GARRY MONK lost the battle of the new managers when Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves claimed an opening day three points against Middlesbrough at Molineux.

Monk was left disappointed as his first match in charge of Boro in the Championship ended with a 1-0 defeat on a day when he was left in doubt about how tough it will be to gain promotion this season.

Leo Bonatini, one of Santo’s summer recruits, was the man to hit the winner in the 33rd minute when he made the most of a howler of a pass from Daniel Ayala.

Middlesbrough, despite spending more than £40m so far this summer, had a couple of golden opportunities to level and there were promising performances, particularly from £15m man Britt Assombalonga.

But Wolves it were who ended up winning, with Middlesbrough left to work on improvements ahead of Sheffield United’s visit to the Riverside next Saturday.

It was a game pitting two of the Championship’s most active teams in the transfer market together on the opening weekend, with Middlesbrough fielding six new faces and Wolves seven in their starting line-up.

And, despite promising opening competitive debuts from Assombalonga and Cyrus Christie, it was Wolves who looked the more confident for the majority of the game.

Middlesbrough, trying to play with a fluid system which saw players interchange positions regularly, struggled to force their way into clear scoring positions until after Wolves’ opener; and even then they were not regular.

In fairness the home side, despite being the brighter on home turf in front of a sell-out crowd, only had one chance themselves before that when £15m midfielder Ruben Neves failed to connect properly after a free-flowing move.

Even for the goal Wolves needed a helping hand. Ayala was guilty of a dreadful square pass which gifted Bonatini with a route to goal. Signed from Al-Hilal, the striker coolly slotted beyond Darren Randolph.

Middlesbrough – who didn’t include either Adama Traore or Stewart Downing in the travelling party - should still have been level before the break. Martin Braithwaite, however, glanced a free header from ten yards wide after a brilliant run and cross from Christie down the right.

Monk cut a frustrated figure, knowing there is still clearly work to do on the training field to get the players playing the way he wants in a new system for them all. Middlesbrough struggled to create chances for the £30m strikeforce and the triumvirate of Assombalonga, Braithwaite and Ashley Fletcher was broken up when the latter was taken off to accommodate Patrick Bamford just before the hour.

And moments after Wolves had a penalty shout waved away at one end when Bright Enobakhare looked to have been tripped by Clayton – who regularly dropped in as a third centre-back – Middlesbrough had big claims at the other.

John Ruddy, the Wolves goalkeeper, raced out of his box to beat Assombalonga to the ball and the shouts from Monk and the away end were for a hand rather than head that cleared his lines. Nothing given, and the home side continued to press.

After that Assombalonga almost levelled when he got in behind to latch on to Bamford’s pass only to be denied by Ruddy and that sparked Middlesbrough’s best bit of pressure. Still, though, there was no equaliser and Middlesbrough’s starts in defeat.

WOLVES (3-4-3): Ruddy; Boly, Coady, Miranda; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Enobakhare (Edwards 77), Bonatini (Dicko 57), Jota (Graham 83). Subs (not used): Norris, Bennett, Batth, Ronan.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-2-1): Randolph; Christie, Ayala, Gibson; Clayton; Howson (Gestede 81), De Roon (Forshaw 65); Fletcher (Bamford 57), Braithwaite, Assombalonga. Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Fabio, Fry, Leadbitter.