Paul Wilson, The ObserverMiddlesbrough, who went into this game having won just twice in ten games since Strachan’s arrival in October, saw their hopes of a shock recede dramatically when winger Adam Johnson limped out with a recurrence of a hamstring injury before the interval. Without Johnson, Boro lacked the one player capable of worrying City.
Mancini’s team were rarely troubled by the home side in the first-half and City should have gone in with a greater half-time lead than the one goal provided by Benjani in the 45th minute.
It is a third successive clean sheet under Mancini, too, which has to be counted as a significant improvement, even if the Italian has not encountered any of England's more potent attacking forces yet. Boro are miles behind even Stoke and Wolves when it comes to causing problems for defences, which is why Strachan is struggling at Championship level. He must envy Mancini his gentle introduction to English football.
Bob Cass, Mail on Sunday
As a warm-up for next Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final against United, Middlesbrough provided the perfect workout. Will we then see what the new boss is really made of in that first leg at Eastlands?
The blue and white scarf which Mancini presumably sleeps in was a necessary antidote to the freezing cold rather than a lucky adornment.
His winter of content continued with a no-frills victory over a Boro side which, apart from a token flurry near the end, provided scant opposition.
Jason Mellor, Independent on Sunday
The hosts were stymied in their efforts to spring a shock by the early loss of Adam Johnson with a recurrence of a hamstring injury which denied them of their most eye- catching player. Middlesbrough enjoyed plenty of possession, but barring a second-half header from Rhys Williams which landed on the roof of the net, City goalkeeper Shay Given will earn few easier clean sheets this season.
Steve Lillis, News of the World
City's mix-and-match side included full debuts for Dedryck Boyata and Vladimir Weiss, but they always looked capable of exposing Boro's back four.
Benjani sees more of Martin Petrov on the training ground than his does the pitch but they quickly linked up.
They served notice of what was coming late in the first half when they played a delightful one-two, which Petrov wasted - firing wide with his right peg.
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