Middlesbrough striker Szilard Nemeth gave the newly-crowned League Cup winners a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premiership tonight.
The Slovakian struck after 73 minutes as he evaded defender Dean Richards and took the ball around goalkeeper Kasey Keller before slotting home at the Riverside Stadium.
Nemeth's goal spared the blushes of Massimo Maccarone whose penalty kick on the hour was palmed around the post by Keller after Richards was adjudged to have brought down Joseph Job.
Spurs, who had come close through Jermain Defoe and Darren Anderton in the first half, saw Robbie Keane appear to be held back in the penalty box by Ugo Ehiogu in injury time but referee Mark Halsey saw no foul.
The victory brought Middlesbrough level on 34 points with Tottenham and Bolton Wanderers, who they beat in the League Cup final, as they moved up two places to 11th. Spurs stayed 10th.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
