Manchester City's wretched season is lurching towards a miserable close with the only consolation being that at least relegation is no longer a possibility.

Outclassed by Middlesbrough for long periods, City did not even begin to hustle and bustle until late in the second half.

By then, Massimo Maccarone's spectacularly-fluked effort and Szilard Nemeth's strike had already decided the game, though Paulo Wanchope at least maintained the contest with a wonderful goal.

This has been an awful season for Kevin Keegan, who began the campaign talking in terms of City challenging for a Champions League spot. Fourth from top? They will be lucky to avoid the ignominy of fourth from bottom.

City were wretched in the first half-hour, improved significantly for the remainder of the half but then, along with game, drifted into mediocrity for the rest of the match.

The early momentum proved decisive, and it belonged entirely to Middlesbrough who assumed immediate superiority in midfield.

Having said that, there was more than a shade of good fortune about Maccarone's opening goal in the eighth minute. Bolo Zenden sent him sprinting down the left flank and the Italian's trickery left Richard Dunne a sprawled heap on the ground before he tried to drive a cross towards Nemeth at the far post - only to slice it a pace into the net at David James' near post.

Maccarone was not complaining and neither were the Boro fans and he then used some real quality to open up City again, allowing Danny Mills to set up George Boateng for a low strike that this time James saved well.

Gaizka Mendieta was off target from 20 yards as Boro probed again then Joseph-Desire Job lifted an effort over the bar after Joey Barton had given away possession deep in his own territory.

City had only a half-chance for Sylvain Distin to their name before Nemeth made it 2-0. Danny Mills played a ball in from the right touchline, Job headed back across goal and the Slovakian stretched to poke home.

The match was threatening to become a walkover for Middlesbrough until Wanchope scored an excellent goal to earn City some respite in the 35th minute.

There was plenty for the Costa Rican to do when Paul Bosvelt passed to him on the edge of the box but Wanchope showed exquisite skill to get past Mills and then place his shot low inside the far post.

Barton did get the ball in the net again for City after Shaun Wright-Phillips' cross but referee Mike Riley penalised him - perhaps a bit harshly - for fouling Mark Schwarzer.

Boro had a great chance to restore the two-goal difference but first Maccarone's strike was kept out by James and then, from a scramble at a corner, Ugo Ehiogu could only find the side-netting.

City began the second half looking more positive than they had in the first and some carelessness by Middlesbrough nearly let them in for an equaliser.

Ehiogu dallied on the ball for far too long inside his own area, allowing Reyna to tackle and Barton's subsequent back-heel would have fallen perfectly for Anelka to score but a fortuitous bounce off Mills' shins came to Boro's deliverance.

Nemeth drove straight at James after a game of pinball in the City penalty box before Wanchope showed great skill to contrive a shot only for his final contact to be feeble.

City had looked troubled by Nemeth's pace all match and it proved so again with a break down the centre of the pitch but his shot did not match his speed, bouncing well wide.

Anelka, also having a quiet day, tried his luck on the turn but lofted the ball into the crowd and Keegan had seen enough, sending on Jon Macken in place of the Frenchman and Stephen Elliott for Wanchope.

There was certainly more purpose about City even if their efforts proved ultimately futile. Elliott should have scored with his first touch after Wright-Phillips' run but mishit his shot, then Macken was unfortunate to see his effort deflect wide.

Antoine Sibierski had the final chance to equalise but his close-range miss summed up the match - and City's season.

Teams

Middlesbrough Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Zenden, Mendieta, Boateng, Greening, Nemeth, Job, Maccarone (Downing 63).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Ricketts, Morrison, Bates.

Booked: Nemeth.

Goals: Maccarone 8, Nemeth 32.

Man City James, Jihai, Distin, Dunne, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt (Sibierski 61), Reyna, Anelka (Macken 74), Wanchope (Elliott 74).

Subs Not Used: Arason, Jordan.

Booked: Tarnat.

Goals: Wanchope 35.

Att: 34,734

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).