BIRMINGHAM have not won on Teesside for 27 years. Yesterday, there was not the merest hint that they would halt that record in a hapless afternoon where they were completely overwhelmed by a rampant Middlesbrough side. Even Frank Worthington, who scored twice way back in 1980, would have struggled to convert in a game like this when there was virtually no chance of any service to the front line as the visitors were complete overrun.

Any semblance of encouragement can only be taken from the fact that the they refused to buckle when it looked as though they could, and indeed should have, conceded an avalanche of goals. As for Middlesbrough, this is a welcome boost and their first maximum points at home in what so far has been a stuttering season. But before they get too carried away it should be noted they were up against limited opposition.

The rows of empty seats at the Riverside showed the fact that this was perhaps not the most attractive fixture of the season. Both teams ended August with four points and were still looking to inject some consistency and rhythm into their season.

Promoted Birmingham, buoyed by victory at Derby last week, were perhaps the more confident against a Middlesbrough side looking for their first home win of the season.

But that confidence was rudely interrupted after 11 minutes as Andrew Taylor whipped in a pinpoint cross for David Wheater to rise just above the penalty spot and head home.

Earlier on, Wheater flicked a corner ball just over and Fabio Rochemback had a long-range shot deflected to safety.

It was the home team, with the recalled Jonathan Woodgate and Julio Arca and return of the injured Jeremie Aliadiere, knocked unconscious in the local tussle with Newcastle United, that showed all the flair and fluency in the early stages. Birmingham, who included Stuart Parnaby, a summer signing from Teesside, in their lineup, rarely threatened in a one-way opening period. They did produce one comical moment, as Cameron Jerome almost alerted air traffic control with a shot that ballooned high into the sky.

In contrast, it was the home team, playing a simple 4-4-2 formation, who had all the options. One saw Arca thread the ball through to Aliadiere and with Mido just outside him, he opted to go solo and curled a ball that Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal did well to tip over the bar.

It was not long before Middlesbrough were able to go into the comfort zone as George Boateng headed the ball back across the area to give Stewart Downing the easiest of headers to double the lead.

The only other item of note before this was the fact that it took 30 minutes before referee Rob Styles was noticed. Back in action after his well-documented problems at Anfield, he got out a yellow card for a clumsy Fabrice Muamba tackle on Arca right in front of the dugouts.

The Midlanders’ uncertainty continued immediately after the restart. This time defender Radhi Jaidi played a harmless ball back to his goalkeeper and then looked on in horror as Taylor complete miskicked. He recovered just in time to thump it away from the approaching Aliadiere.

It was the catalyst for a succession of scoring opportunities for a buoyant Boro. First, Mido, following clever combination from Downing and Aliadiere, had his neatly headed goal ruled out for offside. Then Rochemback chipped the ball over the defence for Arca to prod another effort just wide. Soon afterwards Aliadiere’s fierce shot was narrowly wide.

Enough was enough for Blues boss Steve Bruce and he made a triple substitution in a desperate attempt to stem the tide. Off came Sebastian Larsson, Mikael Forssell and Muamba. They were respectively replaced by Garry O’Connor, Garry McSheffrey and Mehdi Nafti, but the changes were in vain as the tide threatened to drown a rapidly sinking opposition. There were alarming gaps appearing all over the place and it was good fortune rather than good work that prevented the scoreboard from going even further in Middlesbrough’s favour.

Relentless assaults saw the highly impressive Aliadiere stumbling inside the penalty area before being given plenty of time to get up, dribble his way around a couple of defenders and fire a close-range shot straight at Taylor. He was obviously too keen to notch his first Middlesbrough goal and with a little more awareness he would have seen Arca waiting unmarked on the six-yard line for a simple tap-in. Luke Young then stepped into the action, taking advantage of the acres of space, but took too much time in a bold attempt to get goal number three.

With the conclusion never in doubt Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate had the luxury of some late reshuffling. On came Lee Cattermole for his 50th appearance, in place of Rochemback. Mido also left the field for Dong-Gook Lee.

It meant the Egyptian striker did not have the opportunity to become the first player in Middlesbrough history to score in all of his first three games. It was the only disappointment of a highly satisfying afternoon for the home faithful.

Player ratings: Middlesbrough: Schwarzer 6, Young 7, Arca 7, Boateng 7, Woodgate 7, Mido 7 (Lee 80min), Rochemback 7, Aliadiere 9 (Sanli 86min), Downing 8, Wheater 7, A Taylor 6

Birmingham: M Taylor 6, Kelly 5, Ridgewell 5, Larsson 5 (O’Connor 61min), Forssell 5 (McSheffrey 61min), Jerome 5, Djourou 5, Parnaby 6, Kapo 5, Jaidi 6, Muamba 5 (Nafti 61min)