BORO have made a couple of notable appearances in the press this week, writes BRADLEY HUNT

Cup Woe For Julio

Julio Arca has been speaking to the Daily Express about his despair on missing out on an FA Cup final with former club Sunderland. Tim Cahill's goal for Milwall four years ago denied Arca a visit to Wembley.

"We were so close to the cup final," he said. "It was certainly one of the lowest points of my career. I was so convinced we would do it."

Gibson Admits Boro job was "ugly"

Steve Gibson has showered praise on Boro boss Gareth Southgate in The Northern Echo saying that the former England defender has done a great job in the Riverside hotseat.

"Gareth has done terrifically for us," he said. "I can't emphasise enough how ugly the job was that I gave to him."

"You need a clear head, a clear plan and a strong hand at the helm at times like that and Gareth brought all three. He also knows how to get players motivated.

"We could have something very special going on here."

Ali-Gate Update

Gibson also expressed his anger to the Daily Mail over the FA disciplinary committee's decision to add an extra game onto the three-match ban as they claimed the appeal as 'frivolous'. He called the FA disciplinary committee who dealt with Jeremie Aliadiere's appeal "faceless amateurs".

The Mail now say that his comments have not gone down well at Soho Square and there's a belief that Gibson was readying himself should Boro be asked for a third successive time at the end of the season to explain their poor disciplinary record.