MIDDLESBROUGH outlined their promotion credentials once more with a straightforward victory over Charlton Athletic.

Goals from Patrick Bamford, Jelle Vossen and Lee Tomlin sealed victory for Aitor Karanka’s side, with Johan Gudmundsson restoring parity before half-time.

Derby County and Bournemouth both won, so Boro stay in third in the Championship.

Boro started in electric fashion, getting off the mark with a Patrick Bamford glancing header on five minutes, before Grant Leadbitter rifled wide on 13 minutes.

Lee Tomlin, crowned player of the month yesterday, started off a move which culminated in Bamford drawing a save out of Marko Dmitrovic as the hosts looked to seal victory that could have propelled the Teessiders into the automatic promotion places.

But Charlton were quick on the counter, and after Bamford had lost possession, Gudmundsson finished off a flowing move by passing the ball into the roof of the net with Dimi Konstantopoulous getting a hand to it.

Jelle Vossen hit a first-time effort on the stroke of half-time but the sides went in level at the break.

Vossen went one better straight after the interval, slotting home from Tomlin’s square ball.

And while Charlton toiled, Boro completed the victory on 88 minutes when Tomlin fired home on the half-volley.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Gibson, Omeruo, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah (Reach 71), Tomlin, Bamford (Forshaw 71); Vossen (Kike 89). Subs: Mejias, Woodgate, Whitehead, Kalas.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Dmitrovic; Solly, Ben Haim, Onyewu, Fox; Gudmundsson, Buyens (Le Point 85), Veljkovic (Jackson 34), Cousins; Church (Vetokele 58), Watt. Subs: Etheridge, Wilson, Gomez, Bikey.