SOMETIMES in life you are the statue and sometimes the pigeon. Last night Stuart Pearce and his men stood tall and proud.

After eight days in which chairman, fans and players quite fittingly got themselves in a right old flap over the sad surrender at the JJB Stadium, self-respect was restored in this fifth Premiership home game in succession without defeat - the first time the Blues have managed that particular feat since they concluded a handful of successive draws in their first season after moving from Maine Road.

On a night for firsts, the three points also represented the only ever win over bogey team Boro since the old First Division underwent its glossy, multi-million pound facelift.

Pearce had spent much of his public time before the visit of his pal Gareth Southgate praising his players for their attitude in training since the 4-0 drubbing at Wigan that unsurprisingly brought a hefty amount of venom cascading onto their heads not least from the man who sanctions the wage bill - John Wardle.

Changes were necessary after the disaster at Wigan.

Out went left back Stephen Jordan in favour of Ben Thatcher who returned with a competent effort after an eight-match ban imposed for a forearm smash that sent Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes to hospital - though thankfully, judging by the weekend's evidence didn't diminish the Portuguese's ability to score spectacular goals. In, too, came Paul Dickov, DaMarcus Beasley and his fellow American World Cup star Claudio Reyna while Sylvain Distin returned after recovering from the hamstring that forced him to miss Wigan.

Fortunate

Others can consider themselves fortunate that manager Pearce was only in the mood for largely cosmetic rather than drastic major surgery though Didi Hamann and Bernardo Corradi could not have too much cause to complain about being benched.

Now Pearce has more fit players at his disposal it is to be fervently hoped the message might at last sink in that those in possession of the shirts need to consistently step up their contributions in order to avoid the axe.

Where they were uninterested and disconnected at the JJB, this was altogether more impressive against a Boro side that had won its last two matches but like City finds it hard once the bags are packed and loaded into the team coach for an away trip.

All most fans require of their players - and its not much to ask at today's prices - is that they look as if they are willing to run through brick walls for the cause.

All 11 did that last night and it led to the forgiving of many sins.

The past week has been one in the words of Rudyard Kipling when Pearce has had to keep his head when all about him were losing theirs, one in which he has continued to trust himself when others doubted, and met footballing triumph and disaster and treated the two impostors just the same.

Atmosphere

This `triumph' was built on nothing more flashy or clever than solid, honest-to-goodness hard work and was appreciated wholeheartedly by supporters who made it clear that they are backing the boss in what was a almost a cup tie atmosphere.

It was the recalled Dickov who got the pulses racing early on with some typically feisty tackles and a terrific 21st minute effort in which he won the race to the edge of the box for a through ball with keeper Mark Schwarzer but then poked his shot wide taking a clattering from the big Aussie in the process.

As if taking a cue from the pugnacious Scot, Georgios Samaras then burst through the middle to win a corner and the relief was tangible when Joey Barton's delivery landed firmly on the head of skipper Richard Dunne who bulged the opposition net as easily and with as much aplomb as he had his own at Wigan.

It was Dunne who had led the rallying cry before the contest and it his header was the perfect way to let actions speak louder than words.

City were completely dominant in all areas of the pitch and had a decent shout for a penalty in the opening two minutes of the second half when Reyna's shot cannoned in to the diving Robert Huth on the edge of the box. It was a decision that supremely fussy Howard Webb got correct.

Despite the endeavour of both sides an a rash of second half yellow cards - five in eight minutes and six in all - scoring chances were few and far between with neither goalkeeper called upon to make a serious save although Boro substitute Massimo Maccarone nearly brought the sides level.

It was never more than riveting entertainment for the new stadium's lowest ever league crowd - approaching 37,000 - and their joy was unconfined as the Blues sailed into the less choppy waters of mid-table with their battered reputation repaired.

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