MIDDLESBROUGH tumbled to within a point of the relegation zone as they lost their crucial basement battle with Crystal Palace.

Patrick van Aanholt’s first-half strike proved decisive, and extended Boro’s winless run in the league to an alarming nine games.

The Teessiders were on the back foot for most of the first half, and while they improved after the interval and created a number of half-chances, they never really looked like getting back on level terms.

Wayne Hennessey made a decent save to deny Cristhian Stuani, but the Palace goalkeeper was never seriously tested as Boro drew a blank for the third league game in a row.

Aitor Karanka’s side are now only a point clear of the drop zone, with Palace having clambered out of the bottom three as a result of their success.

With Calum Chambers and George Friend both unavailable because of injury, Karanka was forced into a defensive reshuffle that saw him revert to a five-man defence.

Daniel Ayala played alongside Ben Gibson and Bernardo Espinosa at the heart of the backline, but while the visitors were solid enough in the early stages, they were powerless to prevent Palace gradually gaining the upper hand in the first half.

With Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend eager to run with the ball at their feet, and Christian Benteke offering a muscular presence in the penalty area, Palace betrayed little of the nervousness that might have been expected of a side that had conceded four goals to Sunderland in their last home game.

Benteke threatened in the 13th minute, but could not direct his header away from Victor Valdes as he met van Aanholt’s left-wing cross eight yards out. The Belgian striker went close again shortly after, but failed to find the target as he met Joel Ward’s cross under pressure from Ayala.

Boro produced their best attacking move midway through the opening period, but while Alvaro Negredo nodded Gaston Ramirez’s cross back across the area towards Stuani, Mamadou Sakho produced an excellent last-ditch tackle to prevent the Uruguayan from getting a shot away.

That proved a rare bright spot for the visitors, and Palace’s mounting pressure finally told as they claimed a deserved lead 11 minutes before the break.

Yohan Cabaye saw his initial shot blocked, but the former Newcastle midfielder was able to nudge the ball towards van Aanholt after Ayala attempted to clear. The full-back scored against Middlesbrough when he was playing for Sunderland back in August, and was successful again as he guided a right-footed shot beyond Victor Valdes’ left hand and into the corner of the net.

Palace would have scored again three minutes later had it not been for Valdes’ sharp reactions, with the Spaniard beating the ball away at his front post after Jason Puncheon dribbled dangerously into the area.

Puncheon drove over from distance on the stroke of half-time, and with their pre-match tactics of containment having failed, Boro desperately needed a new approach as they returned after the interval.  

They were forced into a half-time alteration, with Rudy Gestede appearing in place of Negredo, and began the second period with their brightest spell of the game.

Adam Forshaw shanked a long-range shot wide, before Ramirez forced Hennessey into his first save of the game as he floated in a free-kick from the corner of the penalty area.

Zaha shot over from 25 yards as Palace served notice of their continued attacking intent, but it was Boro who continued to do most of the second-half pressing and when Forshaw nodded the ball into Stuani’s path, the forward swivelled to fire in a crisp strike that Hennessey did well to save.

Zaha’s willingness to run at the heart of the Boro back four almost set up Palace substitute James McArthur, but the home side became increasingly edgy as their opponents wrested control of the midfield battle.

Stuani saw a shot deflect wide off James Tomkins – the Uruguayan was appealing for a penalty as the Palace defender turned his back – but Boro enjoyed a huge stroke of fortune with 14 minutes left.

Stewart Downing lost possession in his own penalty area, and appeared to trip James McArthur as he attempted to atone for his error. However, rather than awarding a penalty, referee Robert Madley booked McArthur for diving.

That was a let off for the visitors, but they were unable to take advantage when they were presented with a decent opportunity with six minutes left. Fabio Da Silva hung up a cross from the right-hand side, but Ben Gibson headed wide at the back post.

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1):  Hennessey; Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt (Schlupp 86); Milivojevic, Cabaye (McArthur 62); Zaha (Dann 86), Puncheon, Townsend; Benteke.

Subs (not used): Speroni (gk), Delaney, Kaikai, Campbell.

Middlesbrough (5-4-1): Valdes; Fabio, Bernardo, Ayala, Gibson, Downing; Stuani (Traore 77), de Roon, Forshaw (Guedioura 59), Ramirez; Negredo (Gestede 46).

Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Fry, Leadbitter, Clayton.