Boro Are Back!
Boro 2 Spurs 1
Sunday Times: Middlesbrough left Didier Digard and Marvin Emnes on the bench but they were sharper in key areas.
Mirror: Middlesbrough were full value for the three points and had Spurs on the ropes early when only a last-gasp block from defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto prevented Afonso Alves from breaking the deadlock.
Journal: Stand-in right-back David Wheater scored the crucial opening goal for Boro and had a seemingly-legal first half header disallowed. The Teesside-born 21-year-old has set down a marker Hoyte will be hard pushed to emulate.
Sunday Express: Boro were furious when right-back Wheater had a goal disallowed in the 32nd-minute. Wheater headed in Downing's right-wing corner but not before he had clearly pulled back central defender Dawson.
Evening Gazette: In fact, as Wheater's ripped shirt testfied, Dawson had actually been guilty of foul play.
Daily Mail: Mido's part in Middlesbrough's impressive victory amounted to eight minutes and one goal. Banned from eating burgers and free of the pubic bone injury that wrecked his first season in the North east, his hunger looks more for football.
Observer: So far ahead were Boro that they could afford to beat their own goalkeeper as Robert Huth turned a Bentley free-kick in.
Sun: But many of the Spurs fans has started their trek home by then. They should not have been too downhearted as, on their day, Gareth Southgate's young side will be a handful for anyone.
People: (Middlesbrough) might like it more low key under Gareth Southgate but many performances like this and people will take notice. He has youth throughout his side and a player in David Wheater who keeps getting better. What Spurs would give for such a commanding figure.
Daily Express: Jonathan Woodgate - booed vehemently by his former club's fans - said: "I left my hometown club to join a team who were on the up…I believe it was 100 per cent the right move." But Spurs without Keane and Berbatov might just leave Woodgate wondering.
Daily Star: Outclassed Spurs looked a million miles from being top four contenders.
Northern Echo: Southgate's homework on the opposition was faultless and the rewards were a first Premier League opening day win for eight seasons.
Observer: Southgate's approach to restructuring has been as unusual for this division as the club's persistent faith in him through troubled times.
Sunday Sun: A win, goal and entertainment. What more could you ask for?
Predictions for Boro's season
Sun (Terry Venables): 13th
Times (Tony Cascarino): 12th
Man of the Match
Official website: David Wheater
Northern Echo: David Wheater
Sunday Sun: David Wheater (Brad Jones also given 8/10)
Sun: David Wheater
Sunday Times: David Wheater
Mirror: David Wheater
People: David Wheater
Daily Mail: Stewart Downing
Guardian: Stewart Downing
Observer: Afonso Alves ("Alves moves intelligently, bruises defenders and places shots on target where there appears to be little on. Defenders beware")
Sunday Express: David Bentley
Other Boro stories
Daily Express: Gareth Southgate has shown he means business this year at Middlesbrough by telling his players the days when they could mix booze and Premier League football are over.
News of the World: (Southgate) has raised his offer for Reading midfielder James Harper, 27, to £5m. Steve Coppell has already turned down a bid of £3m. Southgate said: "We've been back a few times because I know he would be good for us."
Northern Echo: Middlesbrough have told Reading they will not meet a valuation in excess of £5m for James Harper. Jimmy Bullard has been linked with a move to the Riverside after being told to forget about an extension to his deal at Fulham.
Sunday Sun: Middlesbrough have tabled a £5m bid for James Harper - and told Reading they will not improve it. The Teessiders failed with offers of £3m and £3.5m for the midfielder, who the Royals now rate at double that.
