Middlesbrough have opened up a 2-0 lead over Wolverhampton Wanderers after making a quick start to their Championship clash at the Riverside this evening.
The home side took the lead just three minutes into the match when Patrick Bamford burst forward before squaring the ball to Jelle Vossen, leaving the unmarked striker to slot it into the bottom corner.
It did not take Aitor Karanka's side long to double their advantage as Tomas Kalas played his way into the box before pulling it back to Bamford to slice it past Carl Ikeme.
Boro could have had a third inside the opening 20 minutes as Albert Adomah controlled a high ball forward before smashing the ball towards goal, but it was kept out by the crossbar.
Bakary Sako tried to get the visitors back into the game, providing a string of crosses into the box, but Middlesbrough were able to clear each time.
Sako did manage to find Danny Batth from a corner shortly before the interval, but the Wolves captain's header was off target, while Dimitrios Konstantopoulos denied Kevin McDonald moments later.