Boro deservedly returned to winning ways with a controlled performance at Stoke City.
Marcus Forss fired Michael Carrick’s side into the lead just before the midway point in the first half, but a second goal proved elusive and Stoke equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Our response after the break was clinical, with goals from Tommy Conway and Finn Azaz ensuring the points would return to Teesside.
Possession
56%Shots
16Shots On Target
6Corners
1Fouls
62
0
Cards
2
0
Boro were left frustrated to go in at half-time level after having the better of the opening 45 minutes.
Morgan Whittaker struck wide from long range with Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson stranded early on and there was also an opening for Conway, who prodded past the post.
Whittaker was heavily involved and sent a dipping effort narrowly over before having another one pushed away by Johansson.
Boro’s bright play was rewarded on 20 minutes when a fluid move saw the ball find its way to Forss, who cut onto his left foot and unleashed an arrow into the top corner from the edge of the area.
There was a big chance for a second after Forss got in down the right and squared for Conway, but his strike from close range cleared the bar.
Stoke stemmed the flow of Boro attacks and fired a warning when they forced Mark Travers into a double save from Lewis Baker and Million Manhoef.
Their equaliser came in the 45th minute, with Bae Junho on hand to finish Andrew Moran’s low cross at the back post.
Forss had a header saved in stoppage time but the teams headed in at the break with nothing to separate them.
Stoke: Johansson, Wilmot (Tchamadeu 70'), Phillips, Rose (Bocat 76'), Stevens, Baker, Seko (Pearson 70'), Manhoef (Koumas 62'), Moran, Bae Jun-Ho, Lowe (Gallagher 61')
Subs: Pearson, Koumas, Bonham, Thompson, Bocat, Gallagher, Tchamadeu, Tezgel, Fawunmi
Middlesbrough: Travers, Dijksteel, Fry, Edmundson (Ayling 49'), Neto Borges, Morris, Hackney, Forss (Burgzorg 68'), Whittaker, Azaz (Iling-Junior 87'), Conway (Giles 87')
Subs: Barlaser, Iheanacho, Burgzorg, Ayling, Glover, Giles, Iling-Junior, Dede, McCabe
A strong start to the second half signalled Boro had recovered quickly from the blow of seeing their lead cancelled out.
It took just seven minutes for the Teessiders to go back in front, with Hayden Hackney finding Conway after a driving run. He laid it on to Azaz, who stroked home clinically from just inside the area.
There were further opportunities for Conway and Neto Borges, who both fired into the side netting.
The crucial third Boro goal came on 73 minutes, with Conway playing a give and go with Azaz before slotting past Johansson.
Stoke battled for a way back into the game in the time that remained but Boro remained resolute to claim all three points.
