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FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WEST HAM UNITED: The full tim e whistle goes and 'Boro take all three points, Gareth Southgate's fourth victory as manager.
'Boro look to have held on as the keep the ball in the middle of the park.
The fourth official holds up the board and shows at least three minutes of added time.
Former Chelsea centre -back Robert Huth comes on the field to join his former team-mate Cole to replace Downing.
Middlesbrough are hanging on for victory here as the West Ham substitutes begin to make an impact.
Boateng swings in a cross which Yakubu gets on the end of but his header goes behind for a goal kick.
Collins plays the ball back to Green who has to race for the ball with Yakubu bearing down on the keeper but the ex-Norwich stopper clears well.
Tevez does well to find Sheringham in the box but the home defence do well to clear.
Yakubu shoots from 20 yards after dismissing a pass for Boateng and his shot deflects only just wide of Maccarone.
Morrison claims for a foul as he went shoulder to shoulder but play is waved on.
Sheringham mis-controls a ball after a Konchesky cross and 'Boro bring the ball away.
Benayoun comes off to be replaced by former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole.
Yakubu continues to look dangerous, playing a ball in towards Maccarone with the Italian doing well to catch the ball and keep it in, winning a corner for the home side.
Spector finds himself up front and crosses but his ball is cleared by the towerign Woodgate.
The goalscorer is booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Hammers skipper Nigel Reo-Coker.
Benayoun picks up a yellow card for his foul on Downing.
MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WEST HAM UNITED (MACCARONE): Substitute MACCARONE goes past Green and slots home from a tight angle to score a goal reminiscent of his late goals in the UEFA Cup last season.
Downing is clear through on goal and Benayoun pulls the winger back, immediately receiving a word from Halsey.
Pogatetz is called across for his part of the previous incident in the box involving both sets of players but gets away with a warning.
Downing sends in another corner only for Green to grab the ball and after a set of handbags from both sets of players referee Mark Halsey calms things down.
The fans are really getting anxious at this game and Pardew and Southgate need to act quickly.
Massimo Maccarone comes on to replace Rochemback who has failed to impress today.
Collins beats Yakubu in the air and as the ball falls Davies charges down on the ball and smashes a shot high over the bar.
Downing has an opportunity to test Robert Green but his effort smashes against the Hammers defensive wall.
The corner is taken by Etherington, whipped in towards Sheringham but the in form Pogatetz heads clear.
Tevez makes a bright start to the match, shooting from the right hand side which is blocked by Pogatetz.
Carlos Tevez is brought on to replace Marlon Harewood and the Englishman is upset at beign brought off the field after playing well.
Yakubu and Downing work well together building an attack at pace and Downing smashes a cross past Green but Cattermole can't get on the end of the ball.
Cattermole bursts down the wing and looks for that man Yakubu who flicks a ball towards Davies but the ball picks up pace as it hits the ground and the youngster can't get there.
The goalkeepers are on top in this match, reacting quickly to every attack and ball into the box which is thrown their way.
Etherington curls in another ball for his team-mates in the box but Harewood is beat to the ball once again by Schwarzer.
Sheringham holds the ball up well on the edge of the area before setting up Harewood for a volley and the striker is very unlucky to fire over the bar.
American Spector picks up a yellow for his clash with Downing.
Downing runs at the Hammers defence and is brought down by Jonothan Spector and looks hurt.
Cattermole works hard in the area to win a bouncing ball in the box and crosses back over the goal and gets unlucky with Green claiming the ball.
Yakubu takes on one player and then tries to play a ball forward but it is really awful and the work the Nigerian has put into this game mat be starting to catch up with him.
Woodgate clears his line but 'Boro have alot of players back and West Ham find themselves with the ball in their own half with no challenge from a Boro player.
Etherington races down the left hand flank and then whips in a cross for Harewood who lainches himself at it along with Schwarzer and they both miss it only for Benayoun to run the ball out of play as 'Boro get lucky.
Downing takes a free-kick from the right hand side which is headed clear only as far as Rochemback who controls and then fizzes a shot off at goal which flies just wide.
Boateng carlessly gives the ball away and Sheringham tries in vain to create an attack for West Ham.
Taylor is under pressure at the back but Boateng helps out his fellow defender.
The second half starts with West Ham appearing a few minutes after the Middlesbrough players, the home fans whistling for the visitors to appear.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 0-0 WEST HAM UNITED: The whistle blows for the break, with both managers undoubtedly wanting a word with their players.
Downing whips in a quick cross but the defence clear easily.
Yakubu breaks into the box yet again out of nothing and as he lines up a shot Daniel Gabbidon puts in a brilliant tackle to deny the strong forward.
Sheringham is furious with Harewood after the striker took too long over a pass and the attack broke down.
The travelling fans break into the first chorus of 'im forever blowing bubbles' in an attempt to rev their team up.
The games pace has really taken a dip in the late stages of this first half and both sets of supporters look as fed up as their managers.
Downing receives the ball and tries a first time cross but after failing to take a touch the ball flies out for a goal kick.
The match looks more and more likely to need a goal to click into gear as the minutes tick on with Gareth Southgate appearing very unhappy with the game at the moment.
Harerwood and Pogatetz exhange words after the Austrian defender accused the striker of throwing an elbow.
Reo-Coker has a defelcted shot fall back towards him as he follows up on his effort but Pogatetz continues to impress today and clears the danger for the home side.
The ball runs through to Green once again as 'Boro employ the long ball tactic yet again in this game.
Benayoun and Downing have a battle down the wing with the Englishman coming out on top and winning a throw in.
The referee starts with a drop ball and Yakubu very sportingly plays the ball back to Green.
George Boateng and Collins are down with the latter requiring treatment but it doesn't look serious.
'Boro break right down to the other end with Yakubu leadign the attack and a shot from Downing has to be saved by Green and as he dives, tips it out of danger fantastically. Both 'keepers on top form today at the moment.
Nigel Reo-Coker sparks into life all of a sudden and whips a cross in towards Etherington but Woodgate uses his experience and clear brilliantly.
Yakubu uses his strength to turn towards the box and gets a vicious shot off at goal, saved well by Green for a corner kick.
Rochemback is off the field receiving treatment for a cut and Middlesbrough have to work with ten men for a few minutes.
Yossi Benayoun attacks down the right but his run nis cut short only for West Ham to win the ball back and cross for Harewood but 'Boro have a man back to head clear.
Cattermole does well to cut out a cross from the left and his header finds fellow youngster Morrison to bring the ball forward.
Etherington has Harewood and Sheringham in front of him but the midfielder's ball in to the box is poor and his chip is held by Schwarzer.
Yakubu tries to find Morrison in the box but his ball is cut out, but the striker is playing really well today and looks the most likely to score today.
Konchesky heads the ball off Morrison and concedes a throw in.
Morrison cuts in from the right hand side, beating Etherington in the process and gets his shot off only for the ball to go wide of goal.
Matthew Etherington tries to find Harewood in the box but the Aussie stopper Schwarzer comes out to hold onto the cross.
Yakubu looks in after a quickly taken goalkick from Schwarzer but Green comes out brilliantly to pounce on the ball.
Morrison tries to find Cattermole in the box after the latter had made a brilliant surge forward but the ball is cut out.
Collins picks up the first card of the game for his cynical foul on Yakubu.
Yakubu breaks forward yet again and James Collins fouls the Nigerian.
Harewood has another pop at goal but his effort doesn't cause any problems for Mark Schwarzer.
Harewood hits a shot towards goal but Jonathon Woodgate does well in his first job of the afternoon, blocking the shot with his foot.
Green springs an attack from a goal kick which looks promising before Andrew Davies' challenge stops the visitors in their path.
Cattermole and Downing link up to find Yakubu who turns in the middle of the park but the forward had too much work to do by himself and West Ham collect the ball.
Marlon Harewood has to run at the 'Boro defence and Pogatetz does his job well to cut the big strikers run short.
Lee Cattermole has a chance to run at the Hammer's defence but the youngster tries too much and the ball finds its way back to Green.
Stuart Downing's swings in the corner which finds the head of Rochemback but his header goes over the top of the goal.
Paul Konchesky concedes a corner after great pressure from Morrison on the wing.
The ball falls for Rochemback but the Brazilian's effort is weak and it flies out over the bar.
Yakubu breaks the offside trap with James Morrison and the strikers ball to Morrison is good but West Ham get back to avoid an early goal.
Yakubu tries to turn in the box but the big striker loses the ball and it fall for the grateful Robert Green.
West Ham have the first shot of the day from Teddy Sheringham but his shot flies just over the bar.
Fabio Rochemback concedes a free-kick early on for a hand-ball but the referee leaves it at a talking to.
Aiyegbeni Yakubu does well down the right hand side to win a corner for the home side.
Emanuel Pogatetz plays the ball around at the back, the game starting at a leisurely pace.
The game is underway after a minutes silence which is well observed by both sets of fan's.
Middlesbrough starting XI: Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison, Cattermole, Rochemback, Boateng, Downing, Yakubu
West Ham starting XI: Green, Spector, Collins, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Sheringham, Harewood
West Ham on the other hand look to have stemmed the tide of a dissapointing start to the season with back to back victories over Blackburn and Arsenal but have only won one of 11 league games on Teeside and that was back in 1990.
Middlesbrough's Abel Xavier travels with the squad for the first time since completing his drugs ban and need somebody to step up to the plate after victory in only two out of ten games in all competitions.
Italian striker Massimo Maccarone once again emerged as a matchwinning substitute for Middlesbrough. The club's record £8million pound buy earned a reputation as a matchwinning substitute in European games last season as Middlesbrough reached the UEFA Cup final. Once again Maccarone came up trumps as Middlesbrough bounced back from successive defeat at Manchester City and Watford to earn valuable points. Maccarone had only been on the field for six minutes after his second half introduction, when he grabbed the spotlight. After going round the goalkeeper Robert Green he shot into the net from an acute angle for a fine goal. West Ham manager Alan Pardew will have been disappointed over the result after two successive wins. The Hammers played some slick football, but lacked finish and failed to trouble Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in 90 minutes. Middlesbrough were in desperate need of a win to ease fears of being sucked into the relegation battle. Manager Gareth Southgate decided on a four-five-one formation with Yakubu the lone striker. It was not an ambitious line-up for the home team, but Southgate no doubt wanted to stifle West Ham after their improved run. Following a left-wing cross by Andrew Taylor, Fabio Rochemback fired a volley wide for Middlesbrough from the edge of the penalty area after five minutes. The West Ham striker Marlon Harewood fired wide in reply for the visitors. West Ham's James Collins was booked after 16 minutes for pulling back Yakubu as the Nigeria international broke through. Middlesbrough's most dangerous attack, surprisingly, came from a long clearance by goal keeper Schwarzer that covered the length of the field. Yakubu raced into the penalty area with only Green to beat but the goalkeeper got to the ball first. West Ham supporters were in fine voice at one end of the ground but the game lacked atmosphere in the first half. Thrillers were in short supply even though the visitors were showing speed and precision in their passing. Middlesbrough midfield player Stewart Downing, who has been called up by England for the friendly against Holland this week, was responsible for the best goalscoring attempt of the first half. Downing unleashed fierce shot after 30 minutes from just inside the penalty area, but bought a fine save from Green. Middlesbrough again threatened with a long Schwarzer clearance, but Danny Gabbidon denied Ayegbeni on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant tackle. The fans were no doubt hoping for a better standard of entertainment in the second half. Jonathon Spector was booked for a foul when he brought down Downing. Harewood fired a first time shot over the bar for West Ham before he was pulled off in the 63rd minute. Substitute Carlos Tevez took over from the striker. Middlesbrough sent on substitute Maccarone for Rochemback and it proved an inspired move by manager Gareth Southgate. Maccarone boosted Boro with a fine individual goal. The home team began to play with much more confidence and introduced their best spell of the game in the closing stages. Middlesbrough pulled off Downing in the 90th minute and sent on Germany international Robert Huth to bolster the defence. The former Chelsea defender was hardly needed because West Ham failed to produce the finishing power to save the game.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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