Middlesbrough are one of many sides to suffer the fate of being the third wheel in a historic rivalry.
Over the years there have been many great footballing rivalries that have captured the imagination of the English game. Whether they were huge sides or smaller ones, knowing that you are going to see two teams face off that absolutely despise each other is an enthralling prospect.
Unfortunately, what people sometimes forget is that there can often be a third wheel in this scenario. For Middlesbrough, they represent the ultimate team next door that never seem to be taken too seriously.
Sunderland’s Adnan Januzaj in action with Middlesbrough’s George Friend
Newcastle and Sunderland fans will forever consider each other as the one team they hate more than any other, with the derby games against Boro not quite providing the same spark. This is nobody’s fault, but it can be frustrating for teams that find themselves in this scenario.
There are a whole host of examples such as Walsall being the third wheel to West Brom and Wolves, Leicester being the third wheel to Derby and Forest and so on. Location does not matter in regard to history, and alot of these teams have bad blood that goes back over many decades.
Just look at Middlesbrough’s early season victory over Sunderland. It was an exciting moment, but there was no real hype around it. It begs the age old question – if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound?
Middlesbrough’s Lee Cattermole and Sunderland’s Grant Leadbitter clash
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