Boro Mania

Middlesbrough extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five games following a strong, battling performance at Goodison Park.

Boro started the game with just one change from the win at Aston Villa, an enforced change with Jeremie Aliadiere missing out through illness, Julio Arca coming into the team with Gary O'Neil moving on to the right flank.

18 year old Jonathan Franks was rewarded for his recent form and call up to the England Under-19 squad with a place on the bench, a young bench that included Academy graduates Wheater, Johnson, Walker and Grounds as well as young Dutchman Marvin Emnes.

The game got off to a scrappy start, Tuncay letting fly with a 30 yard attempt after some neat passing from Boro was the highlight. Everton were clearly going to be a physical and aerial threat with Yakubu, Saha and Fellaini winning a lot of the ball.

It was Boro though who took the lead as a lightning quick break from an Everton attack involving Downing and Tuncay culminated with Stewart Downing rolling the ball into the path of Gary O'Neil who steadied himself and finished very well in off the near post to stun an already subdued Everton crowd.

Everton had a great chance to level the score moments later as a Saha flick on found former Boro hero Yakubu who out-muscled Pogatetz to go through on goal only to see Ross Turnbull save at his feet with a very strong hand.

Boro went up the other end and Frenchman Didier Digard struck a shot from just outside the area which pulled just wide of the Everton goal. Everton then went extremely close to an equaliser as a fluke cross from Joleon Lescott deceived everybody and beat Ross Turnbull who was relieved to see the ball come back off the post and to see Emanuel Pogatetz block Fellaini's follow up attempt.

Afonso Alves was given a good opportunity after some good skill form Tuncay, the Turk fond himself in space, brought down a high ball on his chest and played Alves in. The Brazilian had a chance to shoot first time but took too long on the ball and was eventually crowded out.

The home side had half-hearted appeals for a penalty when Yakubu fell when challenging for a ball with Ross Turnbull, these were quickly dismissed by Howard Webb, but Everton were beginning to create problems with their physical approach, winning a succession of corners which Boro didn't defend that well.

Just before half-time and just after Stewy Downing had shot narrowly wide at the other end, Tim Cahill had a great opportunity to level the score but headed a foot wide from a left-wing corner when completely unmarked in the Boro box.

Half Time and Boro were going in 1-0 to the good, Everton had seen the lion's share of possesion but Boro continued to look very dangerous on the break.

Everton started the second half much the better side and were applying strong pressure to the Boro backline, a backline that was dealt a blow early in the second half when Chris Riggott injured himself in a clash with Yakubu resulting in him being replaced by David Wheater.

Boro showed they still carried a threat on the break as they broke quickly, Alves fed Tuncay, who sped off down the right wing before sending a crossfield ball to Downing. In turn he set up Arca, who completed the flowing move by stricking a left foot shot over the bar by half a yard.

Everton levelled the scoreline on 65 minutes and it was former Boro boy Yakubu who came back to haunt us. A cross from the left from Mikel Arteta missed a few defenders and struck Yakubu on the back, deflecting the ball past a stranded Ross Turnbull.

It looked from that point that it was going to backs to the wall for Boro as Everton poured on the pressure but it was Boro who went close to going into the lead, a strike from Didier Digard was tipped onto the post by Tim Howard.

Back came Everton, a flick from Saha picking out Yakubu wide on the right, and his low cross-shot fizzed through Boro's six-yard box without further touch.

Everton threw Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan into the attack and were pushing hard for the 3 points but Boro's backline held up well and were relieved to hear the final whistle to maintain the unbeaten record and make it 4 points taken from 2 very tricky away games.

Player Ratings

Ross Turnbull - 7 - Made a couple of good saves, particularly from Yakubu. Was caught out by the Lescott cross which struck the upright but otherwise a steady display.

Justin Hoyte - 6 - Settling in well and defended well, not as good going forward as he was against Villa but a decent game.

Andrew Taylor - 6 - Sound defensive game as his form continues to improve.

Emanuel Pogatetz - 7 - Very solid, Everton were a very physical threat and sent a lot of direct balls forward. Though Saha won a lot in the air, Boro dealt well with the second balls.

Chris Riggott - 7 - Was having a good game, unlucky to pick up the injury.

Gary O'Neil - 8 - Took his goal very well and was involved in a lot of Boro's good play. I prefer to see him on the right and feel he offered a lot more in this position.

Julio Arca - 5 - Poor game for Julio I thought, working his way back to fitness but just wasn't involved enough and was quite wasteful with the ball.

Didier Digard - 8 - Excellent performance, possibly his best yet in a Boro shirt. Good in the tackle, decent strike at goal and passed the ball well.

Stewart Downing - 7 - Fairly quiet game for Downing but was involved in a number of quick counter attacks, good awareness to play O'Neil in for the goal.

Tuncay - 8 - Worked his socks off, created a couple of opportunities for Alves and looked very sharp. Key player for our season.

Afonso Alves - 6 - Worked hard but looked very low on confidence, seemed to want to many touches on the ball when a confident Alves would've had struck it early.

Middlesbrough Substitutes

David Wheater - 6 - Got his opportunity to get back in the team earlier than he may have expected with Riggott's injury. Did ok and added a bit more aerial ability to the back four.

Adam Johnson - 6 - Didn't get a lot of time to impose himself on the game, not an ideal time for him to be coming on whe Boro were under pressure.

Marvin Emnes -6 - Give him a 6 but was not really on long enough to rate.