An away match to Blackburn after our mauling by Chelsea at home. A chance to bounce back, show what we are made of and return to the Riverside victorious. And we were so close.
Southgate listened to the fans, who have been calling for Digard to start for at least a month, and played the young Frenchman in the centre of midfield alongside Gary O'Neil.
Digard is not a complete player but he gives us back some of the energy and grit which we have been lacking since the departures of Boateng, Cattermole and Rochembach.
Julio Arca is back in training and if he comes back in the form he was in last season, prior to the Sunderland match where he sustained an injury, he will most likely reclaim his position.
One position which is definitely not up for grabs is that of the captain. The return of Pogatetz meant we had a true leader on the pitch.
We really missed the Austrian's presence during his three-match ban and he needs to concentrate on the big picture rather than going in all guns blazing and damn the consequences. We cannot afford to lose him again.
Also putting in a full shift was our French striker/winger. Aliadiere was a man on a mission, not necessarily to score himself but to make damn sure his team did.
Showing the pace and quality that first alerted Southgate to his abilities he was a real threat and the only way Blackburn could handle him was to take him out.
Getting kicked all over the pitch and a acquiring a knee injury did not stop him. Despite being unlucky and hitting the bar himself, no one looked happier when Alves scored.
Tuncay scored a wonder goal which was wrongly deemed offside and disallowed. The Turk looked understandably annoyed but he has come back from injury in great form and he will have more chances.
Alves finally did what we pay him for, scoring with a thunderous strike to give Boro the lead. However he had a chance to score prior to that and missed completely, he also only had fifteen touches of the ball (according to Setanta) before he scored.
I understand that he is player who is not there to do the running, he is there to pop up and score when you have forgotten he is still on the pitch, which is exactly what he did.
But for £12.5 million I still want more from him.
You could say Blackburn had also been unlucky, they had the majority of chances and also hit the woodwork but we deserved to win that match and another late goal was a cruel blow.
To end on a positive note Gareth's new line-up looked more like a team which can compete. I still think Southgate must choose between Mido and Alves, with Mido picking up an injury it is Alves' time to cement his position.
The Brazilian needs to get into his stride and start scoring but with both Tuncay and Aliadiere doing his running for him, I am looking forward to some amazing goals to come.
First published on www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/fanzone - Oct 08
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