MIDDLESBROUGH’S UNDER-23s were beaten by Fulham for the fourth time this season as they suffered a 1-0 defeat this afternoon.

Playing at Fulham’s Motspur Park training ground, Boro came close to breaking the deadlock when Bradley Fewster latched onto an errant back-pass, only for the striker’s shot to be saved by Jesse Joronen.

Alex Pattison spurned a decent opening midway through the second half, before Fulham claimed the only goal of the game with 15 minutes left.

Adetayo Edun delivered a dangerous ball into the middle, and Mattias Kist beat Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears with a back-post header.