Gianluca Festa's goal condemned Everton to their fifth successive defeat yesterday and left manager Walter Smith facing even more questions about his future at Goodison Park.

The talk on Merseyside was of Smith's inevitable exit if they lost yesterday and at Stoke City in the FA Cup on Saturday, but he continued to dismiss rumours about his job security as "speculation".

"As a manager you always remain optimistic," he said. "Other teams sitting in the middle area of the league have had similar runs, although perhaps they've not lost five in a row. The middle of the table is very tight and we've been in the top half for most of the season. Only our recent run has taken us out of it."

It is also a run which could take Smith out of Everton, because this particular speculation is likely to have substance if they lose to the Second Division club in the third round.

However, he can consider himself unfortunate that the pressure was not eased considerably yesterday as his patched-up team threatened to add to Steve McClaren's own anxieties at Middlesbrough, who are still a point behind Everton after playing one game fewer.

An injury list of such length that the defender David Unsworth had to play in midfield did not prevent Everton controlling the first half, when they struck the bar through Duncan Ferguson and forced Mark Crossley to make three excellent saves. Crossley held on to two headers from Alan Stubbs and Ferguson and competed bravely and successfully with Danny Cadamarteri for a through-ball outside the area.

But Festa's 50th-minute goal, which came after three enforced Everton substitutions, finally eroded the visitors' composure and confidence. Seconds after Steve Watson became the third Everton player forced out of action, the defensive colleagues he had left behind failed to clear a corner from Carlos Marinelli.

The ball eventually bounced obligingly on the six-yard line for Festa, who hammered it high into the net. It was Middlesbrough's first chance of the game and effectively settled it.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Crossley, Festa, Southgate, Queudrue (Stamp 63), Stockdale, Mustoe, Ince, Greening (Gavin 45), Marinelli (Boksic 82), Ricard, Whelan. Subs Not Used: Nemeth, Beresford. Booked: Gavin. Goals: Festa 50.

EVERTON: Simonsen, Watson (Hibbert 50), Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Xavier, Alexandersson (Blomqvist 45), Naysmith, Gemmill, Ferguson,Cadamarteri (Moore 38). Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Tal. Booked: Ferguson, Stubbs.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).