MIDDLESBROUGH’S players lifted the pressure that had been increasing on Garry Monk as they returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

The victory, which came courtesy of goals from Martin Braithwaite and Patrick Bamford, saw the Teessiders leapfrog their opponents as they climbed to eighth in the Championship table.

Boro produced one of their most accomplished displays of the season as they comprehensively drew a line under their two-game losing run, and the rousing cheers that greeted the final whistle confirmed that Monk’s job is safe, at least for the time-being.

The Boro boss had found his position called into question in the last few days, but this was a performance full of effort and commitment that confirms he retains the support of his squad.

Monk was clearly infuriated with his side’s performance at Bristol City last weekend, and the Boro boss made three changes in an attempt to spark a reaction, with Daniel Ayala, Grant Leadbitter and Bamford all returning to the starting line-up.

Bamford played in the ‘number ten’ role, with Braithwaite moving across to the left, and the former Chelsea loanee was the key figure in the early stages as he dropped deep in an attempt to link play between Boro’s midfield and their lone striker, Britt Assombalonga.

The Teessiders dominated possession in the first half, although it took them quite a while to start creating chances.

They did not record their first attempt at goal until the 18th minute, although it might well have resulted in a goal had Ben Gibson made a cleaner connection as he slid in to reach Stewart Downing’s free-kick. Gibson scuffed his shot, enabling Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski to make a routine save.

Gibson had already produced an excellent defensive clearance at that stage, hooking away Bersant Celina’s dangerous cross from the left, but with Ipswich’s attacking severely limited, the hosts were able to focus most of their attention on the opposition’s half of the field.

They went close midway through the first half, but while Downing delivered an inviting deep cross, overlapping full-back Fabio Da Silva could only drill a first-time volley into the side netting.

Assombalonga forced Bialkowski into a decent 40th-minute save as he drilled in a fierce low shot following a deft through ball from Braithwaite, but Boro survived a defensive scare shortly after as Martyn Waghorn was almost allowed to turn and shoot on the edge of the six-yard box.

It looked like the interval would arrive with the sides locked together in a stalemate, but Boro broke the deadlock a minute before the break.

There was an element of luck to the opener, with Grant Ward’s attempted clearance from Downing’s cross landing straight at Braithwaite’s feet. The Dane steadied himself on the edge of the six-yard box, before drilling home a clinical low strike.

Boro merited their advantage, and duly doubled their lead just six minutes after the interval. While their opener owed much to Ipswich’s failings, their second goal was a cracker.

Cyrus Christie rolled the ball to Bamford, and after cutting in from the right-hand side, the forward drilled an excellent 20-yard shot into the bottom left-hand corner. It was Bamford’s first Championship goal since April 2015, and reminiscent of so many of the finishes he produced during his loan spell at the Riverside.

Bamford’s movement troubled Ipswich all afternoon, and he almost set up Assombalonga moments after claiming his goal. His slick through ball sent Assombalonga scampering clear, but Jonas Knudsen produced an excellent sliding block just as Boro’s leading goalscorer looked primed to pull the trigger.

With Boro completely dominating proceedings in the second half, Assombalonga went close again midway through the second half, but his header from Christie’s right-wing cross sailed over the crossbar.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio; Leadbitter (Forshaw 90), Howson; Downing (Johnson 77), Bamford (Gestede 80), Braithwaite; Assombalonga.

Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Friend, Fry, Traore.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Bialkowski; Spence, Chambers, Webster, Knudsen; Connolly, Skuse; Ward (Bishop 61), Huws (Garner 46), Celina (Sears 61); Waghorn.

Subs (not used): Crowe (gk), Iorfa, Downes, Kenlock.