Albert Adomah scored twice as Middlesbrough thrashed Doncaster Rovers 4-0 at the Riverside Stadium tonight in Mark Venus's first game as caretaker manager.
The in-form midfielder, who has now scored five times in his last three games, scored a first-half brace, before goals from Kei Kamara and debutant Daniel Ayala completed the rout on Teeside.
In their first game since the sacking of Tony Mowbray, it took Boro just seven minutes to take the lead as Adomah lobbed Rovers keeper Ross Turnbull from 20 yards with the outside of his foot.
It was a mixed night for Turnbull, who conceded four but also made several fine stops to ensure that Doncaster's defeat was not by a more embarrassing margin.
He twice saved well from Mustapha Carayol in the first period, while the Boro winger wasted another chance to test the former Chelsea stopper when he shot over the crossbar following Marvin Emnes's layoff.
Adomah got his second before the break, climbing above Reece Wabara at the back post to head past Turnbull, and Kamara increased Boro's lead further when he poked home Grant Leabitter's cross on 67 minutes.
It proved to be the goal that put the result beyond Doncaster, who had previously threatened through Rob Jones and James Coppinger, who also had an effort well blocked by Jonathan Woodgate.
A fourth goal from Ayala, who headed in Leadbitter's corner on his first appearance since signing on loan from Norwich City, gave Venus's audition to take over on a permanent basis a perfect finale, and resulted in the hosts climbing into the top half of the Championship on goal difference.
