Albert Adomah's fourth and fifth goals in his last three games have earned a Middlesbrough side under the guidance of caretaker boss Mark Venus a 2-0 half-time lead over Doncaster Rovers.
Venus is in temporary charge following the sacking of Tony Mowbray, and his reign began with a goal after just seven minutes of play at the Riverside Stadium.
In-form Adomah latched on to a chipped through-ball from Kei Kamara, before lobbing Ross Turnbull with the outside of his foot from 20 yards, with the Rovers keeper opting not to rush out and make a challenge.
Boro's lead could have been doubled soon after, as Marvin Emnes laid the ball off perfectly into the path of Mustapha Carayol, who shot over the crossbar from just inside of the area.
Carayol, who had earlier forced Turnbull into a smart low save, was denied a third Boro goal by the former Chelsea stopper, moments before the end of a half in which the hosts had the majority of the goalscoring opportunities.
It was Doncaster who were the first to threaten, with James Coppinger shooting inches wide of the post from 12 yards on five minutes, but it was all about Boro and Adomah from then on.
