Middlesbrough 0 Manchester City 2 FORMER Middlesbrough target Sylvain Distin struck to keep Stuart Pearce in a job, while it also put a serious dent into hopes of a top seven place at the Riverside Stadium.

The Frenchman, knowing it has been widely predicted that the axe would fall on Pearce if three points did not arrive on Teesside, was responsible for finding the crucial breakthrough in a drab affair.

With neither side appearing to care about the result, it was City who sparked into life on 61 minutes and took the lead.

Distin, the former Newcastle defender who was courted by Gareth Southgate last summer, brought down an Emile Mpenza header six yards out before hammering high into Mark Schwarzer's net.

It sent the travelling supporters into a frenzy and, despite the introduction of Mark Viduka for the home side, Mpenza added his name to the scoresheet 13 minutes later.

The Belgian, making only his second appearance, stroked in his first for the club with the noutside of his right boot after Joey Barton's clever through pass.

Now Boro know that securing a UEFA Cup place via the league is unlikely, so if they are to do so then an FA Cup quarter-final replay success at City's rivals United on Monday is paramount.