Middlesbrough survived a strong second-half performance from Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure a 2-1 win at the Riverside in the Championship this evening.
© Getty Images
The hosts needed just three minutes to open the scoring as Patrick Bamford sprinted towards the Wolves goal before squaring the ball to Jelle Vossen, leaving the unmarked striker to slot it in.
Aitor Karanka's side doubled their advantage shortly after when Tomas Kalas came in from the left before pulling the ball back to Bamford, who sliced it past Carl Ikeme.
© Getty Images
Boro could have added a third inside the opening 20 minutes when Albert Adomah tried to convert from a high ball forward, but his finish came back off the crossbar.
Bakary Sako looked the visitors' best chance of getting back into the match as he charged down both flanks to provide a string of crosses, but the home side's defenders prevented him from creating a chance.
Sako did manage to find Danny Batth shortly before the break, but the Wolverhampton skipper's header failed to test Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Sako was on the charge again early in the second half, attempting to pick out Batth again, but the defender's header was off target for a second time.
Wolves did manage to cut the home side's lead in half within 10 minutes of the restart though as David Edwards sprinted down the right before crossing to Sako, who rounded a couple of defenders before firing into the back of the net.
Boro rallied as they tried to re-establish their two-goal cushion, but Adam Clayton's long-range finish was blocked before it reached Ikeme.
Benik Afobe gathered the ball on the edge of the box while Wolves were pushing for an equaliser, but he could not find a gap, but Konstantopoulos came off his line as Sako tried to convert from a loose ball.
Sako continued to lead the Wolves attack, lifting the ball in for Rajiv van La Parra, who had been left unmarked at the back post, but the winger was denied by the crossbar.
Lee Tomlin tried to put the win beyond doubt in the final minutes for the hosts, but his powerful 30-yard drive went just wide of the post.
Both sides continued to push in the closing seconds, with Bamford whipping a cross in for Boro which ended up going behind, before Afobe played a through-ball which came to nothing down the other end.
Bamford had a chance to chip the keeper deep in stoppage time, but his shot hit the crossbar after beating Ikeme, ensuring that the sides finished level.
With both sides above them also winning this evening, Middlesbrough stay third in the table, while Wolves sit eighth, three points outside the playoff places.
Sian Cowper
