MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) - Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere's first-half goal clinched a 1-0 win over Fulham that lifted his side towards safety and pushed the visitors deeper into relegation trouble.

Aliadiere struck early on at the Riverside Stadium and that was enough to extended Middlesbrough's unbeaten run to seven matches.

Gareth Southgate's side can start to breathe easier as they climb towards mid-table, but Fulham are in danger of slipping into the Championship.

The west London club fought hard but lacked the cutting edge to get a goal. It was a familiar story for Roy Hodgson's side, who are without an away league win in 30 attempts.

Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough's record signing, was only on the bench after being given a work permit this week, with Lee Dong-Gook preferred alongside Aliadiere up front.

Even so, Alves's presence on the sideline was an obvious threat to Middlesbrough's forwards and they started as if determined to prove their worth.

Hard running from Aliadiere won a first minute corner and Robert Huth lashed a volley just wide from Stewart Downing's set-piece.

Lee followed suit as he pressured Antti Niemi into conceding a corner and the same combination nearly undid Fulham again as Huth headed over from Downing's delivery.

The breakthrough Middlesbrough deserved duly arrived in the 11th minute.

Aliadiere looked as though he was offside when he ran onto Gary O'Neil's through-ball but the flag stayed down and he cut into penalty area before firing low under Niemi for his third goal of the season.

Huth threatened yet again from another Downing corner but Fulham's shoddy marking wasn't punished as he headed over.

Fulham have scored just seven away goals in 12 fruitless matches on their travels this season. They finally forced Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer into action when Danny Murphy's effort was scrambled around the post.

Aliadiere gave an instant response as the French forward fired a long-range effort straight at Niemi.

Simon Davies came close for Fulham when he was set up by Diomansy Kamara, but his shot flashed wide.

Southgate handed Alves his debut late in the second half in place of Lee but, although he worked hard, the 12 million pounds man never had a chance of grabbing a debut goal.