IT was billed as an opportunity to further their promotion ambitions, but it ended up being an exhibition of the failings that could ultimately deprive Middlesbrough of a return to the Premier League.

West Ham had a handful of decent opportunities all evening, but took two thanks to an eighth-minute header from Frederic Piquionne and a stoppage-time strike from Carlton Cole. Boro carved out a succession of openings and half-chances, but failed to test Robert Green through a lack of composure and incision.

The result was a first home defeat since February, and while it would be harsh to be too critical on a side that remain in fourth position in the table, it is hard not to feel that a lack of fire-power could ultimately prevent Boro claiming an automatic promotion place come the end of the season.

In fairness, Tony Mowbray knows as much, and although money will be tight in the January transfer window, his attempts to add to his strike force could well determine how strongly the Teessiders finish the campaign.

Boro have now failed to score in six league matches this season, and while the absence of Barry Robson last night hardly helped their efforts, improvement in the final third is required.

Having lost to both West Ham and Southampton in the last month, Middlesbrough now know the standards they must attain if they are to muscle their way into the top two in the final five months of the season.

Last night's reverse, which came in front of their biggest home crowd of the season, was their first defeat in five matches, but perhaps it is telling that they have only beaten one side in the current top nine.

West Ham started the season as the favourites for the Championship title, and while Sam Allardyce's side took a few weeks to acclimatise to life outside the Premier League, they certainly seem to have the hang of things now.

They went into last night's game on the back of a six-match unbeaten run, and were ahead inside the opening nine minutes thanks a slick counter-attacking move that caught Middlesbrough cold.

Mark Noble swept the ball to Matt Taylor on the left-hand side, and after the former Portsmouth winger delivered a teasing centre, Piquionne rose above Stephen McManus to head home.

Noble, Taylor, Piquionne – all players with proven Premier League experience, all helping to explain why West Ham are proving so effective at this level.

Boro have former top-flight players of their own of course, but Mowbray cannot call on the depth of talent available to Allardyce. Piquionne replaced England international Cole in the starting line-up last night, whereas Mowbray would have been forced to resort to the untried Alex Nimely and Bart Ogbeche had Marvin Emnes and Scott McDonald not overcome minor problems to take their place in the side.

McDonald has rediscovered his shooting boots in recent weeks, scoring three goals in Boro's previous two home games, but the Australian squandered a glorious opportunity to restore parity just five minutes after West Ham claimed the lead.

Rhys Williams' exquisite through ball sent him galloping clear, but he hammered his shot straight at former England goalkeeper Robert Green.

Given his failings in front of goal in so many games this season, it was tempting to assume that normal service had been resumed, although McDonald at least deserves credit for the tenacious run that ended with Green saving well in the 32nd minute.

Boro actually created a steady stream of opportunities before the break, but they lacked the composure required to truly test Green.

Faris Haroun angled a low strike too close to the Hammers goalkeeper following a well-judged cross from Emnes, while Merouane Zemmama saw his 43rd-minute shot deflect narrowly wide of the upright after a decent run.

The hosts initially dominated midfield though, with the imposing Papa Bouba Diop unable to prevent both Williams and Nicky Bailey prompting effectively from the central third.

West Ham's threat was largely restricted to the counter-attack, although Piquionne's ability to hold the ball up under pressure meant their midfielders were always an attacking influence.

Diop drilled a long-range strike wide in the early stages of the second half, before Noble wasted a decent opening by attempting one turn too many when an early strike might have troubled Jason Steele.

Steele was a relieved spectator again shortly before the hour mark, with Diop skewing wide from an acute angle despite former Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan screaming for the ball less than ten yards out.

Boro never really got going in the second half, and while Williams failed to find the target with a header from a corner, opportunities after the break were at more of a premium than they had been before it.

The late introduction of Ogbeche and Nimely did little to address the Teessiders' lack of a cutting edge, and West Ham would have doubled their lead with seven minutes left had Noble not blazed over the crossbar when the ball dropped invitingly for him on the edge of the penalty area.

As it was, Cole applied the coup de grace in stoppage time, taking advantage of a slip from Matthew Bates to dispossess the Boro defender and slot the ball past Steele.