FOR Middlesbrough, a third successive Championship win and a first clean sheet this season; for Isaiah Jones, a first league goal since last November; for Lukas Engel, reason to smile after a testing start to life on Teesside.

Emmanuel Latte Lath was smiling too after the striker came off the bench to wrap up Boro’s 2-0 victory over Cardiff City as Michael Carrick’s side continued their climb up the Championship table.

It was telling that as many Boro players raced to congratulate Engel as they did Jones after the Danish left-back teed up the opening goal against the Bluebirds on Tuesday night.

Such was Engel’s struggle in his last Boro start at Sheffield Wednesday, he was hooked at half-time. When he was replaced here in the final minute and with Boro’s win secured, he received a standing ovation.

Despite Carrick’s public backing for Engel in the last fortnight, it was difficult to envisage another opportunity coming any time soon simply on the evidence of the first few weeks of the season and with Carrick appearing to have found a winning formula lately. But circumstance and misfortune elsewhere handed Engel his opportunity, and had it not been for his 56th minute delivery, Boro might well have had to settle for a point against the stubborn Bluebirds.

To get to Engel being handed a start, we must first update on Boro’s injury situation. Lewis O’Brien hurt his ankle at Watford so was ruled out of Tuesday night’s game and Rav van den Berg, who was expected to deputise at left-back, also picked up a knock so was absent. And while Alex Bangura was fit enough to return to the bench – as was Anfernee Dijksteel – it was Engel who got the nod.

And ironic cheers in the first half turned into a Riverside roar of celebration in the second.

After his Hillsborough nightmare and his unconvincing start at Boro, this was a big night for Engel but in the early stages, despite being free on the left and repeatedly on for the pass, he was hardly given the ball, with his teammates instead opting to force the matter through the middle. When the left-back finally received a pass from Paddy McNair, it was greeted by ironic cheers from the home fans.

Fair play to the defender, he kept making the runs, kept asking for the ball and in the second half he got his rewards. Nobody will expect Engel to turn into Ryan Giles overnight but on a personal level it was impossible not to be delighted for the defender, who was noticeably and understandably boosted afterwards.

And how buoyed Boro will be heading to Sunderland on Saturday. Engel wasn’t alone in suffering in the first half at Sheffield Wednesday. Carrick’s side were dreadful in the opening 45 minutes at Hillsborough but fought back to get a point, which should have been three, and have since won three on the bounce in the league as well as booking a date against League One opposition in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

And their latest success came without captain Jonny Howson, who was ill. Dan Barlaser came into the midfield alongside Hayden Hackney and Tommy Smith returned at right-back.

Cardiff were tipped for a season of struggle before a ball was kicked but have been one of the surprise packages in the early months of the campaign and headed for Teesside on the back of four straight Championship wins that lifted them into the top six.

They have a decent record at the Riverside as well and had won three of their last five games in this neck of the woods, including their 3-2 success here last season, one of the results that led to Chris Wilder’s exit.

Their only win in four games on the road this season prior to Tuesday’s game, however, was at Sunderland, a smash and grab when they set up to stifle and frustrate before snatching a late winner. Signs of frustration were setting in at the Riverside midway through the first half. Boro were sluggish and sloppy early on and the game was crying out for an injection of urgency.

The only effort – if you’d class it as such – on target in the opening half of the first period was a Ryan Wintle header that only just reached Seny Dieng. The gloves of visiting keeper Jak Alnwick remained sparkling white until Sam Greenwood forced him into action with a dipping shot that was tipped over.

Cardiff’s best chance in the opening period came down Boro’s right, where Tommy Smith was caught out by Karlan Grant who ran in behind but was denied by Dieng, who made a good save with his feet.

Boro improved as the first half progressed but never really looked like scoring. And they very nearly fell behind shortly after the restart.

Ollie Tanner turned this way and that inside the box before taking aim for the far corner, his effort crunching back off the post.

Engel stepped up 11 minutes into the second half and created the opening goal. After his first cross from the left was only half cleared, the left-back pounced on the loose ball and fizzed in a second low delivery that was turned in by Jones, his first goal in the Championship since the 3-0 win at Blackpool 11 months ago.

Cardiff were just starting to ask questions of Boro when Latte Lath wrapped up the points. The home side broke and Forss played in his fellow substitute, who had too much pace for the last Cardiff defender but looked to have taken it too far wide, only to cooly cut back on himself and find the bottom corner.