Juninho conjured up a moment of class to secure a victory for Middlesbrough which saw Everton sink into the bottom half of the Premiership.

Brian Deane put Boro ahead in the first half and Juninho's late clinching goal ensured Everton's season ended with a whimper.

This defeat cost Everton dearly in the prize money stakes. The loudest cheer of the day came when Liverpool's defeat at Bradford was announced over the tannoy, ensuring that their Anfield neighbours will not be appearing in the Champions League.

But even that moment of joy could not wipe away the memory of a miserable match. Everton, at one stage European contenders themselves, finished their campaign tamely.

Oxford referee Rob Harris managed to enrage everyone with six bookings. The official, who was involved in the Tranmere Cup fiasco on a previous trip to Merseyside, was in danger of losing control of an end of season canter.

He booked five players in 13 minutes in a first half that deteriorated into near chaos.

Once he had to consult both linesman, who had each seen an off-the-ball clattering of Mark Hughes, but opted for only a booking for Gianluca Festa.

And he did nothing at all after Paul Ince and Don Hutchison had to be dragged from a defensive wall, pushing and shoving.

Everton's Richard Dunne was first to be cautioned, quickly followed by Boro's Curtis Fleming, Festa, Phil Stamp and Robbie Mustoe.

Everton had early chances, squandered by Nicky Barmby and David Unsworth, before Boro took an eighth-minute lead.

Steve Vickers' long free-kick into the box was met at the far post by Deane, who outjumped Dunne to nod the ball back and inside the far post.

Michael Ball and Mark Hughes had long-range efforts held by Mark Schwarzer, while Phil Jevons just failed to connect with a Barmby cross.

Then the spree of cautions took over, not helped when Vickers looked to bring down Jevons without a penalty awarded.

Stephen Hughes produced a shot from the right that flashed over the bar after a good build-up, but the antics of referee Harris was all the distraction needed to deflect players from producing any measure of entertainment.

Jamie Milligan came on at half time for his full Everton debut in place of David Weir, who will go into hospital later in the week for a hernia operation. Francis Jeffers also took over from Jevons.

Jeffers' first touch took him down the left and past two defenders before firing in a shot that Schwarzer half stopped, but fell on to thwart Barmby's bid to punish the error.

But it was Ince who almost scored soon after the break, working himself a good position before firing just wide. The game deteriorated even further, if that was possible.

Milligan, attacking from deep, produced an excellent pass to put Barmby clear, but although his shot was blocked and Unsworth put in the rebound, a linesman's flag ruled out the effort.

Middlesbrough threatened after 70 minutes when Campbell went past three men and finally saw his effort scrambled behind by Paul Gerrard.

The Everton keeper then made a stunning save to his right when Vickers met a Juninho corner on the far post.

Ince, who had been Boro's best player by a country mile, had somehow managed to avoid a booking in the second half, but eventually saw yellow after clipping John Collins in full flight with eight minutes left.

Thankfully, there was one piece of inspired play in the match, and it came from Juninho with four minutes left.

The little Brazilian scampered through from midfield, played a neat one-two with Deane, and raced into the box to fire home Middlesbrough's second.

It maybe his swansong for the Riverside club as it is likely his loan spell will not be followed by a permanent transfer.

Teams:

Everton: Gerrard, Dunne, Weir (Milligan 46), Unsworth, Ball, Barmby, Hutchison, Collins, S. Hughes, Jevons (Jeffers 46), M. Hughes.

Subs Not Used: Cadamarteri, Clarke, Simonsen.

Booked: Dunne.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Cooper, Festa, Vickers, Fleming, Stamp (Stockdale 68), Ince, Mustoe, Juninho, Campbell (Maddison 81), Deane.

Subs Not Used: Beresford, Gavin, Marinelli.

Booked: Fleming, Festa, Stamp, Mustoe, Ince.

Goals: Deane 8, Juninho 86.

Att: 34,663

Ref: R Harris (Oxford).