BORO return to the Riverside tomorrow, anxious to get their home form on track.

A draw with Spurs and defeat by Leeds have left Boro still searching for the first home win of the season and Everton - with Gazza in the squad - are the next visitors.

Gary Pallister said: "It should be a great game, we beat them at the Riverside and then at Goodison on the final day, so they will be up for it. But if we approach the 90 minutes in the right way then we have a great chance."

He feels some of the media criticism of the Leeds game was harsh. "A few things were written that seemed a bit over the top, but we knew that we had not put in a good performance and the fans certainly let us know at the end," he said. "They had every right to be disappointed, so were the lads, but let's get everyone behind us for Everton."

Fellow defender Gianluca Festa is just pleased to be back involved with the squad

"It's been a tough summer for me, having an operation and missing the start of the season. But I am all right now and hopeful that this will be the best season in my time at the club," he said.

Festa is determined to try to put some silverware in the trophy cabinet.

"I know how much it would mean to the fans," he said.

"When I came here the manager said how we all had a chance to try and do something unique at Boro.

"It would have been easy for me to stay in Italy with clubs like Inter and Roma where they win things regularly, but I wanted to try and win a cup for Boro where it hasn't happened before."

He added: "This is the best squad in my time here, let's hope we prove it on the pitch."

There will be a minute's silence before the match as a mark of respect to the late Willie Maddren. Afterwards Boro will try to put on a performance befitting the memory of one of Boro's greats.