Middlesbrough 3 Southampton 1: Middlesbrough's collective self belief is beginning to rub off on Massimo Maccarone. The Italian striker scored his third goal in five games yesterday in this comfortable victory.

Maccarone has struggled to adapt after moving from Empoli but there are signs he may yet prove to be value for money as he is growing in confidence.

Middlesbrough made the breakthrough after 23 minutes when Juninho scored his ninth goal of the season. He nipped in at the near post after Szilard Nemeth had cleverly cut the ball back into his path.

The home side extended their lead in the 31st minute when Gaizka Mendieta unlocked the Saints defence for Nemeth to fire home.

Southampton's defensive shortcomings were again exposed in the 49th minute when Middlesbrough went 3-0 ahead through Maccarone.

Southampton, however, pulled a goal back in the 69th when James Beattie took advantage of a weak punch by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to volley the ball home.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Queudrue, Mills, Ehiogu, Cooper, Mendieta (Greening 86), Boateng, Zenden, Juninho Paulista (Ricketts 89), Nemeth (Downing 82), Maccarone. Subs Not Used: Jones, Bates. Goals: Juninho Paulista 23, Nemeth 31, Maccarone 49.

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Crainey, Prutton, Delap (Anders Svensson 81), Folly, Fernandes (Pahars 56), Phillips, Beattie. Subs Not Used: Smith, Hall, Ormerod. Goal: Beattie 69.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).