Middlesbrough defender Andrew Taylor is confident they can beat Northeast rivals Sunderland this weekend.

Taylor said: "It's always nice to see a lot of the North-East teams do well because it creates some competition with each other in our area.

"Last year, we finished above Sunderland and hopefully it will be the same again. We have shown at the start of the season how good we can be.

"We have probably got a different side to our game now - we have got a lot more pace and we are a lot more attacking."

He added: "Sunderland have got a good team and obviously the manager has put a good squad together, which is the same as us really.

"I know a few of their lads from the England U21s side like Anton (Ferdinand), Kieran Richardson and Grant Leadbitter so it should make for a good game."