Birmingham City slumped to its third defeat this season after a woeful performance against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Two first half goals from David Wheater and Stewart Downing saw Middlesbrough complete a comfortable victory against a Birmingham team that failed to create any real chances for most of the game. Both the teams were playing on the back of victories in the Carling Cup with Boro defeating Northampton and Birmingham winning against Hereford.

In a match of few chances, it was Boro that took an early lead through Wheater in the 11th minute. Andrew Taylor latched on to a half clearance by the Birmingham defense from a corner before driving in a perfect cross for Wheater to head home Boro's first goal of the match.

Cameron Jerome had a great chance to play Mikael Forssell in, but the striker decided to go for the shot himself leaving Mark Schwarzer with a regulation save. After a period of poor football, Boro finally scored their second in the 37th minute when Boateng headed Taylor's cross straight into the path of Stewart Downing who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Maik Taylor from 8 yards out.

Middlesbrough continued to press forward and almost got a third thanks to some awful defending by Birmingham. Radhi Jaidi back passed the ball past Maik Taylor and the keeper had to be quick to clear the ball from the path of the onrushing Aliadiere.

Arca had a chance to add a third for Boro but his header flashed just wide of the post while Aliadiere's shot was blocked brilliantly by Taylor. Three substitutions in one go by Steve Bruce saw some life in the Birmingham attack as Olivier Kapo's deflected shot went just wide of the post.

Gary McSheffrey went one step closer to scoring as he very nearly pulled one back for the visitors, but his shot hit the post before bouncing clear. However that was as close to scoring as Birmingham could get, leaving a beaming Gareth Southgate with a second victory in three matches.