Middlesbrough consigned Barnsley to their fourth straight away defeat at the Riverside this evening.

Visiting Barnsley began well and were almost ahead after strikers Andy Gray and Craig Davies tested Jason Steele while his namesake Luke in the other goal prevented Marvin Emnes putting the home side ahead.

The first half fizzled out with both sides seeming content to let the other play as the opening period ended goalless.

Boro found the opener 15 minutes after the break when centre-back Seb Hines was allowed a free run to head home Barry Robson's whipped corner.

Barnsley pushed for an equaliser late on but it was the home side who went two ahead when Tykes keeper Steele played the ball straight to substitute Bart Ogbeche on the edge of the area who dinked cleverly over the keeper.

The win for Tony Mowbray's men, combined with Blackpool's loss at Derby, puts them fourth, while Barnsley drop a place to 16th.