Boro got their Sky Bet Championship season off to a winning start as Swansea City were beaten 1-0 at the Riverside.
Emmanuel Latte Lath's first half penalty proved to be the only goal as Boro registered a first opening day victory since 2014.
Possession
61%Shots
0Shots On Target
0Corners
1Fouls
91
0
Cards
2
0
Isaiah Jones went close on eight minutes with a chipped effort which dropped narrowly wide, but Boro did not have to wait too long to open the scoring.
Jones was fouled in the area and Latte Lath took responsibility, stroking home via the post to get his campaign up and running.
Seny Dieng made a brave and vital interception four minutes before half-time and Boro almost took full advantage, but Jones' goalbound drive on the stroke of the break was deflected over.
Middlesbrough: Dieng, Ayling, van den Berg, Clarke, Engel, Morris, Hackney, Jones, Azaz, McGree, Latte Lath
Subs: Barlaser, Burgzorg, Gilbert, Dijksteel, Howson, Hamilton, Coburn, Glover, McCormick
Swansea: Vigouroux, Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon, Fulton, Grimes, Eom Ji-Sung, Gonçalo Franco, Abdulai, Cullen
Subs: Pedersen, Vipotnik, Tjoe-A-On, Naughton, Broome, Cooper, Ronald, Watts, Thomas
Aidan Morris - who became Boro's 1000th player on his debut - drilled a low cross early in the second half which was deflected onto the post.
There were a series of further opportunities as the hosts looked to make the points safe, but Latte Lath, Finn Azaz and Jones were all unable to beat Vigouroux.
At the other end, Dieng kept a watchful eye on an Eom Ji-sung free-kick which flashed narrowly wide and Rav van den Berg made a vital late block from Liam Cullen.
Jones could have wrapped it up in stoppage time as he ran clean through on goal from the left, but his low shot was cleared off the line.
Michael Carrick's men were dogged in the latter stages as they kept Swansea at bay and ensured they would begin the season in winning fashion.
