Tim Howard kept a clean sheet in an Everton win over Marcus Hahnemann's Reading, while Fulham fell to Middlesbrough despite a comeback from Brian McBride.

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JAGIELKA HEADER LIFTS EVERTON
Tim Howard picked up his third straight clean sheet for the Blues in their 1-0 victory over Marcus Hahnemann's Reading, who have now lost seven straight league games.

Bobby Convey sat the match out to receive follow-up knee treatment in the States after playing for the US in a friendly against Mexico.

The game got off to a quick start when Stephen Hunt's first minute free kick challenged Howard, but he was there for the save.

Andrew Johnson had a chance in the 20th minute, but Hahnemann saved the hard and low shot. John Oster then came close to putting Reading ahead, but his 20-yard free kick went just over the bar.

Tim Cahill had a pair of chances for Everton in the first half. First, Leon Osman sent in a cross, but the Aussie put his shot from eight yards out wide of goal. Cahill then just barely headed the ball over the crossbar in the dying minutes of the first half off a Mikel Arteta corner.

Everton manager David Moyes decided to put in James Vaughn for Manuel Fernandes in the beginning of the second half. The forward didn't waste any time and he put in a low cross that Cahill was just inches away from putting in the net.

Phil Jagielka put the Blues in front in the 62nd minute. Osman flicked a corner kick to the defender and he put a high header into the right side of the net. The goal was Jagielka's first league goal for Everton on the season and the team's first goal since January 20th.

Everton almost scored another when Osman's cross from the left side hit the crossbar. Vaughn also had a chance on a fantastic overhead kick, but Hahnemann made a diving save.

Reading had one more good chance in the game when James Harper hit the outside of the post. Shortly after that, Johnson could have put Everton up by two, but put his shot wide.

Everton remains in fourth place with the victory, while Reading drop into the relegation zone in 18th place.

Scoring
EVE - Phil Jagielka 1 (Leon Osman) 62'

Line-ups
EVE - Tim Howard; Philip Neville, Joseph Yobo, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Lee Carsley, Manuel Fernandes (James Vaughn 46'), Leon Osman, Tim Cahill, Andrew Johnson

REA - Marcus Hahnemann; Graeme Murty, Ibrahima Sonko, Kalifa Cissé, Nicky Shorey, John Oster (Jimmy Kébé 81'), James Harper, Marek Matejovsky, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson (Shane Long 75')

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EARLY GOAL ENOUGH FOR BORO
Jérémie Aliadière put Middlesbrough up 1-0 in the 11th minute and that would be the final score over visiting Fulham on Saturday.

Clint Dempsey came into the game at the start of the second half, while Brian McBride was subbed into the game in the 64th minute. Kasey Keller and Carlos Bocanegra were on the bench, but Eddie Johnson was not on the roster.

Middlesbrough earned a corner on their first attack of the game in the opening minute, but Robert Huth headed wide of the post. Huth had another chance a few minutes later from Stewart Downing's corner, but he nudged it over the bar.

Aliadière struck to open in the 11th minute. The striker beat Fulham's offside trap on the right side and received a through pass from Gary O'Neil to put the ball through Niemi's legs from 12 yards out. He would have other chances in the first half, but the Frenchmen's low shots were saved by Niemi.

Shortly after the goal, Danny Murphy put a 25-yard shot just barely over the crossbar for Fulham. Simon Davies also had a good shot on goal that was saved by Mark Schwarzer and the two teams went to the locker room with Boro up one.

McBride made his presence known when he chased down a long ball and fed it to Jimmy Bullard. The midfielder then gave it to Andreasen, who forced Schwarzer to make a diving save, but it would be the last of Fulham's good looks at goal.

Middlesbrough's £12 million signing, Afonso Alves, made his debut for the club when he came in for Dong Gook Lee in the 57th minute, but the Brazilian striker did make an impact.

Fulham remain in 19th place, three points behind 18th place Reading and 17th place Birmingham. Fulham's next game is at Craven Cottage against West Ham on February 23rd.

Scoring
BORO - Jérémie Aliadière 3 (Gary O'Neil) 11'

Line-ups
FUL - Antti Niemi; Paul Stalteri, Chris Baird, Brede Hangeland, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, Jimmy Bullard, Leon Andreasen, Diomansy Kamara (Clint Dempsey 46'), Erik Nevland (Brian McBride 64')

BORO - Mark Schwarzer; Luke Young, David Wheater, Robert Huth, Emanuel Pogatetz, Gary O'Neil, Fábio Rochemback, Julio Arca, Stewart Downing, Jérémie Aliadière (George Boateng 76'), Dong Gook Lee (Afonso Alves 57')

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LIONS FALL AT FOREST
Millwall couldn't take the opportunity to lift themselves out of the bottom three yesterday, falling 2-0 away to Nottingham Forest.

Zak Whitbread started and played the full 90 for Millwall, who performed exceedingly poor away from home, barely managing one shot on goal throughout the contest.

Luke Chambers opened the scoring for Forest, with a nice headed goal off a Kris Commons assist to start off the second half.

Eleven minutes later Forest doubled their advantage, as Julian Bennett took advantage of some lax Millwall defending, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to give his side a deserved 2-0 lead.

Millwall could barely mount a challenge, and in fact should have lost the game 3-0 as a Wes Morgan header ricocheted off the crossbar in the closing stages.

Scoring
NF - Luke Chambers 4 (Kris Commons) 48'
NF - Julian Bennett 2 58'

MW - Rhys Evans; Andy Frampton, Paul Robinson Zak Whitbread, Gary Alexander, Neil Harris (Lewis Grabban 67'), Jay Simpson, Ali Fuseini, Ahmet Brkovic (David Martin 59'), Marc Laird, Marcus Bignot

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DONS HOLD FIRM AFTER DRAW
MK Dons didn't extend their lead at the top of the League Two table, but they certainly didn't do much to hurt it with a 1-1 draw against fourth place Rotherham.

Jemal Johnson came on as an 87th minute substitute for Milton Keynes, who now sit in pole position with 62 points, six points ahead of second place Darlington and eight points ahead of Rotherham.

It didn't take long for Dons to get started as Kevin Gallen netted just 16 minutes in, but Danny Harrison hit a dramatic equalizer eight minutes from time.

Scoring
MKD - Kevin Gallen 6 16'
ROT -  Danny Harrison 3 82'

MKD - Willy Gueret; Dean Lewington, Drissa Diallo, Carl Regan, Danny Swailes, Keith Andrews, Lloyd Dyer, Mark Wright, Alan Navarro, Jordan Hadfield (Jemal Johnson 87'), Kevin Gallen

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ON THE SIDELINE
Neither Eddie Lewis nor Benny Feilhaber dressed for Derby County's 3-0 loss to Tottenham.

Jonathan Spector was a stoppage time sub as West Ham drew 1-1 with Birmingham.

Watford topped Ipswich 2-1 to climb back into first place without the services of nicked captain Jay DeMerit.

Injured defender Cory Gibbs did not take part in Charlton's 2-0 Saturday win over Crystal Palace.

Likewise, Frank Simek missed out as Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-1 at Bristol.