Szilard Nemeth re-ignited Middlesbrough's drive for Europe and pushed West Brom back into the relegation zone with two first-half goals.

The Slovakian ruined Bryan Robson's return to the Riverside Stadium with goals in the 26th and 36th minutes, and he might argue he claimed a hat-trick as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made sure his 33rd-minute cross ended up in the back of the net, although perhaps by a matter of millimetres.

Stewart Downing added a fourth in injury-time with an inch-perfect free-kick, and while Boro may not have been full value for their victory as Robson's side passed up a series of excellent openings with Robert Earnshaw the biggest culprit, they were never going to surrender their advantage as they banked three precious points for the UEFA Cup qualification campaign.

Albion left Teesside along with the thousands of supporters they had bussed up on 40 free coaches knowing they are hanging to their place in the top flight by a thread after seeing their four-game revival brought to a juddering halt despite another spirited display.

Indeed, there was little to choose between the sides apart from their finishing with the Baggies enjoying more than their fair share of the possession.

Robson was booed off the last time he set foot on this pitch as his eventful seven-year reign at Boro drew to a close, but he was cheered warmly by a crowd of 32,951 on his return.

He would have been delighted with what he saw in the opening 25 minutes as his side pinned a nervous-looking Boro back and made the better opportunities.

Kevin Campbell had an 11th-minute shot deflected just wide and then forced an excellent save from keeper Brad Jones with a point-blank header.

Earnshaw should have put the visitors ahead on 15 minutes after being played in by Campbell, but Jones blocked well, and he fired wide from close range in injury-time.

However, by the time Robson headed for the dressing room at half-time, his side was all but beaten.

Boro's opening goal may have come against the run of play, but it sparked a devastating 10-minute spell in which they took a firm grip of the game.

Bolo Zenden carved the West Brom defence wide open on 26 minutes to find Hasselbaink and, although the Dutchman's shot was well saved by Russell Hoult, Nemeth controlled the rebound and then steered the ball into the far corner for his fourth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 within seven minutes when the two strikers combined again after full-back Franck Queudrue had broken down the left, the Slovakian receiving the Dutchman's lay-off before bursting past Thomas Gaardsoe and sending in a cross which Hoult could only help along his goal-line, where Hasselbaink thumped home his 15th goal of the season.

The ball would have crossed the line had the former Chelsea hitman not intervened, but Nemeth was to get his second nine minutes before half-time when, after Hoult had parried Hasselbaink's right-footed drive, he headed into the empty net to give his side a measure of control they barely deserved.

Robson made changes at the break when he withdrew Campbell and Riccardo Scimeca and sent on Kanu and Junichi Inamoto in an attempt to drag his side back into the game.

The Nigerian and Hungarian Zoltan Gera pushed up alongside Earnshaw in a three-man frontline while Inamoto joined Ronnie Wallwork and Richard Chaplow in a midfield trio.

Robson's declining fortunes were illustrated on 55 minutes when Downing was booked for a tug on Chaplow's shirt in a promising position, but the former Burnley midfielder wasted the opportunity when he tried to catch out Jones at his near post and only succeeded in dragging his shot hopelessly wide.

Neil Clement hammered another free-kick high over Jones' crossbar as Albion's desperation grew, and McClaren felt confident enough to hand Zenden a break when he replaced him with Ray Parlour with 25 minutes remaining.

The game was petering out disappointingly to the extent that the departure of one of referee Howard Webb's assistants with an injury 19 minutes from time was one of the more notable events of the half.

Kanu forced a good save from Jones with a 77th-minute header but even with Geoff Horsfield on for the final 11 minutes, the Baggies could make little impression.

Kanu failed to make the most of another good cross five minutes from time with a powder-puff header at Jones, but the keeper had to earn his money seconds later when Horsfield got in on the right.

Jones got a vital touch to force him wide and then blocked his shot when it eventually came in to preserve his clean sheet, but there was nothing opposite number Hoult could do to keep out Downing at the death when he curled a superb free-kick into the top corner.

Teams

Middlesbrough Jones, Cooper (Davies 37), Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Downing, Doriva, Boateng, Zenden (Parlour 65), Nemeth (Graham 87), Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: Knight, Wheater.

Booked: Downing.

Goals: Nemeth 27, Hasselbaink 33, Nemeth 37, Downing 90.

West Brom Hoult, Albrechtsen (Inamoto 45), Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson, Gera (Horsfield 79), Wallwork, Scimeca, Chaplow, Earnshaw, Campbell (Kanu 45).

Subs Not Used: Moore, Kuszczak.

Booked: Gaardsoe.

Att: 32,951

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).