Middlesbrough have beaten Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in the Championship after goals from Adam Reach, Diego Fabbrini and Christian Stuani.
Stewart Downing, returning to the Middlesbrough starting lineup, was first to trouble the Wednesday defence. First, his long-range effort was blocked before he shot over the bar from inside the penalty area.
Lucas Joao had Wednesday's first shot on goal on the half-hour mark but Dimi Konstantopoulos was equal to it.
Lewis Price was also called into action at the other end, making saves from Daniel Ayala and Reach.
Reach did give Boro the lead though on the verge of half time, volleying the ball into the net from a corner.
After the restart, Alex Lopez went close for Wednesday with a long-range effort that went narrowly wide of the left post.
Wednesday came out the traps in the second half, and Lopez again had a chance. This time, Konstantopoulos made the save.
They leveled the scoreline in the 63rd minute when Marco Matias beat Konstantopoulos from 20 yards.
All of Sheffield Wednesday's good work in the second half went to waste within two minutes though. David Nugent played in Fabbrini on the counter-attack, and the Italian finished into the far corner.
With 12 minutes remaining, Tom Lees headed narrowly wide of the goal from a Kieran Lee corner.
Stuani put the game beyond doubt in the 86th minute when he scored from close range after Nugent's knockdown.
Jonathan McIntosh
