Sun 16 Nov 08
Everton 1
Middlesbrough 1
Goal

Tue 01 Jan 08
Middlesbrough 0
Everton 2
Missed Chance

Sat 13 Jan 07
Sheff Utd 1
Portsmouth 1
Goal

He joined Boro from Portsmouth in a £5m deal with just minutes to spare on transfer deadline day in August 2007.

Gary, who played 175 league games for Pompey and was their Player of the Year in 2005-06, signed a three-year contract after passing a medical at Rockliffe Park.

The Bromley-born player has a reputation for scoring vital goals from midfield.

He was a thorn in Boro's flesh in 2005-06 when he scored in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside and then hit the decider in a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park.

Boss Gareth Southgate had been tracking the player for some time but was surprised to find out he had become available late in the summer of 2007.

"I didn't think he would be available but he has now become available for various reasons at Portsmouth and he's somebody I've been an admirer of for some time.

"I attempted to sign him when I first got this job this time last year and I tried again earlier this summer, but I really didn't think we were going to be able to get him.

"But Harry Redknapp needed some money to buy another player he wants and that's worked in our favour."

O'Neil can play in central midfield but began life at Boro on the right-hand side, making his full debut with an eye-catching display in the 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Riverside, following up with a Man of the Match performance in the defeat at Everton.

He established himself as Boro's regular right-midfielder in his debut season, although the goals which had been a feature of his earlier career at Pompey proved elusive.