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Once renowned for their sloping pitch, Yeovil spent 90 minutes last night sporting the anguished looks of men running steeply uphill. Billed as a wide-eyed adventure for Russell Slade and his players, their Carling Cup match at the Riverside Stadium proved a humbling experience; while they waded through treacle, Middlesbrough glided on casters.

A fine performance from the Barclays Premier League club was not flattered by the five goals mustered by Mido, Didier Digard, Jeremie Aliadière, Marvin Emnes and Adam Johnson and, on the sort of form that they have already shown this month, Middlesbrough should be regarded as a threat in this tournament. Having won it in Cardiff in 2004 – their only significant trophy – there is a hankering for Wembley.

Redesigned by Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough are already a far more fluid unit than four years ago and, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur and narrowly lost to Liverpool in the league this season, there is cause for optimism in these parts. Sterner tests will follow, but the omens are positive.

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As for Yeovil, unbeaten this season before their journey north – four games without defeat had included a victory over Charlton Athletic in the first round of this competition – they found Middlesbrough in unforgiving mood. Showcasing speed, guile and tenacity, Southgate’s players neatly stepped over the banana skin.

The League One side may have breached Ross Turnbull’s defences on the brink of half-time – Gavin Tomlin, the striker, converting Darren Way’s free kick – but that felt like brittle compensation for a 610-mile round-trip. By that stage, Middlesbrough had already scored three goals and effectively decided the fixture.

If the home side benefited from some fortune when Mido’s eleventh-minute shot ballooned off Lee Peltier’s outstretched boot to loop above Josh Wagenaar, it was a lonely example. Justin Hoyte, Emnes and Digard made assured full debuts for Middlesbrough, with the latter intercepting the opponents snatching possession from Yeovil and driving crisply to make the score 2-0.

Aliadière had already had a fine shot tipped over the crossbar by the time he joined in proceedings. Emanuel Pogatetz, the captain, repelled a Yeovil attack, surged forward 50 yards and played in the French striker, who cut inside to score.

If Tomlin’s intervention sparked concern of an improbable comeback among the home crowd, it was soon assuaged. Within a minute of the restart, the advantage had again been stretched, with Emnes meeting a superb cross from Hoyte with a powerful header.

There was more. In the 65th minute, Johnson, Stewart Downing’s deputy on the left wing, scored with a terrific curling shot. This was one mountain Yeovil were not about to climb. Middlesbrough (4-4-2): R Turnbull – J Hoyte, C Riggott, E Pogatetz (sub: R Williams, 74min), J Grounds – A Johnson, M Shawky (sub: J Walker, 60), D Digard, M Emnes – J Aliadière (sub: G O’Neil, 59), Mido. Substitutes not used: J Steele, Afonso Alves, Tunçay Sanli, S Downing. Yeovil Town (4-4-2): J Wagenaar – L Peltier (sub: C Alcock, 83), T Forbes, T Skiverton, N Jones – G Roberts, K Murtagh, D Way (sub: M Bircham, 62), J Dayton – P Warne (sub: A McCollin, 62), G Tomlin. Substitutes not used: L Irish, L Owusu, A Brown, N Smith. Booked: Bircham. Referee: S Mathieson.

Derby County may still be searching for their first league victory in almost a year, but Paul Jewell’s side are developing a winning habit in the Carling Cup. They progressed to the third round yesterday with a 1-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale. Birmingham City, the Coca-Cola Championship leaders, were beaten 2-0 away to Southampton. Crystal Palace were thrashed 4-0 by Leeds United at Elland Road, while Queens Park Rangers beat Carlisle United by the same score, Emmanuel Ledesma scoring a hat-trick. Reading added to Luton Town’s troubles with a 5-1 victory.