Marcus Tavernier's first league goal gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 win over Sunderland in a northeast derby on Sunday as the Black Cats remained firmly rooted to the foot of English football's second-tier Championship table.

Defeat in this Tees-Wear clash at the Riverside Stadium meant managerless visitors Sunderland had now gone 14 league games without a win.

Even before teenage striker Tavernier scored the only goal of the game in the sixth minute, Sunderland had a chance to take the lead when Lewis Grabban, following up after Darren Randolph spilt Didier Ndong's shot only for the Boro goalkeeper to block the striker's follow-up.

The decisive moment of the match came just minutes later when 18-year-old Tavernier scored from Martin Braithwaite's pull-back at the near post after former England international Stewart Downing had made inroads into the Sunderland defence.

Victory took Middlesbrough into the top of the Championship table but left Sunderland a point behind Bolton Wanderers at the foot of the table.