Marvin sends Boro top

Ten-man Middlesbrough moved to the top of the table after Marvin Emnes' eighth goal of the season earned them a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

The Dutchman netted from a sharp angle on 65 minutes before the visitors were reduced in number after Joe Bennett was sent-off for a second yellow card with sixteen minutes remaining.

Patrick McCarthy headed over early on for the hosts before Boro's on loan keeper Carl Ikeme saved from Jermaine Easter and Jonathan Parr.

Former Boro target Julian Speroni had to collect a 25-yard attempt from Barry Robson before turning over a Justin Hoyte cross after the break.

However, the Argentine keeper couldn't prevent Emnes from giving his side the lead with a fine volley after Robson's cross had been helped on.

But the loss of England Under-21 international Bennett for a foul on substitute Wilfred Zaha meant a testing late period for the visitors and Easter soon crashed an effort against the crossbar.

Boro still remained firm for the duration and Emnes shot wide during the closing moments as they made it eight successive wins on their travels.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, McCarthy, Moxey, Tunchev, Ramage, Wright (Williams 80), Parr (Murray 68), Ambrose (Zaha 66), Jedinak, Scannell, Easter

subs (unused): Price, Gardner

Middlesbrough: Ikeme, Hoyte, Bates, McMahon, Haroun (McManus 79), Bennett, Bailey, R. Williams, Robson, McDonald (Thomson 76), Emnes

subs (unused): Zemmama, Martin, Kink

Goals: Emnes (65)

Ref: Sutton

Att: 15,198

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