
Manchester City bounced back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Eastlands.
Craig Bellamy scored the only goal of the game six minutes after the break with his second goal for his new club.
Shay Given enjoyed a fine debut for City making four superb saves from Middlesbrough striker Afonso Alves.
The defeat stretches Middlesbrough's winless run to 13 games in the Premier League to leave them in the drop zone.
Manager Mark Hughes identified a goalkeeper and a burly striker as his targets for the final week of the transfer window.
As it turned out, he got one but not the other as Blackburn resisted his overtures for Roque Santa Cruz.
But Given looked a snip at £6million even before he produced three marvellous saves towards the end of the first half to deny Alves.
All of them could have gone in, on each occasion Given was second favourite.
But the Republic of Ireland star thwarted the Brazilian striker with his right hand, then his left and finally with his feet to keep Boro at bay and remind Newcastle exactly what they have lost during this troubled season.

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