[goldenHuddlestone]

A NEW YEAR brings new hope, although Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has been made more aware of the need to attract at least one top striker to the Riverside Stadium if his aspirations for 2008 are to be achieved.

It was fitting that on the day Boro's most potent forward over the last two years returned donning the colours of Everton, the need to find a goalscorer during the January transfer window was hammered home.

This may not have been Yakubu's finest hour as he recorded only one wayward effort on goal during a largely uneventful outing, in which his every touch received jeers from those who once worshipped him.

But the Nigerian was satisfied with the way he first-footed the new year, after playing a crucial role in Andy Johnson's opening goal, which put Everton on course for victory.

The three points were secured six minutes later when James McFadden completed the scoring to seal a victory which they had looked unlikely to claim for the first two-thirds of the match.

advertisementThat, however, will be exactly what Southgate will remember from this game and he will be more determined to bolster his attacking options during the month-long transfer window.

Sheffield United's Rob Hulse and Blackburn's Jason Roberts are two names high in the manager's thinking, although whether or not they can provide the firepower required will be open to debate.

Prior to Johnson's opener after 67 minutes, Middlesbrough had created the best two opportunities of the match, despite failing to deliver a peak performance.

In the first half Stewart Downing had a back-post effort cleared off the line and after the interval both Tuncay Sanli and Gary O'Neil were denied in the same flowing move.

Would Yakubu have spurned such chances? That is open to conjecture, although it remains a fact that his 35 goals in his two seasons in the North-East have never been replaced.

Both clubs went into the fixture with identical records from their three previous festive fixtures, although their fortunes over the course of the campaign were completely contrasting.

In recent weeks, however, there had been an evident improvement in the way Southgate's team have played, with the exception of the turgid 3-0 collapse at Birmingham on Boxing Day.

And in an attempt to continue in the vein which brought three points at Portsmouth, Southgate introduced Fabio Rochemback for Mohamed Shawky, despite the Egyptian's promising display at Fratton Park.

But it was not the re-appearance of Rochemback inside the Riverside, more the return of a certain Yakubu that caught the eye.

The fans were quick to direct their disgust towards him for the way he departed in the summer.

It took less than two minutes for the African - who demanded to move to Merseyside in August - to be on the receiving end of some abuse from the stands and that continued.

Southgate could ill-afford for his players to be distracted by the reception dished out to Yakubu and a quick break sent Tuncay in behind the Everton defence.

A poor touch allowed goalkeeper Tim Howard to deny the Turkey international and Downing failed to convert the rebound into a gaping goal.

If there was a time to face Everton then this would have been the day to choose. Without both of their influential creative midfielders, the suspended Mikel Arteta and the injured Tim Cahill, manager David Moyes was forced to tinker.

As well as a recall for McFadden, England striker Johnson was included alongside Yakubu in attack and that should have been an indication of the visitors' attacking intent.

Despite plenty of promising early Middlesbrough play, it was Everton who started to pass the ball around more comfortably as a largely mundane first half developed.

But Middlesbrough produced the move of the opening period.

Yet even that went unrewarded.

Phil Jagielka somehow blocked Downing's back-post volley on the line, after Rochemback and Luke Young had combined down the right.

The brightest point to emerge from an insipid start was that Everton were worse than their hosts.

It was for that reason Boro still had the opportunity to improve on a home record which is the second weakest in the division.

With nine points from nine games prior to yesterday, that is a factor in need of redressing if Southgate is to enjoy a better 12 months in charge.

And within 50 seconds of the restart it had looked as if the manager's wishes were going to be instantly granted.

Emanuel Pogatetz found himself operating as a winger inside the Everton box and his cross was turned towards goal by Tuncay.

It was another poor touch by the former Fenerbahce forward, however, and Howard managed to dive to his left and gather on the line.

Frustrations started to mount in the stands, although the Teesside faithful took pleasure in witnessing Yakubu's solitary effort on goal rise high above the crossbar from distance.

Just before the hour, Middlesbrough created their second glorious chance but were again denied by the quality of the Everton defending.

Tuncay, after being played in by a delightful Julio Arca pass, saw his initial effort headed to safety by Joleon Lescott before O'Neil was thwarted from eight yards by the flying figure of Howard.

That was an incident Middlesbrough were left to rue.

For all Everton's failings yesterday, it was still Moyes' side who managed to break through and Yakubu was involved.

His pass towards the Middlesbrough defence was touched into the path of Johnson by Steven Pienaar.

In typical poacher's fashion, Johnson took it clear of Huth before finding Mark Schwarzer's far corner with a clinical finish.

Less than six minutes later, despite Middlesbrough's late rally, the first defeat of the new year was assured when McFadden coasted through the home defence to add a second.

The Scotland international burst unmarked towards the penalty area, played a neat onetwo with Johnson before casually slotting into Schwarzer's far corner.

It was a sudden and surprising turn of events, although one which highlighted Middlesbrough's need to find a Yakubutype player who is capable of hitting goals regularly.

[R_9-Ronaldo]

Yakubu really has been a revelation to Moyes and Everton so far this season, What are they gonna do when he goes to the African Nations? I don't think Johnson fits in to their new formation of two wide midfielders and one striker

[toonmagic9]

i don't know he was often up front on his own at palace but he seems to be struggling a little at the mo and a run in the first team to boost his confidence might not be bad same as mcfadden