IF anyone is still in any doubt about who is the star of the show at Middlesbrough these days, they can't have seen Saturday's Riverside matinee.

While manager Bryan Robson kept the lowest possible profile, watching the entire game from the relative seclusion of the directors' box, the man who is now effectively doing his job for him was centre stage on the touchline.

Terry Venables, in his first game in charge as Boro's head coach, was clearly determined to allay any lingering suspicions that he is only here to enjoy the benefits of a six-month contract reputedly worth up to £1m.

In his match programme column, on pages once filled by the words of Robson, Venables took the opportunity to rubbish wide-of-the-mark reports that he had flown straight back to London after Boro's defeat at Sunderland a week earlier.

Under the headline "I'm 100 per cent Boro'', Venables labelled claims that he literally took flight as "pure invention'' and stressed: "The fact is, I have been with my wife at a hotel in the Teesside area all week. I want to assure Boro supporters I am fully committed to the cause at the Riverside.''

After prowling the cinder track with intent for virtually the whole of the second half of this encounter with his former club, no-one could suspect otherwise.

Showman Venables was back in the football limelight, lapping up the attention, and his animated, stand-up routine was easily as entertaining as the match itself.

Neither side really impressed, but in the context of Boro's recent form and results - they had lost nine and drawn one of their previous ten games in League and Cup - this represented a massive improvement.

With 11 players unavailable - four through suspension - Venables applied all of his renowned coaching nous to turn a makeshift side into a cohesive unit.

At long last, Boro passed the ball with fluency and freedom and displayed considerably more confidence and conviction.

They also played with a greater degree of width, something Robson has consistently resisted.

The ploy was as far removed from Boro's usual game as Robson was from the action.

Having opted for the sanctuary of the main stand, the manager didn't even qualify for a mention among the football staff listed on the official team sheet, a copy of which was pinned to the pressroom wall.

It read: Terry Venables - coach; Viv Anderson - assistant manager; Gordon McQueen - coach; Bob Ward - physio; Alex Smith - kit man; Dave French - masseur.

The omission of the manager only served to confirm the impression that Robson, who has done so much for Boro in his six-and-a-half years at the club, is now merely performing a peripheral role.

Venables' ideas are at the hub of Boro's rescue plan and this precious victory lifted them off the foot of the Premiership table, offering real hope that a catastrophe can be avoided.

The win, Boro's first at home in the League in the near-nine months and 12 games since they beat Sheffield Wednesday by the same scoreline, came about after an inspired switch by Venables.

Aussie midfielder Paul Okon, making his first appearance for almost four months and only his third senior Boro start after suffering a broken foot, was replaced in the 67th minute following an impressive comeback which left the free-transfer signing from Fiorentina in a state of exhaustion.

Dean Gordon, who has experienced more than his own fair share of injury troubles, was introduced and within four minutes grabbed his first goal of the season.

It was fitting that Noel Whelan, who denied Gordon a goal in Boro's 2-1 defeat at Ipswich in October when he deflected in the left-back's strike and claimed it for himself, should provide the assist on this occasion.

Whelan played a square ball and Gordon connected with a first-time left-footed drive from the edge of the area which enjoyed an altogether kinder ricochet off Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot and looped beyond giant goalkeeper Ed de Goey.

The delight around the Riverside was unrestrained, but all at Boro know that the hard work which Venables preaches has only just begun.

"It's a really hard challenge here,'' admitted the former England coach. "I've been pleased with the week's work. We've been having one long training session each day.

"You don't want to do too much, otherwise it's not going to stick in the players' minds.

"You've just got to hope that everyone gets another ten-15 per cent more in their game and that it amounts to good teamwork.

"You have to work hard. When you look at talented players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, it's outrageous that they work so hard.

"They don't say: 'We're skilful, so we don't have to do all of that sweaty stuff'.''

With the work ethic at the heart of their game, Boro were deserving of the long-overdue slice of luck which came via the goal.

"We had a bit of good fortune with the goal,'' conceded Venables. "We know Chelsea are a good side who can pass and give you problems, and I thought our back players looked excellent against them.

"They've had their first clean sheet this season and they're well pleased with that.''

When it comes to clean sheets or team sheets, El Tel is now top of the Boro bill