Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Sheffield Utd: Kris Boyd grabs winner for poor Boro as Blades slip to bottom spot

Middlesbrough 1Boyd 52Sheffield Utd 0

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd grabbed his first goal in a Middlesbrough shirt as he helped Gordon Strachan's side record an unconvincing win over Sheffield United at the Riverside, in what was the Blades' new manager Gary Speed's first match in charge.

Boyd's 52nd minute strike was one of few memorable moments in a truly dismal encounter, which saw both sides display a disappointing lack of quality in the final third.

United slip to the foot of the npower Championship on goals scored.

Yet they will consider themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a point against a Boro side desperately lacking in creativity and invention.

Scott McDonald wasted a half-chance for Boro in the eighth minute when he scuffed a tame shot straight at United goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

The only clear-cut opportunity of the opening period arrived nine minutes later, after Boro's Nicky Bailey had been caught in possession by Jamie Ward inside his own half.

Ward slipped a neat pass through to Ched Evans, but the Welshman's low shot was kept out by the left boot of home goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Ward was involved again in the 24th minute when finding Richard Cresswell in the area, but the former Stoke forward lost his footing as he attempted an over-elaborate turn.

The Boro supporters grew increasingly restless as the half-time whistle approached, although they were temporarily roused in the 33rd minute when Tarmo Kink fired narrowly over with a dipping shot from 30 yards.

It proved to be the youngster's final meaningful contribution as he was replaced by Julio Arca at the interval.

The home fans were finally given something to shout about seven minutes into the second half as Boyd opened his account for the club.

McDonald's flick-on was misjudged by Blades skipper Chris Morgan and Boyd broke clear before slotting a low left-footed shot across Simonsen,

Ward spurned an opportunity to pull United level in the 75th minute when he lashed over from the edge of the area following a neat one-two with Johnny Ertl.

United came close again with five minutes remaining as Ward's shot almost deflected into the path of Bogdanovic six yards from goal.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Bates, Wheater, McManus, Kilgallon, Halliday, Robson, Bailey, Kink, Boyd, McDonald. Subs: Coyne, Hoyte, Lita, Miller, Arca, Luke Williams, Taylor.

Sheffield Utd: Simonsen, Bartley, Morgan, Ertl, Taylor, Ward, Montgomery, Britton, Nosworthy, Evans, Cresswell. Subs: Aksalu, Bogdanovic, Yeates, Kozluk, Quinn, James, Chapell.

Referee: D Whitestoner

Attendance: 14,633