Goals:

0-1: Djuric (9, got in between Friend and Ayala to volley inside the far corner)

1-1: Friend (18, outjumped Baker in the area to glance in Traore’s corner);

2-1: Ayala (68, headed Traore’s corner over the line despite Brownhill’s efforts)

Referee: Andrew Madley (Huddersfield) – officiated the game reasonably well and tried not to stop it. 7

Bookings: Besic (9, foul); Friend (19, foul); Reid (45, foul); Clayton 56, foul); Pack (77, foul)

Attendance: 24,812

Entertainment: **

Boro BCity

Shots on 3 3

Shots off 18 7

Corners 4 2

Offsides 2 2

Fouls 16 17

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1):

5 Randolph: Didn’t have too much to do but when he was called upon he did what he had to;

6 Shotton: Solid enough performance down the right

8 AYALA: Another goal to add to his collection

6 Gibson: Helped Ayala along and did what he could to keep out the Robins’ attacks

8 Friend: Impressive from start to finish in both directions and that included a fine goal;

6 Clayton: Didn’t hit the heights of the last promotion year but still played reasonably well;

7 Traore: Much better from the Spaniard after a few indifferent displays

5 Howson: Had an early effort fly over the bar and could have done with doing more

5 Besic: Will be disappointed not to have stopped the ball in the build up to the opener

5 Downing: Could have done with doing more in the final third;

5 Bamford: Had started brightly before the horrible collision with Flint.

Subs:

Assombalonga (for Bamford 35): Needs to show greater composure. 5

Fabio (for Downing 88)

Cranie (for Traore 90)

(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Fry, Harrison, Baker.

BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): Fielding 5; Bryan 5, Baker 6, Flint 6, Kelly 4 (O’Dowda 67, 5); Brownhill 6, Smith 5, Pack 7, Reid 5; DJURIC 7 (Pisano 46, 5), Diedhiou 4 (Taylor 67, 5). Subs (not used): Steele (gk), Eliasson, Magnusson, O’Neil.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DANIEL Ayala – no wonder Tony Pulis rates him so highly in both boxes.