Goals from Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon gave Middlesbrough their first victory in eight attempts.
Aitor Karanka's side scored on either side of the break at the Riverside to seal a 2-0 victory over the coastal club and push their points total into double figures.
The hosts dominated possession in the early stages of the clash, but both had opportunities in the first 34 minutes, the first of which came to the visitors when Joshua King's effort from a corner was cleared off the line.
Adama Traore felt hard done by when the referee waved away his penalty claims, despite being caught in the box, but Middlesbrough continued knocking on the door.
Bournemouth caused some trouble of their own when Jack Wilshere created an opportunity for King by lifting the ball over the top of the defence, and after controlling the ball with his chest, the midfielder's volley smashed against the crossbar.
The visitors had their own penalty shout denied around the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Victor Valdes clattered into King, and at the other end, George Friend slammed the ball into the side-netting after a swift one-two.
The deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Ramirez charged down the field before breaking away from Wilshere and cutting inside to unleash a shot, which flew past Artur Boruc.
Eleven minutes after the break, Boro extended their lead when Traore found Alvaro Negredo with a cross from the outside of his boot. The forward headed the ball down across the box for Downing to slot home.
Negredo would have made it three had he not fired straight at the goalkeeper, and at the other end, Bournemouth squandered an opportunity to pull a goal back when Charlie Daniels's ball for Adam Smith was blocked.
For the final 10 minutes, the Cherries were down to 10 men when Andrew Surman limped off with a hamstring injury, but the damage was already done as Boro held on to claim all three points.
Karanka's side are 14th in the league table, three points above the relegation zone, while Eddie Howe's men are 10th after registering their first defeat in seven.
Danielle Joynson
