Unlucky Wolves beaten by Boro

Middlesbrough 2 Wolves 0

A little bit of Brazilian magic was enough to give Middlesbrough victory today.

Juninho changed the shape of the game after coming on with 27 minutes to go at the Riverside Stadium.

He laid on the first goal in controversial circumstances then added the second to deflate Wolves.

To complete a miserable day for the visitors, Alex Rae was sent off in the final minute.

Italian striker Massimo Maccarone made his first league start for Middlesbrough today since April.

It was his reward for opening his scoring account for the season in the Carling Cup victory against Wigan in midweek.

That win came at a price with Chris Riggott suffering an ankle injury. He was replaced by Colin Cooper.

Wolves went into the game in good heart after a splendid victory against Leicester last weekend.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Ince captained the side and there was a place on the bench for Academy goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

There was a late change to the Wolves line-up with Joey Gudjonsson coming in for Colin Cameron, who was named on the teamsheet.

Henri Camara almost made the breakthrough for Wolves after three minutes when he got away from Cooper.

He tried to bend his effort around goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer but it went wide.

Gudjonsson then found space 20 yards out but sent his shot high into the crowd.

There was a scare for Wolves after 17 minutes when Bolo Zenden floated in a corner from the right.

Frank Queudrue powered a header goalwards but Lee Naylor was perfectly positioned and cleared off the line.

Wolves hit back and Gudjonsson was not lacking confidence in trying shots from distance.

But again his finish didn’t match his ambition in the 23rd minute when he was way off target.

Ince and Alex Rae were bossing the midfield with Gaizka Mendieta and Doriva struggling to make an impact.

Gareth Southgate then moved upfield for Middlesbrough to offer some support.

He found space down the left but only succeeded in sending a cross over the bar.

Mendieta’s frustration spilled over a minute before the break and he was given a yellow card by referee Steve Dunn for kicking out at Rae.

Zenden almost made the breakthrough on the stroke of half time with a shot across the face of the goal.

Then in stoppage time he tested goalkeeper Michael Oakes with a powerful drive.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren decided to change things around up front at the start of the second half.

He brought on Malcolm Christie for the ineffective Nemeth in an effort to get a cutting edge.

Zenden was looking their best option for a goal and the winger, on loan from Chelsea, drove a 20-yard free-kick into the arms of Oakes after 48 minutes.

Wolves continued to press forward and Paul Butler got on the end of Naylor’s free kick to find Steffen Iversen.

He rattled in a shot that cannoned off Queudrue and away to safety.

Mendieta slipped his marker on the hour to get on the end of Queudrue’s long throw only to head high over the bar.

However Wolves were looking dangerous on the break and Camara tested Schwarzer following a teasing cross from Naylor.

Juninho was eventually drafted into the action after 63 minutes to the delight of the home supporters.

George Boateng was then left in a heap on the floor after a scything challenge by Ince, who has lost little of his aggression.

Boateng, who has taken a knock earlier in the game, hobbled to the touchline in a bit of distress.

Middlesbrough made the breakthrough after 73 minutes when Mendieta scored his first goal in the top flight.

While Mills barged into Naylor, Juninho played a short free-kick to Mendieta.

He rattled an unstoppable shot beyond Oakes from 30 yards to prompt a brief scuffle between rival players.

Juninho added a second in the 84th minute, knocking the ball home from close range following a perfect delivery from Zenden.

Former Sunderland midfielder Rae was sent off with a minute to go after picking up his second yellow card for a challenge on Cooper.