Everton manager Walter Smith saw his side slump to their fifth successive defeat today with Gianluca Festa grabbing the winner at the Riverside Stadium.

At this rate the Merseyside club are heading for the First Division - and the former Rangers boss for the exit door.

There was widespread speculation before today that Smith had two games to save his skin. If that is the case then the FA Cup trip to Second Division Stoke on Saturday could mean make or break for him.

Smith handed striker Danny Cadamarteri his first start for 11 months with Kevin Campbell and Tomasz Radzinski both injured. But Smith's injury problems increased when Cadamarteri hobbled off in the first half and was replaced by Joe-Max Moore.

Everton carved out the first opening of a game that passed two pitch inspections when Scot Gemmill tried to release Cadamarteri. Luckily for Middlesbrough keeper Mark Crossley was alert to the danger and diverted the ball to safety.

Then Alan Stubbs steered a downward header narrowly wide of the post for Everton after Niclas Alexandersson had swung in a corner from the right.

Middlesbrough hit back on a tricky surface and Noel Whelan found himself in a good position. However he delayed too long trying to set up a shot and the chance was lost.

Everton found themselves under pressure when Paul Ince sent a reverse pass through to Ricard but Stubbs got in a timely tackle. Stubbs then raced down the other end to get on the end of David Unsworth's free-kick only for Crossley to turn his effort away at the foot of the post.

Middlesbrough keeper Crossley needed treatment after dashing out of his goal and heading the ball away from the on-rushing Cadamarteri.

Crossley looked in some distress when he fell heavily on the hard surface but he was able to resume after a couple of minutes.

Stubbs was looking dangerous at set-pieces and got away from his marker again when Unsworth floated in a free-kick, only to send a header narrowly wide.

Middlesbrough pair Jonathan Greening and Franck Queudrue got in each other's way after 30 minutes and it nearly proved costly. The ball broke to Alexandersson, who watched in disbelief as Crossley got a hand to his shot.

Crossley again did well to make a clean save from Ferguson's header following a corner from Unsworth.

Ferguson almost gave Everton the lead on the stroke of half-time when his shot rattled the bar after a sloppy clearance by Festa.

Both sides made changes at half-time with Middlesbrough's Jason Gavin replacing Greening and Everton's Jesper Blomqvist coming on for Alexandersson.

Everton made a rousing start to the second half and American striker Moore almost made the breakthrough in the 47th minute.

He found space in the box to rattle in a shot that Crossley did well to divert for a corner.

Smith made another substitution when Tony Hibbert came on for Steve Watson. But no sooner had Hibbert taken his place in the side than Middlesbrough made the breakthrough.

Everton failed to clear their lines from Carlos Marinelli's corner and Festa smashed a shot beyond Steve Simonsen and into the roof of the net.

Festa was an unlikely scorer for Middlesbrough as this was his first start since last April. Knee surgery and poor form had limited his appearances, so it was little wonder the Italian celebrated in style after scoring.

That goal gave Middlesbrough a lift and for the first time in the game Everton's fragile confidence was exposed.

Ince almost added a second when he played a neat one-two with Marinelli, only to steer his shot wide of the post.

Then Hamilton Ricard saw his goal-bound effort turned away by Simonsen as Middlesbrough chalked up their first win in five matches.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Crossley, Festa, Southgate, Queudrue (Stamp 63), Stockdale, Mustoe, Ince, Greening (Gavin 45), Marinelli (Boksic 82), Ricard, Whelan.

Subs Not Used: Nemeth, Beresford.

Booked: Gavin.

Goals: Festa 50.

Everton: Simonsen, Watson (Hibbert 50), Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Xavier, Alexandersson (Blomqvist 45), Naysmith, Gemmill, Ferguson, Cadamarteri (Moore 38).

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Tal.

Booked: Ferguson, Stubbs.

Att: 27,463

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).