THOSE who witnessed the Middlesbrough supporter, in the East Stand corner, frantically waving a flag with 'Spirit of Steaua' emblazoned across its fabric, as both sides entered the Riverside arena, may have felt it was perhaps wishful thinking on his part.

But given that entertainment has been in short supply on Teesside since Boro's swashbuckling run to the UEFA Cup final 18 months ago, it's maybe understandable fans are craving for more matches like that memorable semi-final with Steaua Bucharest.

Boro's derby with Sunderland may not have matched the sheer thrilling excitement and drama of that astonishing 4-3 victory but it went a long way to answering the stay away fans' claims that there is little excitement at the Riverside.

For the record the home side enjoyed their highest crowd of the new season, nearly 2,000 up on their previous best against Newcastle, and eight thousand up on the last home fixture - although still eight thousand short of capacity.

And those supporters had hardly taken their seats before the industrious Grant Leadbitter had put the visitors one-up, in a move, which started with him dispossessing former Black Cats favourite Julio Arca.

Arca soon made ammends for his gaffe though when he timed a run to perfection to plant his head on Gary O'Neil's sublime delivery.

The Argentine was orchestrating the play at that point and it was unfortunate a late challenge from Dwight Yorke forced him to limp out of the proceedings.

In Steve McClaren's reign Boro were accused of lacking the artistry, vision and creativity that Arca now provides the Teessiders and Sunderland are very much in the same situation now.

And given the dearth of inventiveness in the Black Cats side it was easy to see why Roy Keane was keen to take him back to the Stadium of Light.

The lack of imagination in the centre of the park will be a concern for Keane. And if the Wearsiders are to remain in the Premier League this term the Sunderland boss may need to rectify the problem when the January transfer window opens.

On Saturday's evidence Dickson Etuhu is nothing more than a glorified spoiler, whereas Dwight Yorke's best days are well behind him.

Leadbitter was Sunderland's best player at the weekend, and would have surely been a better option switched to the middle of the park with his energy and dynamism.

Yet he spent most of the game on the defensive tracking back the dangerous Stewart Downing, who struck a superb effort to give the Teessiders a second half lead.

But one thing going in Sunderland's favour this season, missing from their previous sorties in the top flight, is luck.

For the second time this term - the first at Birmingham - the Black Cats deserved to lose yet managed to find a late leveller to claim a point.

This might be the difference between survival and relegation.

Boro on the other hand are still on target for, at the very least, a top ten finish if they learn to kill teams off. Although this could be undone by injuries to Arca (knee), Mido (hamstring), Tuncay Sanli (fibula) and Jeremie Aliadiere (hamstring) - arguably the club's most influential players.

These injuries have left Southgate with only one fit first team striker in Lee Dong Gook, which is a worry because for all his efforts he has yet to convince anyone he can cut the mustard with the top flight's elite.

Saturday's contest may not have been played with the 'Spirit of Steaua' in mind but there was enough to suggest both sides have more than enough spirit to do better than their last outings in the top flight