Ipswich Town 0 Middlesbrough 2

An eighth clean sheet in the space of 11 league games was never really threatened, and while some might bemoan Tony Pulis’ devotion to the defensive side of the game, it can only be a huge positive that Boro’s promotion push is being built on such rock-solid foundations.

In Daniel Ayala and Aden Flint, the Teessiders boast two of the best centre-halves in the Football League. Throw in the equally reliable George Friend and Ryan Shotton, and you have a defence that has already proved it can cope with pretty much anything that is thrown at it in the Championship.

Crucially, last night, Boro also boasted an attacking threat to complement their brilliance at the back. Mo Besic and Stewart Downing scored a goal apiece in the opening 16 minutes to settle things, and while there was not really a need for the visitors to over-exert themselves from that point on, the Ipswich defence continued to come under pressure for the remainder of the game.

Striking the right balance between defence and attack hasn’t always been Boro’s strongest suit this season, but this was a night when they got things spot on.

Pulis has tinkered with a number of different formations in recent weeks, but it is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. With Adam Clayton suspended, the Boro boss was unable to stick with his tried-and-tested policy of fielding a holding midfielder in front of the back four. The result was comfortably the most effective midfield display of the season so far.

While Clayton’s defensive qualities are obvious, his presence as part of a midfield three can often stifle Boro’s attacking ambition. Passes go sideways, moves tend to be built at a pedestrian pace.

Last night, instead of fielding a midfielder whose primary concern was always defensive, the Teessiders lined up with a trio of players who were keen to get on the front foot. George Saville tended to find himself a yard or two behind Besic and Jonny Howson, but the midfield three were interchangeable and, as a consequence, there was a fluidity to Boro’s midfield play that had not really been apparent in their previous matches. At times, there was even four or five players breaking into the box.

With Martin Braithwaite drifting between the lines and occasionally swapping roles with Jordan Hugill, Ipswich’s defenders were flummoxed from the off. On Saturday, as they toiled to a draw at Hull, Boro had rarely looked like offering a goalscoring threat. Three days later, and they found the net twice inside the opening 16 minutes.

Besic claimed the first goal, and while his effort owed much to personal persistence, it was also a result of his dogged desire to carry the ball forward. Invited to break into a gaping 30-yard gap, the Bosnian carried the ball unchallenged before drilling a shot off Trevoh Chalobah.

There was an element of fortune to the way in which the rebound fell invitingly back into Besic’s path, but the midfielder made the most of it, advancing another five or six yards before caressing a precise finish into the bottom corner. It was his first goal since re-joining Boro this summer, and he celebrated with a touchline cuddle with his manager.

Ipswich, still searching for a first win of the season, looked edgy, and their fragile confidence was exposed further as Boro doubled their lead five minutes later.

An awful attempted clearance landed straight at the feet of Downing, but despite the winger shuffling towards the penalty area, no one attempted to close him down. The invitation to shoot was too tempting to resist, and while Downing didn’t quite get hold of his strike, a hefty deflection off former Hartlepool centre-half Toto Nsiala resulted in the ball finding the net.

Friend almost made it three moments later, firing in a near-post strike that was repelled by Dean Gerken, and while it was the final minute of the first half before Boro threatened again, with Ayala heading over, their control of the game was total.

Darren Randolph did not have to make a single save before the break, but with Paul Hurst opting for a double change at the interval, Ipswich at least started the second period with some added intent.

Freddie Sears was one of the players to come off the bench, and having been released into the left-hand side of the area, the former West Ham striker flashed a rising drive just over the crossbar.

For quarter-of-an-hour or so, the hosts threatened to build up a head of steam, but it takes a fair bit to unsettle Ayala and Flint, and Boro’s imposing central-defensive duo always looked like holding firm.

Sure enough, with their defence rock solid, the visitors gradually regained the upper hand, and Ayala proved his effectiveness at both ends as he nodded in a goal-bound effort that was headed away by Cole Skuse as he loitered on the line.

Friend whistled a cross-shot narrowly wide, before Hugill fired just past the post from 20 yards in what was to prove his final intervention before he was replaced by Britt Assombalonga.

The introduction of Paddy McNair shortly after confirmed Pulis’ desire to shut up shop, but Ipswich might have made things difficult had Randolph not produced a superb sprawling save with 18 minutes left. The Boro goalkeeper was unsighted as Chalobah drilled in a low shot, but got down superbly to claw the ball around the post.