Everton kept a clean sheet for a third game in a row as they secured a narrow 1-0 win away to Middlesbrough to maintain their challenge for a top six finish in the league table.

Boro went into the game without a win in their last six matches and were cautious right from the start with Everton dominating the possession. Tim Cahill continued to operate as an emergency striker with the Toffees missing a conventional forward.

Leon Osman's injury before the game meant that manager David Moyes handed a debut start for 18-year old Dan Gosling. Everton looked to have taken an early lead when Steven Pienaar put the ball in the net but his effort was ruled out for a foul.

Sanli Tuncay went closest to scoring for Boro when his stinging shot was saved by Tim Howard. Pienaar had another chance to score but saw his chance hit the post before rebounding clear.

The visitors stepped up the tempo in the second half and were rewarded in the 51st minute after a goalmouth scramble saw Boro keeper Ross Turnbull first parry Cahill's initial header and Lescott's blocked shot fell sweetly for the Australian international who made no mistake from his second chance.

Gosling twice went close to doubling the lead while Afonso Alves had a great chance to scoring an equalizer but Everton hung on to claim their seventh away win of the season.