Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth gave a glimpse of the kind of skills
that could punish England at the Riverside Stadium next month in a Euro 2004
qualifier.
Nemeth followed up his two goals for the nation in midweek with an
inspirational display on his return to his adopted home.
With Juninho also in good form, Tottenham were dragged all over the place with
the damage done in the space of five minutes in the first half.
Middlesbrough, who had not scored in their previous three matches, found the
target three times in that spell with Chris Perry of Tottenham red-carded.
Juninho was quickly into the action after recovering from a hamstring injury
and steered a shot narrowly wide of the post after a neat cutback from Malcolm
Christie.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren was forced to make a change after 11
minutes when Ugo Ehiogu limped off and was replaced by Chris Riggott.
Teddy Sheringham showed a flash of inspiration after 19 minutes to almost give
Tottenham the lead.
He got on the end of a cross from Mauricio Taricco to hit a first-time shot
just inches the wrong side of the post.
Sheringham was again out luck two minutes later when he got away from Gareth
Southgate, only to find the side-netting.
Juninho then rattled a 20-yard free-kick wide of the post before Middlesbrough
made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute.
Tottenham goalkeeper Kasey Keller did well to beat away a shot from Nemeth,
only for Malcolm Christie to tap in the rebound for his fourth goal for the
club.
Middlesbrough increased their lead two minutes later and again Keller was out
of luck.
He got a hand to Juninho's penalty after Perry's lunge on Nemeth but the
Brazilian followed up to knock the ball over the line.
Perry was given a straight red card by referee Uriah Rennie and Middlesbrough
made it 3-0 after 28 minutes when Nemeth took advantage of some slack defending
to find the corner.
He was first to react when Luke Wilkshire's shot was only partially cleared
and found the corner with his effort.
Tottenham were rattled by that three-goal burst in five minutes especially as
they could have been in front.
However Steven Carr tested Mark Schwarzer in 35th minute with a curling
free-kick that the goalkeeper did well to turn over the bar.
Sheringham then made a yard of space in the area but Franck Queudrue stood his
ground to get in a timely block.
Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle decided to shake things up at half- time and brought
on Jamie Redknapp and Matthew Etherington for Sheringham and Poyet.
It was Redknapp's first outing this year following a fractured toe suffered in
December.
Middlesbrough scorer Christie, who faces a hernia operation in the summer, was
replaced at the break by Massimo Maccarone.
The Italian striker took only six minutes to make an impact and put
Middlesbrough 4-0 ahead.
He latched onto a pass from Nemeth to place a shot beyond Keller from the edge
of the area.
Middlesbrough were eager for more goals and Jonathan Greening got away from
Simon Davies only to see his shot finish just over the top.
Tottenham pulled a goal back on the hour when Redknapp marked his return to
first-team duty with a superb strike.
He sent a perfectly flighted 25-yard free-kick beyond goalkeeper Schwarzer and
into the top left-hand corner.
Nemeth should have added a fifth in the 68th minute but struck the post from
close range after Juninho had laid the ball into his path.
Then Wilkshire missed a clear chance by sending his effort over the bar from
six yards with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Wilkshire was out of luck for Middlesbrough in the 72nd minute when his shot
hit the inside of the post and came out.
Tottenham suffered another blow in the 75th minute when Maccarone got his
second of the game after a neat through-ball from Juninho.
George Boateng should have added a sixth in the 87th minute only to clear the
bar after Maccarone had carved out the chance.
Maccarone then clipped a shot wide of the post from a good position a minute
from time.
Teams:
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Ehiogu (Riggott 11),
Southgate, Queudrue, Wilkshire (Downing 78), Boateng,
Juninho Paulista, Greening, Nemeth, Christie (Maccarone 45).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Doriva.
Goals: Christie 23, Juninho Paulista 26, Nemeth 28,
Maccarone 51, 75.
Tottenham: Keller, Perry, King, Gardner, Carr, Davies,
Bunjevcevic, Poyet (Redknapp 45), Taricco,
Sheringham (Etherington 45), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Acimovic, Yeates, Burch.
Sent Off: Perry (24).
Booked: Poyet, Bunjevcevic.
Goals: Redknapp 60.
Att: 30,230
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
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