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  1. Kevin Hogg, a man with glasses, wraps his arm around Ann Ming, who is wearing a floral blouse and has blonde hair. They are standing outside a building in a street.

  2. 'Carrick must take great credit for Boro's return to form'

    Adam Cottier
    BBC Radio Five Live reporter

    Middlesbrough Expert view
    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick applauds the fans after his side's victory against Blackburn RoversRex Features

    Michael Carrick has been in charge of Middlesbrough since October 2022

    Middlesbrough will face more difficult assignments in the run-in than the one that transpired at Ewood Park on Friday night, but their return to form in recent weeks has been stark. Such momentum could give them edge in the play-off race.

    When I last saw Middlesbrough, reporting for BBC Radio 5 Live in the middle of February, I witnessed a team short of guile, with vulnerability in defence and no control in midfield.

    That was their 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United amid a five-match losing run.

    Against a toothless and beleaguered Blackburn side, this time, they exposed the vulnerabilities of their opponents with a ruthless start, scoring two goals inside the first eight minutes.

    They looked more streetwise, more confident and managed the game expertly.

    There appears to be strong unity, too, between players, fans and a manager in Michael Carrick, who must take great credit for guiding his team back to form, two and a half years into a job he clearly loves doing.

    Tommy Conway's exquisite touch and finish in the opening 80 seconds of the game was the highlight - he's steadily stepping into the boots vacated by Emmanuel Latte-Lath as an instinctive and reliable goalscorer.

    A play-off place is in Boro's grasp, as they look to end their eight-year wait for another go in the Premier League, so long as they maintain such good mentality and strength.

    • UK
    A picture of Luna the tabby cat. She is lying in a light brown furry bed and is licking a cuddly toy.

  4. Hannah Robinson sitting in her car

  5. A traditional old breed Bronze turkey in a barn, looking out of the door.

  6. A member of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's civil enforcement team taping a closure order to the the front door of the property. The door has been boarded up.

  8. Mary and Des Byrne standing in front of the River Tees by a railing. Mr Byrne is standing to the right and has his arm around his wife's shoulder. He is wearing a blue coat. Mrs Byrne is wearing a white coat with a furry collar

  9. The scene of the crash. A black hatchback car has been hit by the train. The car has been turned sideways and its bonnet has been damaged. The train has stopped at the crossing and its side appears to be damaged. A wig-wag railway crossing warning light is flashing. A in a red jacket is standing nearby and making a phone call. A sign under the warning lights read: "keep crossing clear".

  10. A field to the left of a road. It is made up of grass with a few trees and bushes. Rural buildings can be seen behind hedges.

  11. A group of protesters on the pavement outside a building on a sunny day. Various people are holding signs that say 'stop the burn' and 'clean air for good'.

  12. Old mugshot of Dunlop. He has short fair hair and a moustache.

  13. Graeme Lee wearing a Spennymoor tracksuit at training

  14. A school sign sits behind a brick wall on a sunny day with a long green fence behind it, and trees and grass. The sign says 'welcome' and 'Manor Community Academy'

  15. Mayor Ben Houchen on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. He has short black hair and is wearing a blazer and blue tie.

  16. Brian Wilkins is stood outside. He has a long grey beard and hair. He is wearing a grey suit with a hi-vis jacket over the top. He is wearing glasses and looking at the camera.

  17. Pick of the stats: Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough

    Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough club badges

    Blackburn Rovers welcome Middlesbrough to Ewood Park for an important clash in the battle for a Championship play-off spot on Friday evening (20:00 BST).

    Rovers have slipped to 11th and are five points off the top six following a six-game winless run (D1 L5).

    Boro have won four of their previous six matches (D1 L1) to move level on points with West Bromwich Albion in sixth and would climb above Coventry in fifth with victory before the rest of the weekend's action.

    • Blackburn Rovers have lost two of their past 19 league games against Middlesbrough (W8 D9) and are unbeaten in their past three (W2 D1).

    • Middlesbrough lost their most recent league visit to Blackburn last season but haven't lost consecutive away games at Rovers since December 2006.

    • Blackburn have lost each of their past four league games but haven't lost five in a row since February 2021 under Tony Mowbray.

    • Middlesbrough have won four of their past six league matches (D1 L1), more than in their previous 15 games combined (W3 D5 L7).

    • Middlesbrough are averaging 14.2 shots per Championship game this season (552 in 39 games), their highest average in a campaign since 2014-15 (14.3).

  18. Middlesbrough celebrate v Blackburn

  19. The three islands floating in Middlehaven dock. They are currently brown as the plants are yet to sprout. The blue Transporter Bridge can be seen in the background.

  20. A white swan with a black face and orange beak.

  21. View through a mesh wire fence of a recyling centre. High warehouse-style metal building with three high doors. Various vehicles including two police vans are parked in front.

  22. 'Boro won't get caught up in Rovers dispute'

    Boro boss Michael Carrick on the touchlineGetty Images

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says his side will not be distracted by the ongoing issues between the Blackburn Rovers supporters and their owners as they head to Ewood Park on Friday evening (20:00 BST).

    Rovers fan groups have asked senior club officials to steer clear of Blackburn's remaining games this season amid discontent over the club's management.

    Carrick acknowledges the tense atmosphere surrounding their opponents could affect the game but believes the side just need to have "tunnel vision" to find success.

    "It's not really for us to get caught up in or almost think about too much.

    "When you go away from home, most of the time it's about managing the atmosphere and trying to get up in the game or take control of the game.

    "It's more about us and preparing for the game, training right, improving on last week and the game is going to take care of itself."

    Boro will still be hampered with injuries, with much-needed defenders not ready to make the trip.

    Dael Fry and George Edmundson are "getting there" but won't be ready for Friday, while Luke Ayling "isn't totally written off" but could be out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

    Listen to the full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds

    Listen on BBC Sounds

  23. Five of the eight nurses arriving at Newcastle Tribunal Service. They are wearing smart clothes. Two of the nurses are blonde and walking ahead of their three colleagues.

  24. One of the penguins during the repair work. A new beak has been formed out of epoxy resin. The bird statue is about two-feet tall and black and white. Its new beak is yet to be painted and is still clear.