Middlesborough 3, Southampton 1

MIDDLESBROUGH completed a seasonal double over Saints at the Riverside yesterday, sending the visitors down to 11th in the Premiership.

The visitors' plans were hit before the kick-off as Graeme Le Saux, due to replace Jason Dodd, was ruled out by sickness so Stephen Crainey was given his third start for Saints.

The home side took the lead on 23 minutes as Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth combined for Juninho to score.

Saints' Kevin Phillips had a shot cleared off the line before Middlesborough went 2-0 up. Maccarone forced his way into the box and Antti Niemi came out to save but the rebound fell to Nemeth, who slotted into an empty net.

The game as a contest was ended four minutes after the break when Franck Queudrue found Maccarone to score the third home goal.

The visitors pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when James Beattie scored with a volley through a crowd of players from 18 yards out.