That Guardian report in full:
Football's simultaneous ability to enthral and appal was encapsulated on an afternoon when Julio Arca's bewitching passing could not quite erase the depression imposed by the moronic behaviour of some Newcastle fans. Listening to them persistently subject Mido, Middlesbrough's new Egyptian striker, to vile and ignorant Islamophobic abuse detracted from a compelling game that was dominated by Gareth Southgate's gloriously creative side.
Few managers would even contemplate fielding two South American playmakers in central midfield against a team coached by Sam Allardyce but Southgate dared to be different yesterday. His bold decision to pair Arca and Fabio Rochemback, men known for the quality of their touch rather than enforcement credentials, saw Boro largely out-pass and out-class Newcastle in a game they really should have won.
"I'm very proud, we're a side that looks good; we've tried to pass, we've tried to attack, there's a lot of good signs," enthused the home manager, whose game plan contrasted sharply with Allardyce's more direct, generally utilitarian, approach. "Julio and Fabio showed vision and quality."
Southgate's tone turned frostier when he was asked about Mido's treatment. Fed up with being stereotyped as a terrorist bomber in a barrage of anti-Arab abuse, the Egyptian celebrated his first-half goal by walking over to the away fans and pressing a finger tight to his lips. Adhering, pedantically, to the strict letter of the law, Mike Dean booked him.
"I find it strange that 3,000 people can abuse one person and nothing is done. On the other hand, when the boot is on the other foot, it gets him into trouble. In terms of civil liberties I find that strange," said Southgate. "We had to calm Mido down at the end of the first half."
What a shame the Egyptian's tormentors did not simply celebrate Charles N'Zogbia's stunning opening goal for Newcastle. Assuming possession wide on the left and well outside the area, he did not initially appear to present any great threat to Middlesbrough but cut inside George Boateng before traversing along the edge of the 18-yard box and, finally, unleashing a shot with his supposedly weaker right foot which curled into the top corner.
Undeterred, Boro stuck to their passing guns and, when Mido chested down one of Rochemback's through-balls he proceeded to shrug off Steven Taylor's lunging tackle before taking the ball beyond the advancing Steve Harper for his second goal in two games. Almost immediately Harper was diving at full stretch, first to tip a Rochemback drive to safety and then to palm an Arca shot round the base of a post, but Allardyce's side menaced on the break and in the second half Mark Viduka - fiercely booed by his formerly adoring Boro public - gave them another lead.
It arrived shortly after the ineffective Obafemi Martins was replaced by Michael Owen but the England striker was a spectator as Viduka chested down Geremi's lofted ball into the area before out-muscling Jonathan Woodgate and directing the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a rare occasion when Woodgate - impressing in his first game since knee surgery in May - was outwitted by his former team-mate, who provoked anger from Steve Gibson. Furious about Viduka's claims that Boro were slow in offering him a new contract last season, the club's chairman responded: "We spoke to Mark and his agent last Christmas and I was told very early that it was about money and he'd go to the highest bidder."
Gibson's mood was improved 10 minutes from time when the game's principal creative influence enjoyed the final word, Arca turning deftly and dispatching an angled half-volley past Harper after Rochemback's initial pass had caused consternation among Newcastle's defence.
"We're bitterly disappointed," said Allardyce, who lost Stephen Carr to a hamstring strain and saw his replacement Peter Ramage sustain a potentially serious knee injury. "When you get in front twice you should never surrender a win. We switched off at the wrong times and didn't do the basic job right. The injuries might take us ferociously into the transfer market this week."
In contrast Southgate is "not bothered" about new signings, and with Arca, Rochemback, Woodgate and Mido in this kind of form, no one should argue.
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Middlesbrough were in such stunning and glorious form that they were delighted with a 2-2 draw with a team under construction that played quite poorly.
No way in the world were the smogs "glorious"
