MIDDLESBROUGH keeper Mark Schwarzer's blushes were saved last night by two goals in the final five minutes from his teammates at Leicester City.

Schwarzer, who now serves a one match suspension after his dismissal against Newcastle on September 8, made a dreadful error to hand the first goal to Leicester on a plate.

But an equaliser from Paul Ince, their first away goal of the campaign, and a second minutes later from Jonathan Greening secured Steve McClaren's second victory in three days.

The win now lifts Boro up into a respectable mid-table position, seemingly incredible following the disastrous start to the season the Teessiders made.

But the result increased the pressure on Leicester boss Peter Taylor.

McClaren was able to stick with exactly the same team that recorded his first League win in management at home to West Ham.

There were doubts over Brian Deane and Colin Cooper's fitness but they both recovered in time to play.

It was the first time McClaren had been able to field the sae side but the same could not be said of Taylor.

The Foxes chief brought back Dennis Wise, after a three match suspension, in place of calf injury victim Muzzy Izzet. Dean Sturridge recovered from a hamstring niggle picked up against Derby.

Both sides started the game pressuring every loose ball and with just three minutes on the clock Boro striker Dean Windass should have done better with a volley that went wide.

Greening, sporting a newly cropped David Beckham-like haircut, saw an effort fly over the bar from distance for the visitors before teammate Schwarzer made the costly blunder on nine minutes.

The Aussie stopper, who will miss Boro's trip to Chelsea on Sunday, failed to keep hold of a 30-yard strike from Davidson and Jones was the only man to react and he lifted the ball over the keeper to open the scoring.

That incident was the last to be of any interest in the opening period as the encounter settled into quite a drab affair.

Shortly after the half hour mark impressive wing-back Jordan Stewart blazed wide for the hosts before Windass failed to convert another decent volley after Allan Johnson had headed him into space.

With tigerish figures Ince, Robbie Savage and Dennis Wise in the midfield the 90 minutes was never going to pass without some form of clash in the middle of the park.

And sure enough, Ince's high boot caught goalscorer Jones on the head and then Wise tackled late on Windass; neither player was handed the yellow card but both men required treatment.

Leicester striker Ade Akinbiyi went close with almost the last kick of the half, but this time Schwarzer was equal to it.

Carlos Marinelli was introduced for the second half by McClaren as a replacement for Windass and the skilful Argentinian was quickly involved when his curling right-foot free-kick was well saved by Ian Walker.

Leicester responded immediately and after some good defending from Boro the ball fell invitingly for Savage on the edge of the area but his blast was blocked by Ugo Ehiogu.

Akinbiyi had another great opportunity minutes later when he beat the offside trap to control a Stefan Oakes long pass, but Gareth Southgate did well to ensure the former Wolves forward could not get enough power on his shot.

Taylor's teamtalk at half-time must have had an effect because they were looking the more likely to add to the scoreline and Schwarzer had to make a save from another Savage shot.

Boro knew that something was required to alter the flow of the game and on 56 minutes Deane went close to equalising when he reacted first to a misplaced Oakes header, but the towering front-man's effort rebounded off the post.

McClaren brought on Slovakian forward Szilard Nemeth for the last 12 minutes but he too was unable to find a way through.

Boro's equaliser did come though when Marinelli's cross from the right caused problems and after one ricochet after another the ball fell to Ince who gleefully volleyed home.

Deane could have snatched victory soon after when he broke free but is powerful drive shaved the post.

The winner did come, however, when Greening was left in acres of space following a failed Davidson headed clearance and the former Manchester United midfielder shot beyond Walker to send the travelling contingent home happy.

McClaren beamed: ''I thought time was running out - but two late goals like that make the win sweeter. 'The first half performance was very disappointing, but we changed a few things at half time and dominated from then on.

''We had a tough game on Saturday and I thought it might take 45 minutes to run the dead legs out of them. The switch gave us a bit more energy it changed the tempo of the game.

''We were dictated in the first half by Leicester, they were aggressive and we couldn't live with it. You look at how disappointing we were - and you either change personnel or shape.''

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