A first half strike from James Vaughan brought an end to Middlesbrough's six game unbeaten run in south London.The on loan Everton frontman struck in the 36th minute to give Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman his first win since taking charge and the club's first since January 3. The victory was harsh on the visitors who were largely on top throughout the contest but only have themselves to blame for not converting one of several early chances. And while it will be disappointing Boro could not put some more distance between themselves and the fourth from bottom side, the travelling fans could take comfort in the fact the bottom three all lost, while Portsmouth drew, the side directly below them. Middlesbrough dominated the possession from the referee's whistle and looked set to carry on their recent good Championship form. A scuffed header from Leroy Lita from Tony McMahon's deep cross; a Julio Arca rasper which rattled Julian Speroni's up right and a Kris Boyd shot that whistled over the bar, all in the first half hour, suggested it would be only a matter of time before the visitors opened their account. But despite Tony Mowbray's side suffering an injury blow to skipper Matthew Bates, with Jonathan Grounds replacing him, Boro where still in control. Soon after Lita missed the best chance of the match when Jonathan Franks set him racing away on goal, only for the Boro striker to toe poke wide when baring down on goal. And at this stage the best the hosts offered at this stage was a cross by Dean Moxey which zipped across the Boro six yard box. But while the Eagles were very much second best they found a bit of good fortune nine minutes before the break to open the scoring against the run of play. Seb Hines misjudged a through ball initially before Vaughan raced on to it and struck a wicked deflection off Grounds which spun past Jason Steele. Jermaine Easter forced Steele into an early save a minute after the break while Lita scuffed yet another effort at Speroni moments later. Boro had to thank their goalkeeper just before the hour following a stunning block from Darren Ambrose before Grounds cleared to safety. Mowbray threw on Scott McDonald with half and hour to go for the once again, the impotent Boyd, but the Teessiders were struggling to open up the Eagles' back four in the way they did in the first half. Boro forced a series of corners late into the second half but could not find a way through the Palace back four who displayed more steely resolve than they did in the opening 45 minutes. Boro: Steele, McMahon, Bates (Grounds 23), Hines, Bennett, Franks (Park 46), Bailey, Arca, A Taylor, Boyd (McDonald 60), Lita, Subs: Ripley, Haas, Smallwood, Halliday Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Gardner, McCarthy, Wright, Parsons, Ambrose (Scannell 62), Marrow, Zaha, Vaughan (Iversen 79), Easter (Counago 70) Subs not used: Price, Davis, Garvan, Barrett
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo