NORTH-EAST football is in crisis after another catastrophic weekend left the region’s three biggest clubs facing relegation to the Championship.

Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland fill three of the Premier League’s bottom four places after they failed to pick up a single point between them for the sixth weekend this season.

The only glimmer of good news was provided by bottom club West Brom, who lost at home to Stoke. If it wasn’t for the blundering Baggies, the North-East’s trio would all be heading into the Championship.

As it is, Middlesbrough appear to have most to fear, with Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Bolton having left Gareth Southgate’s side five points adrift of safety. Factor in their dreadful goal difference, and Boro, who have won just once in their last 19 league games, are effectively six points off the safety zone with just seven matches left.

They entertain fellow strugglers Hull at the Riverside on Saturday, but even a victory in that game may no longer be enough.

“The performance (at Bolton) was unacceptable,”

said Southgate. “We finished the game in poor spirit. We conceded poor goals and the concession of goals changes emotions.

“We have seven games left and my first job is to restore pride.”

Alan Shearer also has seven games in which to save Newcastle, after his emotional return to St James’ Park failed to go to plan.

Newcastle lost 2-0 to championship- chasing Chelsea, and are now three points adrift of safety ahead of next weekend’s trip to Stoke.

“I’m still optimistic and confident we can avoid the drop, and more importantly, my players are as well,” said Shearer, despite a defeat that made it six games without a win for the Magpies.

“One game in football is a hell of a long time. We’ve got seven, so I’m sure there are going to be twists and turns between now and the end of the season.”

Newcastle’s only hope of salvation could come in the form of Sunderland, who dropped to within a place of the relegation zone following a 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

The Black Cats have tumbled five places in as many weeks, and are now just three points clear of Newcastle ahead of Saturday’s daunting home game with Manchester United.

“I have not yet looked at the table, but I know we are down there,” said Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia, in the wake of his side’s defeat at Upton Park.

“We need some better performances.

“Our heads dropped when we conceded right on halftime.”