Full-time: Charlton 0 Middlesbrough 1

TONY MOWBRAY had a win to savour at The Valley when Lukas Jutkiewicz nodded in the only goal of the game to defeat Charlton Athletic.

After two successive defeats to start the new campaign, Boro delivered a solid performance from start to finish to lay the foundations for the winning goal 18 minutes before the end.

It meant Middlesbrough, who included lively £1m new-boy Albert Adomah on the right and fellow debutant Frazer Richardson, could enjoy their first competitive win since April to bring a few smiles back to the Teessiders.

Middlesbrough's problems against Accrington and Leicester in the last two matches have been put down to a lack of attacking threat.

And the search continues for a new striker after having an initial offer for Leeds' Ross McCormack rejected.

But there was plenty of encouraging play at The Valley, where on loan Hungarian Jozsef Varga shone in the middle with Grant Leadbitter.

With the exception of a distance drive from Varga inside two minutes which was held by goalkeeper Ben Hamer, Charlton controlled Jutkiewcz relatively comfortably.

But, after a couple of scares to Jason Steele's goal in the second half, the former Coventry striker grabbed the game's elusive goal to seal the points for Boro.

When Leadbitter's corner was floated in, Hamer misjudged it. Varga headed back in to the area and Jutkiewicz was the only one in a crowded box to get a decent touch and head over the unguarded net's line.

Despite Steele's enforced withdrawal through injury – closely followed by Leadbitter – Middlesbrough held on to a much-needed and spirited three points.