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 Barclays 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.

Relegation

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.

City's recent dismal run had all but extinguished any lingering hopes of securing a UEFA Cup place next term, while Boro boss Steve McClaren made six changes in an attempt to maintain some semblance of motivation for a team whose attentions are deflected by two cup competitions.

There was also a slippery, sodden surface to consider - and Boro's loss of Franck Queudrue after only eight minutes. But how the game could have done with the talents of Shaun Wright-Phillips, who watched his old club from the stands - his own abilities so under-used by Chelsea this term.

Trevor Sinclair bundled one near-post effort wide, while Albert Riera was off target with a free-kick and a 20-yard snap-shot. But apart from that, nothing was more entertaining than the bare-chested contingent among the Boro support who bounced about vigorously - apparently totally oblivious to the non-action going on in front of them.

All that changed three minutes before the break when Stewart Downing, still looking to press his claims for an England World Cup spot, found a yard of space by the left touchline and picked out Cattermole with a superb cross.

The 18-year-old got between Richards and Ben Thatcher and expertly floated his header beyond James.

Rebound

It was a fine way for the youngster to open his Boro account and suggested there will be many more to come for the Stockton-born player.

Unfortunately for Cattermole, though, his second did not arrive 10 minutes after the re-start as it should have done.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu provided the opportunity with a slide-rule pass which sent his strike partner running clear into the box. But James saved his first effort, then kept out a second after the rebound had gone straight back to the Boro man.

Handed the responsibility of leading the visitors' attack in the absence of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka, Yakubu was carrying the fight manfully.

The Nigerian was pressurised into scooping one effort over by Danny Mills and then was unfortunate to see his shot roll wide of the far post after he had cut in off the left flank and beaten both Mills and Richards.

James Morrison was also starting to threaten the home defence, and James' instant reaction after producing a fine stop to deny the 19-year-old was to launch a volley of abuse at his defenders who had presented the Boro man with far too much room.

James also turned away a Rochemback free-kick which was heading inside the near post. But in the end, the visitors did not need a second goal as City meekly surrendered.

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