Toffees record comfortable win at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 0 Everton 2

Two fine goals from Andrew Johnson and James McFadden proved the difference in Everton’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside which kept the Toffees’ European ambitions on track.

Boro had the best of the play for much of the match but were too often let down by a lack of composure in the final third with England winger Stewart Downing particularly culpable.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard’s inspiring stop from Gary O’Neil set the tone for the visitors’ victory, with Johnson and McFadden each taking full advantage to record their fifth goals of the season.

The opening stages were scrappy with the driving rain helping neither side find a foothold.

Johnson was booked after just three minutes for an indiscreet challenge but Ayegbeni Yakubu – roundly booed with every touch on his first return to the ground since leaving to join David Moyes’ side – escaped the same fate despite a reckless lunge at Luke Young.

The hosts had a fine chance after eight minutes with Dong Gook Lee breaking into the Everton box but Howard’s sliding stop saw the ball drop to Downing 20 yards out but with the goalkeeper out of position he failed to get away a shot away in time and his eventual attempt was tame.

There were niggling fouls at both ends of the pitch as each side scrambled to assert themselves but there was precious little quality.

For Everton’s part, the absence of the cultured Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta in midfield.

Downing showed signs of life down the left for Boro but his final ball was consistently poor.

McFadden, meanwhile, attempted another of his now-trademark long-range efforts but had to settle for a corner as his scuffed drive took a deflection and trickled past the post.

Arca, named Boro captain in place of regular skipper George Boateng, then gave the ball away with the sloppiest of passes only to be bailed out by Fabio Rochemback and Tuncay Sanli.

After 29 minutes a flash of inspiration from Rochemback nearly broke the stalemate.

He feigned to cross from the right but instead lifted the ball delicately into the path of the overlapping Young.

The full-back’s flighted centre found Downing at the far post and his side-footed volley looked to be going in before what seemed to be the slightest touch from Phil Jagielka on the line.

Tuncay, largely quiet despite going into the match with four goals in his last six games, then produced his own party-trick, sending the defence the wrong way with an impudent back-heel.

Again Downing was on the end but his cross was dealt with easily.

The second half was less than a minute old when Tuncay was presented with the best chance yet.

O’Neil bullied his way into the penalty area, holding off two challenges before playing the ball hard into the six-yard box.

The Turkey striker was in the right place but could not react quickly enough and the ball merely cannoned off his leg leaving Howard with a simple save.

There were warnings too from Everton.

First a neat back-heel from Steven Pienaar presented Yakubu with his first shooting chance – one that he spurned with a wild shot over the crossbar – and then a flighted free-kick from deep was punched clumsily by Mark Schwarzer to concede a corner.

It was left to Howard to produce a piece of goalkeeping that was memorable for all the right reasons.

After good vision from Arca, the American charged to the near post but was beaten by the advancing Tuncay.

His shot was headed clear by Joleon Lescott but when O’Neil lined up the rebound from eight yards the goalkeeper was still some distance away and it took a brilliant, instinctive save to keep the ball out.

Johnson took full advantage after 66 minutes.

Pienaar did well to bring down a curling pass into the box and release the England striker to his right.

Johnson peeled away from Robert Huth and dragged a powerful shot low across Schwarzer and into the bottom-left corner.

Boro were nearly caught by a sucker-punch four minutes later, Lee Carsley curling his shot narrowly wide as they committed too many men to attack.

And, sure enough, it was 2-0 soon afterwards.

With 18 minutes left McFadden and the revitalised Johnson broke at pace, sharing a measured one-two in the penalty box to free the Scotland international.

He showed some silky close control as he ghosted into the danger area and stroked home with his left foot, keeping his side well on course for the UEFA Cup in the process.