MALAURY MARTIN was Middlesbrough's hero of the day as Boro pulled off a remarkabl smash and grab victory at Bristol City.

Martin, on as a substitute, scored a 91st minute free-kick to steal the points in what had been a war of attrition between the two teams who are at opposite ends of the table, but equal in terms of recent form.

The hosts had the best of the early exchanges, with Neil Kilkenny's long-range shot over the bar and Nicky Maynard's low shot giving the visitors plenty to think about. But City should have been ahead on 13 minutes when Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele pawed Martyn Woolford's soft shot into the path of Maynard, whose volley was superbly repelled by the England under-21 stopper.

Joe Bennett's 36th minute cross should have produced something more, but Scott McDonald was slow to react and could only flick on for a goal-kick.

Boro were guilty of dwelling on the ball and making poor passes, and one such misplaced ball from Julio Arca on 43 minutes allowed Bristol City in, but Steele got to Cole Skuse's pass across the face of goal before a City attacker could.

After the interval, Justin Hoyte – who had recovered from taking a tumble over the advertising hoardings in the first half – curled a shot just over David James' crossbar after Boro had won a corner.

Boro provided little threat from the flanks with Bristol's full-back pairing of Cole Skuse and Ryan McGivern, but wing-back Bennett found time and space in the 58th minute to swing a perfect cross in for Faris Haroun, but the Belgian could only head over James' crossbar.

Two minutes later, James fumbled a Hoyte cross but Bristol cleared, while Emnes stroked a tame shot into the former England goalkeeper's hands on the hour-mark.

As the game became stretched, Woolford raced up the other end but dragged his shot wide, and on 62 minutes, Albert Adomah fired towards Steele who pawed clear as the game finally sparked into life.

Emnes fired wide on 72 minutes, before the game's biggest chance almost produced the first goal at the other end. Adomah, on the attack, squared for substitute Brett Pitman on 75 minutes, whose shot was on target but for Steele, who scrambled across his line to parry clear.

Boro survived an appeal for handball against Arca from Skuse's cross, as a tentative battle looked certain to peter out into stalemate.

However, substitute Martin, signed in the summer from Blackpool, stepped up and fired an unstoppable free-kick past James to seal all three points.

BRISTOL CITY (4-3-3): James; Skuse, Fontaine, Wilson, McGivern; Woolford (Bolasie 62), Cisse, Kilkenny; Adomah, Maynard, Pearson (Pitman 72). Subs: Carey, Campbell-Ryce, Gerken (gk), Pitman.

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2): Steele; McMahon, Williams (McManus 87), Bates; Hoyte, Haroun, Bailey, Arca (Martin 77), Bennett; McDonald, Emnes. Subs: Zemmama, McManus, Ogbeche, Martin, Nimely.

Att: 14,467