English FA Premiership/Manchester City - 1 Middlebro - 0: Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne led from the front to give the under-pressure side a priceless victory against Middlesbrough last night at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Castigated in public by chairman John Wardle following their four-goal humiliation at Wigan last weekend, City responded to the criticism in the best manner possible. And it was Republic of Ireland defender Dunne, scorer of an own goal at the JJB Stadium, who made the telling contribution, rising highest to nod home Joey Barton's corner midway through the half.

City had gone agonisingly close to taking the lead two minutes earlier. Paul Dickov was alive to Barton's chipped pass but, having beaten Mark Schwarzer to the ball, could not direct his shot on target.

Ben Thatcher was handed an instant recall to the City starting line-up by manager Stuart Pearce. Thatcher had just completed the eight-match ban he received for his assault on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes. Pearce also recalled Claudio Reyna, Sylvain Distin and Paul Dickov, while DaMarcus Beasley was handed his first start since joining on loan from PSV Eindhoven.

Dickov brought bite to the City attack while Thatcher enjoyed a relatively comfortable evening at the other end.

Middlesbrough substitute Massimo Maccarone had two opportunities to rescue his side in the second half, but struck the same upright on each occasion. Samaras and substitute Darius Vassell spurned second-half opportunities to increase City's advantage.

MAN CITY: Weaver, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Beasley (Vassell 71), Barton, Reyna (Trabelsi 80), Sinclair, Dickov (Corradi 85), Samaras. Subs Not Used: Hart, Hamann. Booked: Dickov, Barton. Goals: Dunne 23.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Parnaby (Bates 22), Woodgate, Huth, Pogatetz, Euell, Cattermole (Morrison 66), Boateng, Rochemback (Maccarone 74), Downing, Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Arca. Booked: Pogatetz, Huth, Rochemback, Boateng.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).