so is Taylor; and Demel is fitting in decently too.

And as I write, Southampton are losing at home to Hull so, for the time being at least, we are top of the table. Doctor Evil is no doubt sacrificing another virgin in the tunnel to keep Satan happy. The trouble is, with nineteen games played, there can't be many more left in East London and Essex!