Full-time: Wolves 2 Middlesbrough 0

AFTER going seven matches without losing in the Championship, Middlesbrough were given a firm reminder of just how tough it will be to force their way in to the automatic promotion spots at Molineux.

A year to the day when Tony Mowbray lost his job with Boro sitting closer to the relegation zone than a play-off spot, his successor Aitor Karanka had to look on in frustration as Wolverhampton Wanderers prevented his team from climbing in to the top two with a fifth away win in a row.

Apart from a spell after Bakary Sako had stroked Wolves ahead from the penalty spot with 12 minutes remaining of the first half, Middlesbrough never looked like extending their unbeaten run just a few days after impressively winning at Brighton.

The home side, last season’s emphatic League One champions, could have won by more but in the end had to make do with just the second on the night when striker Nouha Dicko was allowed to work his way in from the left and find the net.

Middlesbrough were never going to be able to keep up the impressive form which had seen them go through the whole of September and half of October undefeated, but they should have performed better than they did here.

Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who spent time on loan at the Riverside under Mowbray, and his suspect defence never really looked in too much danger, except for in the closing stages of the first half – and now all eyes on Teesside turn to Saturday’s visit of second-placed Watford.

After an impressive start to Wolves’ first season back in the Championship, their form had stuttered going in to this after winning just one of the last seven matches. At home, though, they had proven difficult to beat after losing just one of their previous five.

It was the second statistic which was more relevant as Wolves looked dangerous, particularly at the start of each half, with Dimi Konstantopoulos the busier and asked to make a couple of decent saves.

Konstantopoulos, who had Kenneth Omeruo ahead of him in defence again after his recall instead of Ben Gibson, might not have been needed when Sako’s burst in to the box saw the winger power a shot in to the side-netting inside two minutes.

The Greek goalkeeper was needed shortly after. He had already had to be alert to hold a James Henry curler destined for the top corner before he made a finger tip save over his crossbar to deny a thunderous free-kick from Sako.

All Middlesbrough had to show from the opening half hour was a lowly driven, albeit well struck, 35-yard free-kick from Grant Leadbitter which was comfortably held by Ikeme at the other end. Jelle Vossen, who did plenty of running outside of the penalty area, and Patrick Bamford struggled to make inroads towards the Wolves goal initially.

And when Dicko barged his way in to the Middlesbrough area in the 33rd minute, he drew a little shove from George Friend and referee Carl Berry pointed to the spot. Konstantopoulos may have equalled the earlier efforts, but Sako’s audacious chip down the middle sent the keeper the wrong way.

That sparked Middlesbrough in to life, with Vossen volleying against the bar and Ikeme just recovering in time to gather the rebound ahead of the lurking Bamford. That was the sort of influence the pair needed to show more of after being selected ahead of Lee Tomlin and Kike.

Tomlin, who scored at Brighton, and Kike were named on the bench just four days after appearing on the south coast but their replacements took their time to get going. Before half-time, though, both were unfortunate not to level things up.

When Vossen played a lovely pass behind the defence, Bamford’s drive was saved by Ikeme. The Belgian then saw his rebound blocked, with claims for a handball from Ethan Ebanks-Landell dismissed, and then Bamford hit the side netting with the second.

There was also a header from Vossen which was held by Ikeme seconds before the break which must have had Karanka wondering why it took his players until they had fallen behind to perform.

And yet, despite the interval to stress his concerns, Wolves dominated the first phase of the second half too. After Ikeme almost spilled an Albert Adomah cross over his line at one end, Kenny Jackett’s side should have been clear before the hour.

Konstantopoulos had already done just enough to turn behind a dangerous free-kick from Henry when he saw Dave Edwards’ downward header six yards bounce up on to the bar and to safety.

There was also a rasping drive from Kevin McDonald which shaved the top of the woodwork, which saw Tomlin and Kike introduced at the expense of ineffectual Bamford and Adam Reach.

A lack of urgency was still present, despite Friend having an effort saved, and then a routine ball down the left led to the second 17 minutes before the end. Dicko picked up the ball, turned both Ayala and Fredericks inside out, and then powered a finish high beyond Konstantopoulos.

Middlesbrough struggled from there on in, with substitute Michael Jacobs almost adding a third. Boro can’t afford too many nights like these if they seriously fancy staying in the hunt for a top two spot, but they remain third.