A football fan who fell asleep as his team slumped to a 4-0 defeat today appeared in court to deny being drunk in a sporting arena.

Adrian Carr, 28, of Caithness Road, Middlesbrough, appeared before Teesside magistrates following the incident last month. The season ticket-holder had been watching Middlesbrough at the town's Riverside Stadium as they were beaten by Arsenal in the Premiership game.

Carr was woken by stewards at the end of the game and subsequently arrested.

He was today granted bail and ordered to return to face trial before magistrates on October 28.