Viduka and Nemeth lead Boro fightback

Middlesbrough 2 Crystal Palace 1

Boro manager Steve McClaren fielded a full-strength side in this competition once again, wary of the fact that it offers an ideal way into Europe for a third consecutive season.

It took two goals early in the second half from Mark Viduka and Szilard Nemeth to overturn Franck Queudrue’s own goal for a deserved victory.

After 31 minutes, Andy Johnson’s intricate pass down the left released Jobi McAnuff and, although he stabbed a cross into the danger area, there appeared little threat until Queudrue intervened on the edge of the six-yard box to divert into his own net.

Rochemback’s long-distance drive was spilled by Speroni moments later before being hacked clear and Viduka was denied by the goalkeeper after an exquisite pass from George Boateng offered the chance, but the hosts could not conjure an equaliser in a frustrating end to the first half.

However, the tie was turned on its head with two goals inside three minutes.

The first stemmed from a Palace error as Mikele Leigertwood’s sloppy pass found its way from Nemeth to Viduka, who advanced goalwards before unleashing a 25-yard rocket past Speroni.

Soon afterwards the roles were reversed as Viduka’s bustling in the area teed up Nemeth to give Boro a 55th-minute lead with an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

If Boro needed reminding the game was not safe, though, Morrison shot straight at Schwarzer as he lost his markers, and it was the hosts who looked more likely to score again.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Doriva, Boateng, Rochemback (Bates 78), Nemeth (Pogatetz 57), Viduka, Hasselbaink (Maccarone 62).

CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni, Boyce, Hudson, Popovic, Borrowdale, Andrews, Leigertwood, Watson, McAnuff (Black 74), Johnson (Morrison 45), Macken (Freedman 75).

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).