Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Middlesbrough 0.
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers2MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough0
Wolves moved into the Championship play-off places with a comfortable win over Middlesbrough.
Kenny Jackett's side took the lead through a Bakary Sako penalty after Nouha Dicko had been fouled in the box.
Dicko's powerful run and superb finish into the roof of the net made it 2-0 with 17 minutes remaining.
And Wolves, who also hit the bar through David Edwards' header, were not to be denied the win, which lifts them up to fourth in the table.
This brings them level on points with third-placed Boro, who had won their previous two games.
Aitor Karanka's side had their chances, with Jelle Vossen hitting the bar and Patrick Bamford twice being denied by smart Carl Ikeme saves.
However, Wolves were fully deserving of the win, which is only their second in eight games - a run which included them throwing away a 3-0 lead to draw at Millwall on Saturday.
Jackett's side were the more positive throughout and were rewarded for this in the 33rd minute when George Friend's foul on Dicko allowed Sako to chip in a penalty.
Edwards should have made it 2-0 but his downward header from a good position bounced up off the turf and onto the bar.
The win was sealed, though, in the 73rd minute when Dicko scampered into the area, bulldozed his way past two challenges and fired high into the net from eight yards.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett:
"Our forwards have very good ability and generally have done well for us. They can be as good as the team and if we can give them the service it'll be hard to stop them - a lot of forwards are like that.
"The service they get does dictate how they do. It's hard to get good forwards for this level, it's a very expensive business.
"If you can get some young and develop them that can be the best way."
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka:
"They deserved to win the game. The thing for me is I am disappointed because we have lost the game in the way we knew they were strong.
"We knew the biggest threats were Sako and Dicko and we couldn't stop them in 60 or 70 minutes."
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ikeme
- 2Doherty
- 6Batth
- 23Ebanks-LandellBooked at 90mins
- 15Rowe
- 14Evans
- 11McDonald
- 7Henry
- 4Edwards
- 10SakoSubstituted forJacobsat 63'minutes
- 40DickoSubstituted forClarkeat 78'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 3Golbourne
- 5Stearman
- 9Clarke
- 12Sagbo
- 18Ricketts
- 27Jacobs
- 31Flatt
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Konstantopoulos
- 5Fredericks
- 4Ayala
- 22Omeruo
- 3Friend
- 27Adomah
- 7LeadbitterBooked at 83mins
- 18Whitehead
- 20ReachSubstituted forTomlinat 65'minutes
- 21VossenSubstituted forWildschutat 76'minutes
- 23BamfordSubstituted forKikeat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gibson
- 9Kike
- 10Tomlin
- 24Nsue
- 29Veljkovic
- 33Wildschut
- 40Mejias
- Referee:
- Carl Berry
- Attendance:
- 18,391
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Middlesbrough 0.
Booking
Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Kike (Middlesbrough).
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Foul by Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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George Friend (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).
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Attempt missed. Kike (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Foul by Tommy Rowe (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter.
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Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
