Notts County did little to help themselves at the Riverside; first scoring an own goal and then having their captain sent-off.

But even without Magpies' assistance Middlesbrough would probably still have won because they were clearly the better side and there were no arguments from red card victim, Tony Barras.

He was dismissed for bringing down goal-bound Michael Ricketts who knocked the ball past Barras before being knocked to the ground.

Television replays failed to show exactly what caused Ricketts to stumble and although his shirt was pulled, he took a while to fall and as Barras left the field Ricketts looked over to the big centre-half and apologetically shrugged his shoulders.

Billingham-born Barras didn't make much contact with the burly hitman, but it was enough to send his former Walsall teammate to the ground and the ex-York City and Hartlepool defender conceded afterwards that he deserved to see red.

"It was a sending-off to be honest," said Barras, who was made captain for the day against the team he supports.

"There was nothing vicious about it, we just tangled. There was contact and he was clean through."

Television replays showed Barras tug Ricketts' shirt but the striker appeared to trip over his own feet before hitting the deck.

But Barras said: "He ran in front of me and I just did it accidentally."

Meanwhile, Bolo Zenden, the first Middlesbrough player to score at the Riverside for two months, has admitted he'd prefer to be playing in his favoured wide midfield position rather than in the centre of the park.

He's made his name at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and the Holland national side as a flying winger but since arriving on loan from Chelsea his best display came as a central midfielder in the draw at Blackburn.

He's remained in that position alongside fellow Dutchman George Boateng and on Saturday made a late run from midfield to notch his second goal in a Boro shirt.

"I haven't played in that position too much before," admitted Zenden. "I played there once or twice for Barcelona, and maybe for Chelsea.

"It's a bit different for me. We've had a problem in the middle because Doriva was injured and the manager decided to put me there."

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