Afonso Alves proved the scourge of Manchester City once again as his coolly-dispatched 53rd-minute penalty proved enough to secure Middlesbrough the points at the Riverside Stadium.
Brazilian Alves had hit a hat-trick in rather different circumstances in the corresponding fixture last season as Boro struck an extraordinary eight goals past their opponents to round off their campaign.
On a decidedly more chilly evening another nine-goal epic was always a distant dream but that will not perturb Boro manager Gareth Southgate, whose workmanlike side were full value for their points.
They were finally secured in the fifth minute of injury-time when Boro streaked over the halfway line and Tuncay Sanli squared for Gary O'Neil to lash his side's second into the roof of the net.
Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull made a super series of saves to deny Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips but ultimately City manager Mark Hughes could have few complaints.
Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot after Daniel Sturridge tangled with David Wheater on the edge of the City box.
rising shot
The goal came at a time when City were threatening to take control and build on a bright start which had seen record signing Robinho at the centre of most of their early moves.
The Brazilian fired high and wide in the sixth minute and three minutes later danced his way around the Boro rearguard again before hitting a low shot which Turnbull did well to save at full stretch.
Boro had their first chance in the 12th minute when Stewart Downing dug out a deep cross from the left and found Alves, who aimed a weak header straight at City keeper Joe Hart.
But City continued to look dangerous every time they streaked across the halfway line, and in the 18th minute it was Micah Richards' turn to direct a rising shot which Turnbull plucked out of the air.
Boro continued to have their moments in an open game, Alves setting up a chance for Andrew Taylor which was blocked by Tal Ben Haim, and Tuncay Sanli's weak effort gathered by Hart.
low effort
Boro came close in the 39th minute when Jeremie Aliadiere's persistence paid off down the right and he flung in a dangerous cross which missed the head of the lurking Alves by inches.
Turnbull was called into action twice in the opening four minutes of the second half, first parrying Ireland's low shot in the box then stretching to deny Wright-Phillips' low effort with his feet.
But Boro grabbed the chance to turn the match in their favour in the 53rd minute when Sturridge and Wheater tangled in the far right corner of the City box and referee Mason pointed to the spot.
Alves stepped up to coolly place the ball high to Hart's right and give Boro the lead at precisely the time when City had been threatening to take control.
Inspired by the goal, Boro began to get forward with more purpose and the impressive Tuncay was ruled narrowly offside as he squared toward Aliadiere in front of goal.
Turnbull saved Boro again in the 71st minute when he superbly parried a long-range effort from Vincent Kompany which seemed to be heading into the bottom corner, before Sturridge fluffed the rebound.
Boro held on with relative ease and secured the points deep into injury-time when Tuncay squared in front of goal after a swift counter-attack and O'Neil gleefully rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
