MIDDLESBOUGH 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 2

MIDDLESBROUGH’S unbeaten Premier League record came crashing to an end as some uncharacteristically sloppy defending contributed to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

George Friend was at least partially fault for both Palace goals as Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha scored to hand Alan Pardew’s side their first win of the season.

Daniel Ayala’s powerful header hauled Boro level on the stroke of half-time, but Friend’s calamitous error enabled Zaha to restore Palace’s lead at the start of the second half.

Stewart Downing and Ben Gibson both came close with long-range efforts as the hosts finished the stronger, but having claimed five points from their opening three games, this was something of a reality check for Aitor Karanka’s side.

Boro had started brightly in all three of their previous league games, but it was Palace who were the dominant side for the opening half-hour as they deservedly claimed the lead.

Zaha and Andros Townsend were a major threat from the wide positions, with Benteke holding the ball up effectively as the central striker.

Townsend saw an early shot deflect dangerously over the crossbar, and the visitors made a breakthrough in the 16th minute as some sloppy Boro defending proved costly.

Friend stood off Zaha as he crossed from the right-hand side, and Benteke climbed above Ayala at the back post to plant a powerful header past Victor Valdes.

Valdes, who was recalled in place of Brad Guzan, could do nothing about the goal, but his agility ensured Boro did not fall further behind midway through the first half.

Benteke laid Zaha’s cross into the path of Townsend, but Valdes tipped the former Newcastle midfielder’s shot around the post.

Boro had barely featured as an attacking force at that stage, but they rallied in the final 15 minutes of the first half, with Antonio Barragan causing problems as he overlapped down the right and Cristhian Stuani becoming more of an influence in the final third.

It took a set-piece for the Teessiders to level though, with Ayala more than atoning for his role in Palace’s goal as he claimed his first goal in the top-flight.

Stewart Downing swung over a corner from the left, and Ayala out-jumped Damien Delaney to plant a superb 14-yard header into the left-hand corner of the net.

It was a fantastic effort, and Boro almost finished the first half ahead as Alvaro Negredo came close in stoppage time.

Viktor Fischer, who made his first league start in the ‘number ten’ role, released Negredo into the box, but the Spaniard directed his shot too close to Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Boro were on top at that stage, but they fell behind two minutes into the second half when an uncharacteristic error from George Friend teed up Zaha.

Friend had plenty of time to deal with James McArthur’s through ball, but he dallied before prodding the ball into Zaha’s path. The winger couldn’t believe his luck, and calmly slotted a side-footed finish past Valdes.

Stewart Downing and Ben Gibson both came close as Boro attempted to claim a second equaliser – the former whistled a shot just wide, while the latter saw a long-range effort tipped over by Mandanda – and Aitor Karanka attempted to change things with a rare double substitution before the hour mark.

Gaston Ramirez and Marten de Roon replaced Fischer and Adam Clayton, but while the former was immediately much more effective than the player he replaced, Boro struggled to break down a resolute Palace defence.

Ayala came close to a second headed goal as he nodded another Downing corner narrowly over the crossbar, but Palace almost added a third when Delaney headed wide at the back post.

The closest Boro came to a second equaliser was with one minute left, but Mandanda got down well to save Ramirez’s shot from the left-hand side of the box. The rebound struck Delaney on his upper arm, but the Palace defender was attempting to avoid the ball and referee Neil Swarbrick rightly waved play on.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton (de Roon 57), Forshaw; Stuani, Fischer (Ramirez 57), Downing; Negredo.

Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Nsue, Chambers, Traore, Rhodes.

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Mandanda; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; Ledley (Flamini 83), McArthur; Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend (Lee 76); C Benteke (J Benteke 83).

Subs (not used): Hennessey (gk), Tomkins, Dreher, Fryers.