Boro are introduced to another Samba star

OVER the last ten years Middlesbrough fans have become familiar with Brazilians. Now they know all about another, after a depressing afternoon at the City of Manchester Stadium for the men from Teesside.

For a club that once had the privilege of watching the creative talent of Juninho, as well as introducing the likes of Emerson and Fabio Rochemback to the English game, they were completely undone by another Samba star yesterday.

After recalled defender Chris Riggott had gifted Manchester City a ninth minute lead by turning an attempted clearance into his own net, Elano turned on the style to remind the Boro faithful what it is like to have a hero from Brazil.

Two simply stunning goals from the £8m man rounded off a comfortable victory for a City side that are dreaming of a foray into the Champions League next season under former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

More worryingly for Middlesbrough, however, this was a result that has left Gareth Southgate's men staring down the barrel at a fight against relegation - despite a first goal in top-flight football for debutant Ben Hutchinson.

Southgate has his injury problems, highlighted by the fact that untried Academy product Tom Craddock, from Darlington, started this match on his own up front and 19-year-old Hutchinson finished it.

But with only wins over Fulham and Birmingham to show from nine Premier League games smacks of a team in trouble - as does the total of just eight points from a possible 27.

With two points separating Boro from the bottom three prior to kick-off there was a need to claim something from this fixture, to recapture a little of the lost confidence if nothing else.

That was always going to be difficult, given how City have started life under Eriksson, who has now claimed five successive victories on home soil.

Only Newcastle, in defeat eight days previously, had managed to break down the Light Blues' defence at Eastlands and Eriksson will have been optimistic of keeping an injury-ravaged Boro at bay.

It was a huge ask in itself to look for Craddock, making his first start at this level, to work the forward line on his own; particularly when goals have been at a minimum.

Tuncay Sanli was only deemed fit enough to play the second half while Mido, Jeremie Aliadiere and Dong-Gook Lee - struggling with a back problem and form - were all absentees.

Given the problems and a failure to score in three of their last four outings, the worst possible start for Southgate would have been to see Boro fall behind early.

City, however, had only failed to score in two of their opening ten fixtures and there was an air of expectancy from the home supporters when the ball hit the net after just nine minutes.

The delivery of Martin Petrov shaved the head of unmarked defender Richard Dunne at the near post before bouncing off Riggott and rolling to the right of Mark Schwarzer.

And with the exception of one flying Joe Hart save, from Lee Cattermole's cushioned header just after half an hour, there was no danger for the hosts.

City's forward-thinkers caused problems whenever they were in possession, Elano was playing at a different level.

He had already orchestrated one bright move when an interchange of passing with Stephen Ireland ended with Emile Mpenza striking low into the arms of Schwarzer.

And, after Dietmar Hamann curled over the bar from distance, City's composure and Middlesbrough's wastefulness proved crucial.

There were too many occasions when passes went astray from Middlesbrough at critical times and Jonathan Woodgate was penalised for one of those.

Woodgate, yet to return to the exceptional form he showed since his loan move from Real Madrid became permanent, looked to push the ball forward and George Boateng slipped.

His 25-yard pass upfield was intercepted. City capitalised with a fluid break which ended with Elano picking his spot to the right of Schwarzer after a neat back-heel from Johnson.

It was no coincidence that after the interval, and the introduction of the not fully fit Tuncay, a rise in chances came the visitors' way. Hart, however, was not to be beaten easily.

After Riggott had exceptionally blocked a volley from Ireland, Boro had two decent opportunities to reduce the arrears in the space of 60 seconds.

The first was when Luke Young worked his way into the box to meet Tuncay's pass before shooting wide. The second was when Hart denied Craddock from close range.

The introduction of Hutchinson, joint top-scorer for the reserves with the man he replaced, Craddock, was in the hope of fairing better in front of goal. Instead, though, it was at the other end when City made it three shortly after.

After Mpenza was upended by Woodgate, duly booked, Elano worked his magic again. This time a perfectly weighted free-kick found Schwarzer's top corner.

It could have been more and Schwarzer had to make a good save to deny Ireland.

There was at least personal satisfaction for Hutchinson in the last minute. The forward forced the ball over the line from close range after Tuncay's shot was parried by Hart. But by then the game and points had been lost.