FA Premiership / Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 0: Just when it seemed Teesside's party would fall flat, Szilard Nemeth, Bryan Robson's last signing for Middlesbrough and a player who did not even make the bench in Cardiff against Bolton, came off Boro's last night to score the goal that lifted Middlesbrough three places and above Tottenham into the Premiership's top 10.
Displaying the sort of composure sadly missing in a most average match, Nemeth arrived in the 68th minute and five minutes later held off Dean Richards with too much ease to round Kasey Keller and earn Boro all the points.
Some 14 minutes earlier Keller had saved a penalty taken by another Boro substitute, the underachiever that is Massimo Maccarone.
This was Boro's first home game since winning the Carling Cup and the Riverside fans were dressed in loud enthusiasm as well as flags.
Steve McClaren, however, had banished further talk of that historic silverware and with Middlesbrough seeking only their second league win at home since November 1st, his caution was well founded.
Tottenham, though, had only two away wins this season and had conceded four goals in their last game, at home to Leicester, and 13 in total in their last four. So Boro lived in hope.
After an opening half-hour of misplaced passes and midfield scrapping we finally had excitement. Darren Anderton was the provider with a sweetly hit volley from the Middlesbrough D that Mark Schwarzer was at full stretch to tip over.
Buoyed by that effort, Tottenham opened up a little. Robbie Keane broke the offside trap at last when sent free by Stephen Carr, and Michael Brown and Johnnie Jackson began to see some possession. There was more movement from Tottenham now and the mild boos that greeted half-time were mostly for Middlesbrough.
McClaren responded by whipping off Andrew Davies and Doriva and introducing Stuart Parnaby and Maccarone. Along with what was presumably a tongue-lashing, this worked.
Just two minutes into the second half and Keller had to make his first telling save of the night, from Juninho.
The visitors countered with efforts from Brown and Mauricio Taricco as the match finally attained some rhythm.
But apparently not enough for referee Halsey. When Gaizka Mendieta put Job through near the hour mark, Dean Richards slid in and made a clean tackle on the Boro striker.
Richards won the ball and took the man - in that order - but Halsey thought otherwise. Up stepped Maccarone, strangely, to guide a predictably weak penalty kick low to Keller's right. Keller made a comfortable save and the breakthrough arrived presently.
Guardian Service
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer; Davies (Parnaby 45), Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Mendieta, Boateng, Doriva (Maccarone 45), Zenden, Juninho Paulista, Job (Nemeth 68).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Riggott. Goals: Nemeth 73.
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Gardner, Richards, Taricco, Anderton (Postiga 86), Brown (Poyet 80), King, Jackson (Dalmat 64), Keane, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Burch, Doherty. Booked: Brown, Carr.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
