Schwarzer may have let in three goals but he saved countless others and ended up victorious in his personal duel with Birmingham’s Mikael Forssell, the outstanding outfield player on show.

Forssell is on loan from Chelsea and Ken Bates’ description of him today as the best striker the west Londoners have did not seem so outlandish after this performance.

He scored two goals himself, created another for Clinton Morrison, hit the woodwork and was thwarted on several occasions by Schwarzer. It was only a shame he had to end up on the losing side.

Middlesbrough’s victory was built on a team effort. Massimo Maccarone with a double provided the cutting edge to Gaizka Mendieta’s creativity after the Spaniard had begun the goal-fest himself with Gareth Southgate and Szilard Nemeth also getting in on the action.

It had all seemed so unlikely before kick-off where the gales had been so fierce that the main ticket office had to be closed due to wind damage.

That had not boded well for the match as a spectacle, a drab 0-0 draw – a Riverside speciality this season – seemed to be beckoning, but how wrong we were. It could have been 5-5 at half-time.

Middlesbrough immediately showed the value of playing the ball on the ground with a terrific move that ended with Mendieta putting the home side in front in the fifth minute.

Joseph-Desire Job did well to hold the ball up under pressure and feed Juninho, who sprinted forward before laying the ball off to Mendieta on his right. The Spaniard struck a low first-time shot which arrowed unerringly into the far corner.

Forssell sent a threatening header looping past the angle after Damien Johnson had made headway for Birmingham before Boro went 2-0 up in the 21st minute. Mendieta carved Birmingham open again down the right before driving in a cross that Maccarone reached first to give Maik Taylor no chance.

But just when Boro were celebrating a bad error by Danny Mills led to Birmingham clawing their way back into the game. Stan Lazaridis caught the England full-back in possession, robbed him and found Forssell. The Finn steadied himself before curling in an accurate shot.

It could have been all-square again when Morrison’s cross found Lazaridis unmarked and the Australian’s header looked goalbound – only for Schwarzer to pull off a tremendous save and tip the ball against the crossbar.

Instead, Middlesbrough who scored again. Mills made up for his earlier mistake by heading Mendieta’s corner back across goal where Southgate toe-poked the ball into the net from eight yards.

Both defences were all over the shop and there was more trouble for Birmingham when Juninho broke free and laid a peach of a ball across the edge of the penalty box. Maccarone’s step-over was delightful but Jonathan Greening could not put the icing on the cake, dragging his drive wide.

Forssell was then unlucky to hit the woodwork with a header before Schwarzer twice came to the rescue of Middlesbrough. First he saved point-blank from Bryan Hughes after more good work by Forssell then he flung himself full-length to turn aside Lazaridis’ effort which was heading for the corner.

A minute before half-time and the Forssell-Clinton partnership cut the deficit once more. Once again Forssell caused havoc and once again Schwarzer saved only this time Morrison was following up to finish from close range.

The action was not over though, not by a long chalk. Maccarone picked up possession on the left of the area from Mendieta’s deep pass and stepped past Martin Taylor before bending a marvellous effort into the top corner.

Still Birmingham came back, this time Morrison seeing his shot parried by Schwarzer onto the top of the crossbar.

Nothing could beat the first half for entertainment but the second 45 minutes was still hugely enjoyable.

Substitute Stern John had flashed a half-chance high and wide before Forssell grabbed his second of the game to put Birmingham right back in the hunt, and if they was a touch of fortune involved it was only what the Finn deserved.

Martin Grainger bent in a good free-kick from near the left touchline but Forssell’s leap made all the difference as he bulleted a header against the post, the ball then rebounding between Schwarzer’s legs and over the line.

A run of fantastic skill and power almost brought a hat-trick for Forssell but Schwarzer was able to block, then Morrison’s overhead flick landed on the roof of the net.

Mendieta volleyed across goal as Middlesbrough tried to ease the pressure then Schwarzer made another great save from Lazaridis.

Substitute Nemeth ended the contest in the 90th minute with a fifth for Boro, rounding Taylor after a slip by Matthew Upson.