FT Middlesbrough 1-0 Wrexham. Not quite full parmo, but solid debuts from Arfsten, Berhalter & Lankshear, who took his goal well. Another signing expected over weekend. Boro having a go.

FT Whitley Bay 2-2 Northallerton Town. Northern League Division 1. Appropriately entertaining game preceded by heartfelt eulogy and applause for Kevin Keegan.

Today’s Evening Chronicle front page in Newcastle.

Utterly dreadful news on Kevin Keegan. Hard to comprehend. He changed Newcastle United and North-east football. Believed in it and made it believe in itself. Ambitious for all and so sharp as NUFC manager in those electric years from 1992 to the end of 96. Devastating loss.

FT Celtic 1-1 Middlesbrough. Bit of a different atmosphere to the last game here - Hearts. Celtic fans staying away. Old question about ambition. New boy Duran scores. Scottish PL season begins in fortnight. Boro take lead through Strelec. Youngsters Daley and Ibeh promising.

It’s Ballard-loud at Sunderland.

Hearts players absorbing the news of Celtic’s 987th minute penalty. Hearts did what they had to do. They go to Celtic on Saturday one point ahead. A first title since 1960 is still on.

Tynecastle, where the rain has gone, the skies have cleared and Heart of Midlothian could be champions of Scotland by 10pm.

FT Celtic 3-1 Rangers. Scene at kickoff. Impressive Mikey Moore gave Rangers an early lead, but neither Martin O’Neill nor Daizen Maeda were having that. Big 24 hours for Celtic. Hearts’ lead down to a point. Two games to go - Wednesday night and next Saturday. Brilliant.

The Middlesbrough team bus arrives. Lively morning down by the Riverside.

FT Hearts 2-1 Rangers. This was the calm before the Shankland. Sure enough the No. 9 scored the winner. Hearts nearly there.

HT Hibs 1-0 Hearts. Ten-man Hibs holding off Hearts on an afternoon when Rangers have lost at home to Motherwell. Frantic pace, brilliant atmosphere.

HT Sunderland 0-4 Nottingham Forest. Probably unnecessarily generous from the hosts.

FT Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur. A deflected goal from Mukiele settles a scrappy match. Sunderland better, more committed in the tackle. Disjointed Spurs would worry more than De Zerbi.

FT Middlesbrough 1-2 Millwall. 69 touches in opposition box, 17 corners, chance after chance, one goal. Familiar tale for Boro. Millwall, battered in 1st half, go second above them with two goals from Boro boy Josh Coburn. Hints of Graham Fenton about it all.

Hard to believe but as St. Patrick’s Day and two World Cup qualifiers approach, this cross-border history of Irish football is somehow* still available.

FT Middlesbrough 1-1 Leicester City. Boro hurtle to the top of the championship, then get summit fever. 2/9 pts since and had too many individuals off it tonight. Leicester won’t go down playing like this. Deserved point.

FT Sunderland 1-3 Fulham. If Romaine Mundle scores at 0-0, it might have been different. Raul Jimenez, impressive, made it 1-0 immediately at other end. Three straight league defeats for S’land. 28 goals scored in 27 matches. Next B’mouth & Leeds, both away.

The last time Tottenham Hotspur were relegated.

Keith Andrews takes the applause of delighted Brentford fans high up inside St. James’ Park after the Bees’ first win here since 1934. Andrews impressing the committed.

FT Sunderland 3-0 Burnley. Sunderland are up to eighth and remain unbeaten at home. Now 16 pts clear of third-bottom West Ham. Burnley surprisingly limp. Sland go to Arsenal next.

Atmosphere at Boro just soared on news from Loftus Road. Playing well but it’s still 1-0 and Norwich decent.

Dan Neil leaves Sunderland for Ipswich (on loan but with contract up in June). End of a local chapter. Fine footballer and always helpful.

FT Hearts 2-2 Celtic. Hearts players walk off after a drama of a match. They still lead in Scotland. It still can happen.

HT Middlesbrough 3-0 PNE. Boro, fluid, creative, could have scored 5. Preston flimsy.

FT Bristol Rovers 0-1 Colchester United. The sun going down on Rovers. Another Saturday, another home defeat.

FT West Ham United 2-1 QPR. Hammers needed extra time to beat Championship opponents. Summerville good, made a difference. Kolli and a few others bright for Rangers in front of their 9000 travelling fans. Deserved a replay, in old money.

FT Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Aston Villa. Spurs beaten again. Got better in second half. Simons bright. But Villa such a good unit. Well deserved win. Martin Chivers and Terry Yorath saluted before kick-off.

Man City at the Stadium of Light for the first time since 2017. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane won it for them then. It’s windy and cold and City start five points behind Arsenal.

FT Sunderland 1-1 Leeds United. Sunderland’s least impressive home performance but earned a point through Simon Adingra’s smart goal and Trai Hume’s clearance. Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach v good for Leeds, plus a fine team goal converted by DCL. Man City next here on Thursday.