After 13 eventful and largely successful months, Manchester City's fans brought Stuart Pearce's honeymoon period as manager to an abrupt halt in today's defeat against Middlesbrough at Eastlands.

An hour into a fourth Premiership reverse on the trot, Pearce opted to introduce Kiki Musampa for Stephen Ireland and found the move greeted with widespread booing.

The spontaneous outburst was more to do with Pearce's failure to remove hapless Antoine Sibierski from the fray than any massive overview of the former England captain's managerial skills. Most Blues fans recognise the progress that has been made under Pearce.

But the brutal fact remains that City are now likely to end this season in a lower position than they were when Kevin Keegan departed last March - and while securing top-flight status for a fifth successive season does represent some cause for celebration, expectations around the club are again not being matched by achievement.

Lee Cattermole's first Middlesbrough goal proved decisive on this occasion.

The youngster won the match win a fine header three minutes before the break. But had it not been for a string of fine saves from David James, the margin of defeat could have been far greater.

James twice denied Cattermole - while James Morrison and Fabio Rochemback were also thwarted by the England goalkeeper.

In fact, only James and young defender Micah Richards emerged with any credit among the home players as Boro ended any lingering fears of getting dragged back into the relegation scrap.