Boro earned a hard-fought three points on the road as Matt Clarke's bullet header and Aidan Morris' deflected strike were enough to beat Cardiff City.
A patient approach from Michael Carrick's side reaped dividends at the Cardiff City Stadium and secured a second league win of the campaign.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening 45 minutes.
Cardiff were on the front foot in the early stages but Boro gradually proved to be the more threatening side.
There were several dangerous counter-attacks and two 20 yard efforts from Finn Azaz which were kept out by home goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
A goal eluded the game heading into the half-time break, however.
Things burst into life within two minutes of the restart when Cardiff were inches away from going in front. Aaron Ramsey’s shot was cleared onto the post by Luke Ayling before Seny Dieng palmed away a long range strike from Chris Willock.
Dieng then produced a better stop from Ramsey, tipping the experienced midfielder’s powerful drive over the bar.
Boro weathered the Cardiff storm and then turned the tables, with Azaz forcing a fine low save from Horvath from the edge of the box.
The resulting corner led to the opening goal on 55 minutes, with Azaz’s inch-perfect delivery sent flying into the bottom corner by the head of Clarke.
Boro were now in control and after probing for a second, it arrived eight minutes from the end.
Substitute Alex Gilbert received the ball on the inside-left of the box and pulled it back to Morris, who rifled a low effort which took a deflection before nestling in the goal.
Morris later fired a ball across the face of goal which Emmanuel Latte Lath was just unable to slide home, but Boro had already done enough to secure maximum points on the road heading into the international break.
