Middlesbrough 2 Fulham 1
Alen Boksic scored one goal and made another as Middlesbrough eased their relegation fears with a well deserved victory over Fulham tonight.
The three points lifted Steve McClaren's side five places to 11th in the table, above local rivals Sunderland on goal difference.
Middlesbrough took the lead at the Riverside when on-loan Italian Benito Carbone played a superb pass through to Boksic after 27 minutes.
The 32-year-old Croatian, after checking he was on side, raced forward and lifted the ball into the net over Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Like Middlesbrough, Jean Tigana's side had claimed a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and they levelled the score 11 minutes into the second period.
John Collins's corner was flicked on by Alain Goma and Steve Marlet nodded in his fifth goal since his £11.5 million move to Fulham.
Middlesbrough, though, went into the game unbeaten in seven matches since a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on January 12, and Boksic wasn't finished.
With 13 minutes remaining the Croatian turned provider, playing in Szilard Nemeth and the Slovakian striker squeezed the winner past Fulham goalkeeper van der Sar.
The defeat meant Fulham stayed ninth on 35 points, four more than 'Boro.