Birstol City 0-4 Middlesbrough

By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Ashton Gate

Middlesbrough moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a thumping victory against 10-man Bristol City.

Boro forward Leroy Lita, who started his career at City, was the main architect of their downfall.

His shot just before the break was diverted into the City net by Robins defender Kalifa Cisse while Lita headed Boro's second after the restart.

Barry Robson scored the third before Lita converted a late penalty after David James was sent off.

It was a win that took Boro to within two points of City and ensured Tony Mowbray's team bounced back from their FA Cup exit at League Two Burton last weekend.

While it was Boro's biggest win of the season, it was the heaviest defeat for Keith Millen's side and ensured a second successive miserable afternoon at Ashton Gate after last Saturday's Cup exit against Sheffield Wednesday.

City had only lost three of their 14 Championship fixtures and had not been beaten in their last eight home league fixtures but they were very poor on Saturday.

The contest was virtually without incident until the unfortunate Cisse diverted Lita's low cross beyond David James and into his own net shortly before the interval.

Gary O'Neil, one of several Boro players linked with moves away from the club in January, twice forced James into action with long-range strikes, while a shot from the impressive Andrew Tayor deflected wide off Cisse.

It was a difficult afternoon for makeshift central defender Cisse, who was caught out of position several times, had an attempted clearance charged down by Lita and put the ball in his own net when it would have been easier to let James deal with the danger.

The home team were far too direct, allowing David Wheater and Matthew Bates to easily clear much of the danger.

Brett Pitman and Jon Stead worked hard but received precious little good service. Pitman, with eight goals in his previous eight games, was inches away from connecting with a cross from Stead and shot wide shortly before the break from a tight angle.

The quality did not really improve after the interval but once again poor defending from City contributed to their own downfall.

PAUL FLETCHER'S BLOG Boro have been the most disappointing team in the Championship this season

First Cisse missed out on the chance to head clear and then, after Boro had worked the ball out to the right flank, Steven Caulker allowed a cross from substitute Tony McMahon to bounce and Lita headed beyond James from six yards.

Cisse was withdrawn shortly afterwards, while Lita continued to menace his former team, narrowly shooting over with a dipping effort.

City might have been handed a lifeline from the penalty spot after a challenge on Albert Adomah by Nicky Bailey but referee Darren Drysdale waved play on, while substitute Ivan Sproule shot wide at the end of a purposeful run into the box.

But the result was put beyond doubt when Robson ended a mazy run with a shot that deflected past James and the home supporter's misery was complete when James was dismissed for a foul on substitute Cameron Park and Lita slotted the fourth.

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