THIS evening's Tyne-Tees derby brings together two clubs who have experienced similar seasons. But, as Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson explains, there is one crucial difference - one of them still has something to play for.

ON Tyne-Tees derby day, it's time for a quick quiz. Which North-East team recently crashed out of the UEFA Cup to Sporting Lisbon having conceded a catastrophic three goals in less than 20 minutes?

Which North-East team then followed up their European exit with one of their worst results, and undoubtedly their worst performance, of the season?

Which North-East team were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United - a defeat that was made worse by the fact that they had already tumbled out of the Carling Cup to an eventual finalist?

Need a clue? Well it isn't just Newcastle United.

Middlesbrough's season might not have attracted the same disparaging headlines as the campaign currently being endured by the club's North-East neighbours, but it has followed a starkly similar path.

After Boro's European adventure came to a shuddering halt in the Jose Alvalade Stadium, a calamitous 3-1 home defeat to Southampton seemed to be symptomatic of a club in crisis.

Injuries had decimated the first-team squad - another puzzling parallel to what has been happening at St James' - and confidence, both on and off the field, appeared to be at rock bottom.

Yet, while Newcastle have yet to recover from their nadir, Middlesbrough have regrouped, recovered and, consequently, turned their season around.

Last weekend's 4-0 win over West Brom elevated Steve McClaren's side to seventh in the Premiership, a position that will guarantee more European football should they hold onto it until the end of the season.

That scenario will become much more likely if Boro can subject Newcastle to more soul-searching at St James' Park tonight.

Despite last weekend's battling display at Old Trafford, the Magpies still appear to be pulling in multiple directions.

Middlesbrough's unity, on the other hand, has enabled them to salvage something from a season that was rapidly falling apart.

"I have been surprised by what has been happening at Newcastle," said Boro full-back Franck Queudrue, who was being linked with a possible move to the Magpies at the turn of the year.

"They seemed to be coming back well until they lost in the UEFA Cup.

"But a season is like that. You go through a bad period and it is all about how you come out of it.

"That is when the squad needs to be together. You can only come out of a run like that by being strong for each other.

"We've had that this season. We had a rough patch in January and February, but we have come through it.

"We have had our problems with results and injuries, but we have dealt with them. Now we can get our reward by qualifying for Europe again."

While Middlesbrough's problems have largely been down to injury, Newcastle's have been heightened by indiscipline.

Things on Tyneside might not have been so bad had Craig Bellamy not signed his own exit papers, and both Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer not ruled themselves out of this month's FA Cup semi-final.

Newcastle's season might also have turned out differently had Graeme Souness followed Steve McClaren's lead when his squad started falling apart.

McClaren was left with a difficult decision ahead of his side's trip to Old Trafford in October. With a host of senior players unavailable, he either had to name a patched-up side of experienced fringe players or throw caution to the wind and go with untried youngsters.

He opted for the latter, leaving Colin Cooper and Doriva on the bench so that Tony McMahon and James Morrison could make their senior debuts alongside a similarly fresh-faced Stewart Downing.

The policy has not always reaped dividends - there have been times this season, particularly at home, when Boro have lacked leadership and direction - but there is no doubt that a reliance on youth has shaped Middlesbrough's season.

Souness, on the other hand, has prioritised the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Nicky Butt over the youngsters at his disposal.

"This year, the youngsters have helped us a lot," said Queudrue. "They have slotted in when they have been needed and done really well. At the start of the season, we had a squad of 30 pros. I think they have all been used at some stage, and many of them have been young players."

The result is that Middlesbrough are still challenging for Europe, while Newcastle await the draw for the Intertoto Cup.

The Teessiders could still end up in that competition as well of course but, with four games still to play, two wins should ensure that does not happen.

"Beating Newcastle is very important," said Queudrue. "It is very important for the fans that we finish as the number one side in the North-East. We understand that.

"But, for the players and the staff, it's about achieving something for ourselves. That means getting into Europe again next season.

"Even if Newcastle were to finish fourth and we were to finish sixth, we would still be happy because we would have achieved our goal."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.