Middlesbrough - 3 Manchester City - 2: Too many managers have been forced to make excuses for Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler in recent seasons but, on form, both strikers can justify the hype surrounding Premiership football. While Viduka's two goals intensified Boro's challenge for a Champions League place, Fowler reminded everyone he is not a lost cause after all.

One intriguing sub-plots involved Stewart Downing and Danny Mills. How would the vaunted Boro left-winger cope with the intimidating City right back, who spent last season here on loan? The early indications were encouraging.

With Bolo Zenden encouraging the 20-year-old to maintain pressure on Mills, Downing created Boro's opener for Viduka. Zenden received a short pass from the winger which he tapped out to Michael Reiziger, leaving Downing to accelerate for the return. He cut in to deliver a measured pass for Viduka. Richard Dunne was caught flat-footed and Viduka lifted the ball over the prone David James and Stephen Jordan who had collided. It was Viduka's first goal for almost three months and there was another to come, as there was for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, whose drought stretched to two months.

Fowler impressed with incisive passes and intelligent runs and the newly slimline striker deserved his equaliser. It arrived courtesy of Sylvain Distin's long ball and Jon Macken's headed flick. Fowler's perfect timing into the box enabled him to hit a half-volley beyond Mark Schwarzer.

McClaren readjusted his midfield at the break, replacing Szilard Nemeth with Doriva. It served to galvanise Boro as Viduka scored his second. Swivelling on to a throw-in, he exchanged passes with Hasselbaink before curling a shot past James. Hasselbaink followed with a 25-yard free-kick, awarded for Dunne's foul on the scorer.

There was time for the substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips to hook home a shot.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, McMahon, Southgate, Cooper, Reiziger, Nemeth (Doriva 45), Parlour, Zenden, Downing, Viduka, Hasselbaink (Bates 90). Subs Not Used: Nash, Job, Davies. Goals: Viduka 9, 54, Hasselbaink 65.

MANCHESTER CITY: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, Barton, Sibierski (Flood 76), Macken (Bradley Wright-Phillips 76), Fowler. Subs Not Used: Sommeil, Onuoha, Waterreus. Booked: Barton, Mills, Jordan. Goals: Fowler 39, Bradley Wright-Phillips 80.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).