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Afonso Alves’ disputed penalty set Middlesbrough on their way to a hard-fought victory over Manchester City.

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Boro keeper Ross Turnbull kept out shots by Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips as City threatened.

But the home side took the lead when Daniel Sturridge tangled with David Wheater and referee Lee Mason awarded a spot-kick that Alves converted.

City poured forward in search of an equaliser but Gary O’Neil’s breakaway goal in injury time sealed Boro’s win.

Both sides had something to prove going into this game – Boro after they were crushed 5-0 by Chelsea in their last home game and City on their first return to the Riverside since an 8-1 drubbing on the final day of last season.

After a scrappy start it was City who were quickest to settle and Robinho, looking to add to his tally of six goals in six league games since his £32m move from Real Madrid, was first to test Turnbull with a low shot from the edge of the area.