Parker grabs late winner

Ashton, with his fifth strike of the season in all competitions, and Parker provided the only moments of real quality in a scrappy Barclays Premier League match at the Riverside which Middlesbrough will feel aggrieved to have lost.

David Wheater put the hosts ahead with just before half-time after a fine lay-off from Jeremie Aliadiere but, while they were sorely lacking in inspiration, their endeavour should have been enough to earn them at least a point.

Boro's Tuncay Sanli caused the first sign of danger, jinking neatly into the penalty box before earning an early corner.

Stewart Downing, trying hard to make things happen, dragged the ball back onto his left foot and lined up a shot midway through the half but his shot ballooned high and wide.

In the 26th minute Tuncay was denied by a clinical last-ditch tackle from Jonathan Spector, before Mark Schwarzer dashed from his line to clear from Henri Camara at the other end.

Wheater opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he turned the ball into an empty net, but Ashton equalised four minutes later when he surged through and drove powerfully past Schwarzer.

Schwarzer made a wonderful save as Nolberto Solano looked to dip the ball under the crossbar with a trademark free-kick.

Ashton then showed another side to his game, foregoing brawn to dummy the Boro defence with some trickery of his own. But when the ball broke to Solano he fired low and wide.

Parker then won the contest in the finest of fashions, collecting the ball on his chest before using both feet to scythe into the danger area and curl the ball into the far corner.