Former Toon Star Thought Mags Were Better Than Mackems!
"I thought Newcastle might get out of it but what did for them was not getting a point against Fulham. If they'd done that they'd have stayed up. That was the turning point.
"Sunderland have been bought out. I saw them a couple of times last year. They looked a little bit better than Middlesbrough, though I didn't think they were as good as Newcastle.
"They struggled, the league doesn't tell lies.
"Hopefully, they'll push on in the Premier League and Newcastle and Middlesbrough can get promoted and we'll be back to where we were.
"I saw Middlesbrough play Fulham (a goalless home draw, in mid-April) and they were always going to struggle.
"But I think Gareth (Southgate) is the man to bring Middlesbrough back up. He's got a great chairman (Steve Gibson) who's very loyal and supportive.
"I don't know Gareth that well but the chairman will stick with him and, providing they don't lose too many players, at this time, they have the better youth policy than Newcastle, so they've got a chance.
"Hopefully, they'll both come back up."
INTER CITIES FAIRS CUP 1968/69
Sep 11 FEYENOORD - Holland (H) 4-0 (Davies, Gibb, B Robson, Scott)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, McNamee, Burton, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Elliott, Allen. Att: 46,348
Sep 17 FEYENOORD - Holland (A) 0-2
McFaul, Craig, Clark (Iley), Gibb, McNamee, Burton, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Elliott, Allen. Att: 45,000
Oct 30 SPORTING LISBON - Portugal (A) 1-1 (Scott)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Winstanley, Burton, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Moncur, Foggon (Dyson). Att: 9,000
Nov 20 SPORTING LISBON - Portugal (H) 1-0 (B Robson)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Elliott, Dyson (Bennett). Att: 53,747
Jan 1 REAL ZARAGOZA - Spain (A) 2-3 (Davies, B Robson)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Dyson, B Robson, Davies, Scott, Foggon. Att: 22,000
Jan 15 REAL ZARAGOZA - Spain (H) 2-1 (Gibb, B Robson)
McFaul, Craig (Guthrie), Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Dyson, B Robson, Davies, Scott, Foggon. Att: 56,055
Mar 12 VITORIA SETUBAL - Portugal (H) 5-1 (Davies, Foggon, Gibb, B Robson 2)
McFaul, Craggs, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, B Robson, Horsfield (Sinclair), Davies, Scott, Foggon. Att: 57,662
Mar 26 VITORIA SETUBAL - Portugal (A) 1-3 (Davies)
McFaul, Craggs, Clark, Gibb, Burton (McNamee), Moncur, Sinclair, B Robson, Davies, Scott, Foggon. Att: 34,000
May 14 GLASGOW RANGERS - Scotland (A) 0-0
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, McNamee, Moncur, Scott (Sinclair), B Robson, Davies, Arentoft, Foggon. Att: 75, 580
May 21 GLASGOW RANGERS - Scotland (H) 2-0 (Scott, Sinclair)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Arentoft, Sinclair. Att: 59,303
May 29 UJPEST DOZSA - Hungary (H) 3-0 (Moncur 2, Scott)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Scott, B Robson, Davies, Arentoft, Sinclair (Elliott). Att: 59,234
Jun 11 UJPEST DOZSA - Hungary (A) 3-2 (Arentoft, Foggon, Moncur)
McFaul, Craig, Clark, Gibb, Burton, Moncur, Scott (Foggon), B Robson, Davies, Arentoft, Sinclair. Att: 34,000