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AS far as debuts go, this was more Dong-Gook Lee than Fabrizio Ravanelli. Regardless of the personal fortunes of Afonso Alves, however, Middlesbrough claimed another three points.

It is now seven matches undefeated for Boro and this latest victory, albeit it marginal over struggling Fulham, has further boosted the chances of survival this season.

A 1-0 success over the Cottagers, on home soil, may not be viewed as the biggest way to make an impact in the Premier League, but there are now seven points separating Gareth Southgate's men and the bottom three.

Alves' contribution, after replacing the ineffectual South Korean Lee just before the hour, was minimal. When the ball arrived in the Brazilian's direction he looked more like an out of sorts League Two striker than a £12.7m club record buy.

Nevertheless, given how this was Alves' first appearance in six weeks for any club, the former Heerenveen forward will surely only improve and that can only be to the benefit of Boro.

The most important outcome from this fixture was that, despite late Fulham endeavour, Middlesbrough emerged with the three points which will go a long way to keeping them in the top-flight next season.

And in Jeremie Aliadiere, the Frenchman with two goals in his last three matches, they could yet have found the bargain of the season.

Before departing quarter of an hour from the end, the £1.5m buy from Arsenal had shown once again that the more he plays the better he gets.

A match-winner for the second game in succession at the Riverside Stadium, all that Southgate requires now is for Alves to do the same in the coming weeks.

5:58pm Monday 11th February 2008

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