Middlesbrough beat Fulham 1-0 in a game that was devoid of passionate football, but which had gritty display from both sides. The win means Middlesbrough can rest easy and also allows manager Gareth Southgate to relax after having successfully overcome a tricky period during which it looked like the side would be fighting a relegation battle towards the end of the season.

The game at the Riverside Stadium also saw the eagerly anticipated debut of Brazilian forward Afonso Alves. The game started off on a sedate pace with neither side being too adventurous. Just when it looked like a boring game, Boro's French striker Jeremie Aliadiere managed to avoid the off-side trap set by the Cottagers and leave keeper Antti Niemi beaten with an angled shot.

The 1-0 lead inside 11 minutes gave Boro fans a reason to cheer and gave Fulham boss Roy Hodgson something to think about.

Erik Nevland tried a long-range shot in the 19th minute only to see it sail over harmlessly. Danny Murphy then had a chance from a corner, but his shot was saved by Schwarzer. Aliadiere almost doubled the lead in the 29th minute, but his low shot went straight to the Boro keeper.

After the break, Huth headed one from a Stewart Downing corner, but Niemi was equal to the task. In the 56th minute, Fulham got a free-kick just outside the box, but Konchesky's shot was saved well by Schwarzer.

Alves was brought on in the 57th minute, but neither he nor Fulham made much of an impression in the remaining 30 minutes. The win sees Boro in the 12th spot of the Premiership table with 29 points from 26 games, while Fulham are facing the specter of relegation at the 19th position with 19 points from 26 games.