Goals from Blues' in-from strike duo Clinton Morrison and Emile Heskey settled the encounter, although Blues will be made to sweat over up to three injuries picked up by key players.
Steve Bruce picked an unchanged side for the second consecutive week, which surprisingly meant that fit-again Mario Melchiot was only on the bench as Olivier Tebily continued at right back. Middlesbrough had a few injury problems of their own prior to the game, but both Ray Parlour and Mark Viduka passed fitness tests to play.
Middlesbrough started the brighter of the two teams, and actually had the ball in the net early on, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. This looked like it might be harsh, as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's goal appeared to go in off Stan Lazaridis. Still, quite who was offside, or for which ball it applied to I'm not quite sure, but it was given.
Blues though got themselves into the game, with David Dunn becoming an influence on proceedings. A good run from Dunn, followed by a low ball across goal led to Morrison having a shot blocked. However, after 10 minutes Morrison put Blues ahead. A long clearance by Maik Taylor was flicked on by Heskey - who was once again winning everything in the air - and Morrison flashed a half volley from the flick-on past Mark Schwarzer to make it 1-0.
The game was end-to-end, with Blues just having the upper hand. Dunn was always a threat on the left, whilst Morrison and Heskey were superb up front. Robbie Savage tested Schwarzer with a low free-kick, whilst 5 minutes before half-time, Hasselbaink fired wired from a Parlour cross.
In first-half injury time, Blues doubled their advantage. Darren Carter had a low drive deflected wide, but Blues capitalised from the resulting corner. Carter took the corner short to Savage, whose cross caught the Boro defence napping. Heskey rose to glance the ball downwards into the far corner to put Blues 2-0 up just moments before half-time.
The start to the second half was tough for Blues, with both Heskey and Dunn limping off very early on. Heskey was the first off, with what looked like a knock to his ankle. It looked to be a case of 'We're 2-0 up, so let's not risk it, and let's get him off ASAP', so hopefully he'll be ok for Fulham in 48 hours time.
Unfortunately Dunn's injury just a minute later looked a lot worse. It looked like a recurrence of the hamstring problem that has hampered his Blues career, and may well set him back several weeks, yet again. Late on too, Morrison was forced to limp off with a knock, but again, his substitution looked more precautionary.
In fairness, the second half was a bit of a non-event, with Blues struggling to cope with the substitutions they were forced into and the lack of key players, and Boro just struggling in general. Savage again went close with a free-kick, before Stewart Downing fired wide for Boro late on.
Blues did deserve their win for their first half performance, but the injuries will be a blow - especially with the Fulham game coming around so quickly. Dunn's absence will be a blow, as his return had led to the upturn in Blues' fortunes. Hopefully this good result against a team flying high will boost confidence in the camp though, and mean that the side can go into 2005 in some better form than that they've showed for much of 2004.