West Ham United 2 Middlesbrough 1

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle United 0
Hull City 0 Manchester United 1
Sunderland 2 Chelsea 3

BORO'S 11-year top flight stay is over after a Premier League record 12th successive away defeat, writes GORDON COX from Upton Park.

Upton Park was bathed in early summer sunshine and a gentle breeze refreshed a good sized crowd as Boro set about their bid for survival.

Tuncay took over as captain in a side that saw the return of Tony McMahon in the only change from the side that drew with Aston Villa.

The West Ham side showed three changes from the side beaten at Everton, Jonathan Spector replaced suspended James Tomkins, while Carlton Cole and Junior Stanislas replaced Diego Tristan and David Di Michele.

The first attack of the game was down the Boro left, but Adam Johnson overhit a cross that went high over the penalty area.

It was Johnson again in action a minute later when he was picked out just in from the right-hand edge of the West Ham box. He had time to compose himself before shooting, but failed to make good contact and the ball was well off target.

A lot of Boro's good work was coming down their left, but Justin Hoyte's progress was abruptly halted by a firm challenge from Luis Boa Morte.

As the game settled, West Ham came into it more and Radoslav Kovac drilled a low, 25-yard shot straight at Jones.

Boro moved swiftly forward and Tuncay drilled a powerful shot across the face of goal from the left-hand edge of the West Ham box.

Junior Stanislas came close to opening the scoring with a powerful drive from 30 yards. Jones was beaten as the ball thudded back off the angle of post and bar. The same player was considerably further away with another effort from the edge of the box a few minutes later.

The opening goal came with 33 minutes played as Boro failed to defend a cross from the West Ham left, the ball was squared through the penalty area untouched until Carlton Cole arrived at the back post to shoot low across Jones into the goalkeeper's bottom right-hand corner.

A flurry of corners towards the end of the first half saw hopes rise in the Boro camp, but the first half ended without Robert Green having a serious save to make.

Half-time: West Ham United 1 Middlesbrough 0

Gareth Southgate made two changes during the break, replacing McMahon and Julio Arca with Joe Bennett and Josh Walker.

But it was two more experienced players who combined to set up an equaliser that came four minutes into the second half.

Good approach work from Tuncay took him to the edge of the West Ham penalty area from where he set up Gary O'Neil, who drilled low across Green from a position just up from the left of the six-yard box.

Soon afterwards Mark Noble limped off to be replaced by Kieron Dyer and with 57 minutes played West Ham restored their lead.

There seemed little on from Junior Stanislas as he took possession 20 yards from goal, just away from the D. But he drilled a low shot which took a deflection and squirmed through the grasp of Jones.

The game became stretched, Bates defended a left-wing cross well, Bennett and Johnson combined to clear as Boa Morte dallied and Green saved well from an O'Neil free-kick.

The same player ended up among the West Ham supporters when unable to stop after seeming to control a short pass from Tuncay when running into the penalty area.

Bennett showed up well at left-back and shot just over from the edge of the penalty area, Jonathan Franks was given his first taste of Premier League football and David Wheater played most of the second half as a centre forward.

But whatever was tried, it wouldn't work.

As the minutes counted down the West Ham fans burst into a chorus of, 'You're going down in a minute'. Their team went for more and Jones made a fine full-length save away to his left to tip around a low drive from Boa Morte.

Several Boro players dropped to their knees on the whistle before going to the Boro fans who had, as expected, been magnificent.

The exchange between players and fans was touching.

West Ham United: Green; Spector,Neill (Capt), Upson, Ilunga, Kovac, Noble (Dyer 53), Collison (Di Michele 72), Boa Morte, Cole (Tristan 63), Stanislas. Unused subs: Lastuvka (gk); Lopez, Savio, Payne.

Middlesbrough: Jones; McMahon (Bennett 46), Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil, Bates, Arca (Walker 46), A Johnson, Tuncay (Capt), Emnes (Franks 80). Unused subs: Turnbull (gk); Williams, Grounds, Shawky.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Bookings

West Ham United: None

Middlesbrough: O'Neil, 86, foul.

Attendance: 34,007

Conditions: Warm and sunny with a very gentle breeze