Wait on road but Boro cry foul

when Friend was unable to control a mis-hit pass across the backline by Ayala. Receiving the resulting throw-in, Zaha nonchalantly curved a cross beyond the far post and Benteke’s height made the outcome inevitable.

‘It is very important for a striker to get that first goal and as soon as the cross came in, you knew,’ said Pardew. ‘I don’t think any defender could defend him in that position. When he’s on the back of you like that, he’s a bit like Andy Carroll.’

Ayala equalised against the run of play, only for Zaha to keep his composure after Friend’s indecision teed him up.

‘He didn’t start the last game because of the transfer situation,’ said Pardew. ‘But he was terrific. Not just the goal and the assist, which I have really been working with him on, but his defensive qualities, too.’

Palace survived two late appeals for handball against Scott Dann and Damien Delaney and Boro boss Aitor Karanka said: ‘It was handball. Everybody could see both.’

Discipline was a key facet of Boro finishing as Championship runnersup in May but Karanka refused to condemn his Friend’s calamities.

‘To blame George is the last thing I would do. He is the character of this team,’ he said. MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes 7; Barragan 7, Ayala 7, Gibson 7, Friend 5; Clayton 6 (De Roon 57min), Forshaw 7; Stuani 5 (Traore 81), Downing 7, Fischer 5 (Ramirez 57); Negredo 6. Subs (not used): Guzan, Chambers, Nsue, Rhodes. Booked: Ramirez. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Mandanda 8; Ward 7, Dann 7, Delaney 6, Kelly 7; Ledley 7 (Flamini 83), McArthur 8; Townsend 7 (Lee 76, 6), Puncheon 6, Zaha 7; C Benteke 7 (J Benteke 89). Subs (not used): Hennessey, Tomkins, Dreher, Fryers. Booked: Ward, Zaha.