Kevin Campbell scored twice as Middlesbrough squandered the lead to lose 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Campbell headed the winning goal from a Thomas Gravesen corner 13 minutes from time to condemn Boro to their second successive away defeat.
Szilard Nemeth opened the scoring in the 10th minute, slotting the ball into an empty net after Massimo Maccarone's shot had been parried by Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard.
Middlesbrough should have extended their lead but were pegged back after 32 minutes, Campbell scoring from close range after Tomasz Radzinski's header had come back off a post.
The half time introduction of sub Wayne Rooney galvanised Everton, and Middlesbrough were unable to keep the Blues at bay - even though Maccarone struck the inside of a post when the score was 1-1.
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