Middlesbrough 1 Newcastle 0: Dazzling Downing display piles pressure on Roeder

Gareth Southgate savoured more home comforts as Yakubu struck with five minutes remaining to sink north-east rivals Newcastle and clinch his side's second Riverside Stadium victory in a week.

The Nigerian striker rose highest to meet Stewart Downing's corner from the left and power it past helpless Steve Harper into the back of the net.

While Boro boss Southgate milked the applause of the home fans at the final whistle, the outlook was bleaker for Glenn Roeder, with the Magpies' season in danger of descending into acrimony.

The visiting supporters chanted for the removal of chairman Freddy Shepherd after watching their side fail to win their fifth consecutive Barclays Premiership fixture.

Things had begun so promisingly for the visitors, with Obafemi Martins apparently in the mood to build on his side's fine midweek UEFA Cup victory over Fenerbahce.

But Martins was left to rue his 14th-minute miss when he beat the Boro defence and lobbed stranded keeper Mark Schwarzer - only to see his effort rebound off the bar.

After a poor start, Boro began to stir, with Downing's fierce drive forcing an acrobatic save from Harper in the 20th minute before Jason Euell fired just wide in the 21st minute.

Boro began to enjoy a fruitful spell, with Andrew Davies heading just wide from a long Downing free-kick, and the home side enjoyed a further boost when the dangerous Antoine Sibierski limped off.

Euell came close again on the half-hour with a long-range right-foot shot which flashed just wide of Harper's far post as the home side continued to assert their belated authority.

After a long spell as a spectator, Schwarzer was called into action in the 35th minute to fist away a dangerous James Milner free-kick on one of the increasingly-rare forays forward by the visitors.

Then, Martins' pass set up a chance for substitute Shola Ameobi who responded with a casual-looking effort which gave the Boro keeper no trouble at all.

Southgate made two changes at the break, with Robert Huth replacing Emanuel Pogatetz and Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback coming on for the ineffective Mark Viduka.

Adopting a 4-5-1 formation, the home side had a chance within seconds of the restart when Downing's corner from the right was flapped at by Harper before eventually being ushered off the goal-line.

And Boro had a better chance in the 49th minute when a Downing free-kick eluded everybody in the box and was heading for the corner of the net until Harper turned it onto the post one-handed.

Damien Duff's swift counter-attack in the 62nd minute caused problems and the Irishman found himself clear after beating the back-pedalling Davies, only to hit a tame effort straight at Schwarzer.

Immediately at the other end, Euell was presented with a fine chance by Lee Cattermole's incisive through-ball, only to blaze the ball high over the bar from 10 yards.

Scott Parker burst through the Boro backline in the 70th minute and saw his shot deflected into the path of James Milner, who drove a low effort across goal and just wide of Schwarzer's left-hand post.

Then it was Rochemback's turn to rue a missed opportunity when he connected too casually with a fine cross from Yakubu and saw his right-foot shot booted off the line by Steven Taylor.

Boro finally got their break with five minutes remaining when Yakubu rose highest above a static Newcastle back-line to power home Downing's left-wing corner.

Downing could have made the final score worse for the visitors when he broke free in injury-time, only to see his low effort well saved by Harper.