TONY PULIS felt Middlesbrough produced ‘some of their best football of the season’ as they rediscovered their winning touch with a 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town.

Boro reclaimed second position in the Championship table, level on points with leaders Leeds United, as first-half goals from Mo Besic and Stewart Downing settled things at Portman Road.

The Teessiders defended superbly as they claimed their second away win of the campaign, with Daniel Ayala and Aden Flint’s commanding performances at the heart of defence helping secure an eighth clean sheet of the season.

However, they also displayed some attacking flair as they put the game to bed before the interval, with Besic’s return to the starting line-up significantly increasing their drive and creativity in midfield.

“I thought the first half-an-hour was as good as we’ve played all season,” said Pulis. “I thought we moved the ball quickly, and it was lovely having Mo back to that tempo that he played for us last year.

“When he plays that way he makes other people play, he gets the ball to Stewart and to Martin (Braithwaite) and players like that. He gives them the opportunity and the time because he takes that tempo out of the game.

“The big disappointment is that we got sloppy at 2-0 and you can’t do that, you’ve got to keep that tempo up. But it’s the third game on the bounce on the road, and that’s tough.

“The way they’ve worked tonight, at the end I thought they looked a little bit tired, but their attitudes were fantastic through the game.”

Having fielded a five-man defence in recent weeks, Pulis reverted to a flat back four as Boro inflicted Ipswich’s first home defeat of the season.

The change had the desired effect, with Darren Randolph only having to produce one save all night. The Boro goalkeeper palmed Trevoh Chalobah’s shot around the post in the second half, but was a spectator for the vast majority of the game as a succession of Ipswich attacks foundered in the face of some characteristically resolute Boro defending.

“The lads have worked with me for seven months so they know (what to do),” said Pulis. “If we play (with a five) they know what we want, and if we play four, they’ll know what we want too.

“I spend a lot of time on the pitch coaching. I don’t just say, ‘We’re going to change it’. We were going to have a swim on Sunday, but I decided because we were going to change to a four that we’d get on the grass and work on it, and that’s what we did Sunday and Monday.”

At the other end of the field, Boro’s attacking interplay caused Ipswich problems all night, with Downing and Braithwaite repeatedly breaking into the box to support lone striker Jordan Hugill.

“I was pleased with the interplay between Stewart and Martin,” said Pulis.  “We talk about getting them in pockets, but sometimes we don’t do it because we don’t retain or play the ball quickly enough.

“Saville, Besic and (Jonny) Howson did that tonight at times really, really well. When you get the opportunities to get Stewart and Martin into pockets, they can play. They are two good players.”