Middlesbrough 1 Everton 0

With a vastly improved attacking display Boro deserved their first win.

Middlesbrough could have held a two-goal interval lead but nerves were stretched in the second half as Everton fought hard to pull the game round.

Despite only one goal, however, there was plenty of action and thrills for the 28,113 crowd.

McClaren dropped crowd favourite Juninho and switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

Within six minutes Middlesbrough were ahead. Joseph-Desire Job began the move and finished it off when he bundled the ball home from close range after Malcolm Christie had swung in an inviting cross.

Everton struggled to put their game together in the first half and Boro were clearly the better side before the break.

In the 39th minute there was a controversial incident when Franck Queudrue's header from Boudewijn Zenden's corner appeared to bounce over the line.

Referee Alan Wiley thought otherwise to become the most unpopular person on the ground in the eyes of Middlesbrough fans.

Wayne Rooney, the wonder boy of English football, had an ineffective game overall. Just before the break he mis-hit a shot when well-placed in front of goal.

Inevitably, Everton piled on pressure after the break and Boro's defence was put under fierce pressure.

Everton introduced veteran Duncan Ferguson into the action but Middlesbrough earned three valuable points in a tense finale.

Tempers boiled over in the closing minutes and there was an angry touchline flare up between McClaren and Everton manager David Moyes.

McClaren, who had spent an agitated afternoon on the touchline, protested that Everton had not adhered to the unwritten fair play code after Boro had thrown the ball out following an injury to an Everton player.

Moyes must have been disappointed with the ineffective first-half showing from his side although there was more spirit and aggression after the break.

The Boro boss must have been mightily relieved especially after one of his substitutes, Szilard Nemeth, had made a crucial goal-line clearance from a Ferguson header in the closing minutes.
Team: Schwarzer, Mills, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Zenden, Boateng, Greening (Ricketts 76), Doriva, Job (Riggott 81), Christie (Nemeth 84)
Subs Not Used: Nash (g), Juninho
Middlesbrough
Goals: Job, J 6
Bookings: Mills, D 27; Greening, J 29
Everton
No goalscorers
Bookings: Watson, S 13; Rooney, W 19; Kilbane, K 52