Gareth Southgate, who is busy fending off interest in Stewart Downing, arguably his best player, was struck by the contrast between what he goes through in January and an FA Cup third-round tie against a part-time team from the Blue Square Premier. “The transfer window highlights everything that’s wrong with the game,” the Middlesbrough manager said. “It’s predominantly about money and too many influences from outside the game get involved. It’s a sport and we lose sight of that.”

Downing underlined his value to his home-town club by laying on both of Afonso Alves’s goals, but Josh Walker set up a tense final ten minutes by turning in from close range to give Barrow’s 7,000 supporters something to cheer about.

The one sour note was a double break to the right leg suffered by Mike Pearson but Paul Jones, the Barrow captain, reflected on a proud day. “I was really pleased to see that Gareth Southgate fielded a near full-strength side,” he said.

Middlesbrough (4-4-1-1): B Jones 6 — A McMahon 7, D Wheater 7, R Huth 6, E Pogatetz 5 — J Aliadière 5 (sub: M Emnes, 34min 5; sub: Mido, 84), J Walker 7, D Digard 6, A Johnson 6 — S Downing 8 — Afonso Alves 7. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, A Taylor, C Riggott, Tuncay Sanli, M Bates. Booked: Digard.

Barrow (4-4-2): A Martin 8 — M Pearson 7 (sub: A Bond, 52 6), P Jones 8, S McNulty 7, C Logan 6 — M Henney 7, L Joyce 6, M Boyd 6, P Brown 6 — J Walker 7, D Brown 6 (sub: W Curtis, 65 7). Substitutes not used: T Deasy, N Rogan, P Tait, D Sheridan, D Bayliss. Booked: Boyd.

Referee: M Dean Attendance: 25,132

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