Bristol City have moved up to third in the Championship following a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate in Saturday's meeting.
Two goals in three minutes from Bristol left-back Joe Bryan and forward Jamie Paterson saw the hosts take full control of the tie early on in the second half, but they were pegged back shortly after when Robins defender Hordur Magnusson scored an own goal.
The hosts had the best of the chances in the first half as midfielder Marlon Pack had an effort cleared off the line by Middlesbrough striker Brit Assombalonga, which summed up the visitors' contributions at the other end.
Centre-back Nathan Baker also came close but his diving header was saved by Darren Randolph as Garry Monk's men got through the first half with a clean sheet.
The Robins were fast out of the blocks in the second period, however, and were ahead after 51 minutes as Bryan was able to head the ball past Randolph.
Bristol continued to press following the restart, and Paterson doubled their advantage after meeting an Aden Flint cross to finish.
Middlesbrough's only decent attacking spell of the game arrived when Magnussen nodded the ball into his own net, which gave the visitors impetus to find an equaliser.
Monk's side were unable to do so, however, as Bristol kept up the pace with the Championship playoffs while Middlesbrough have now lost three of their last four.
Bristol City (4-4-1-1): Fielding; Wright, Flint, Baker, Magnusson; Brownhill, Pack, Smith, Bryan (Djuric, 74); Paterson (Eliasson, 82); Reid (Leko, 89)
Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Christie, Fry, Gibson, Da Silva (Bamford, 78); Forshaw, Howson; Downing (Johnson, 67), Braithwaite (Gestede, 57), Traore; Assombalonga
Jonny Whitfield
