The Teesside tide may be on the turn

Their beleaguered fans must have forgotten what it was like to smile after home games, but, with a crafty Cockney glued to the touchline, Middlesbrough's revival is on. Robbed of a team of players, Terry Venables briefed whoever was available and conjured up a first clean sheet of the season and, after nine months, the rarer sight of a win on Teesside.

"It couldn't have gone any better for me," said the first-team coach. "It's just what we needed in the dressing-room, around the club and for the supporters."

Having spent his first game with Boro failing to negotiate an elevator at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, this was precisely the kind of lift El Tel needed.

After only a week on Teesside, Venables' impact was plain to see on Saturday. Boro were neat - even comfortable - in possession, zipping passes around with unprecedented confidence. To a man they worked tirelessly, kept things simple and ignored the nervous mutterings of the crowd when they were forced to retreat to retain the ball.

"I would have been pleased with the week's work even if we hadn't got this result," said Venables. "When they started to look dangerous we went a bit narrow and gave them space to play. But I thought we wanted the ball today. You need the bravery to tackle for the ball and the bravery to want the ball; we had both."

For once, they also had luck. Dean Gordon had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he accepted Noel Whelan's pass just outside the area. His instant left-foot shot took a hefty deflection off Mario Melchiot before flying past Ed de Goey in the 71st minute.

The visitors' clever approach play and intricate passing had the neutrals salivating, but those Blues' fans who rose to their feet in anticipation of an end product were left gagging in frustration.

The half-chances whistled wide, the fluidity of their play was soaked up by Boro's stubborn rearguard: Gianfranco Zola was crowded out; Eidur Gudjohnsen was continually thwarted by Mark Schwarzer; Dennis Wise saw a shot blocked.

A simple heave-ho upfield might have done the trick, but Chelsea's clutch of slick superstars would never stoop so low. "We merited a goal but all compliments to them for doing the business," said Ranieri. "We think we created enough chances to score, but I'm not too worried."

Improvement may be difficult with the manager's head buried so firmly in the sand.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Vickers, Festa, Karembeu, Mustoe, Ince, O'Neill, Okon (Gordon 67), Cooper, Whelan, Deane. Subs Not Used: Crossley, Stockdale, Gavin, Hudson. Goals: Gordon 71.

Chelsea: de Goey, Desailly, Terry, Melchiot, Wise, Morris, Dalla Bona, Poyet, Harley (Leboeuf 45), Gudjohnsen, Zola (Aleksidze 79). Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bogarde, Jokanovic. Booked: Morris, Leboeuf, Desailly.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).