TONY PULIS was delighted that Middlesbrough proved they have what it takes to put the transfer window behind them by beating promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion 3-2 this afternoon.

The Boro boss walked deep on to the Hawthorns pitch after the final whistle to celebrate in front of more than 1,700 travelling fans after seeing his team come from behind to beat his former club.

Pulis was given abuse from the Baggies supporters throughout the 90 minutes and he ended up with the last laugh because of substitute Britt Assombalonga’s late double.

Assombalonga’s future had been uncertain before Thursday’s deadline but he remained at the club and scored his tenth and 11th goals of the season to lift Middlesbrough up to level points with fourth-placed West Brom.

Pulis said: “The window, and all the nonsense, is closed now, everyone can concentrate on settling down again and getting on with the job at hand.

“It’s been a negative period because we didn’t bring anyone in, it was real negativity around the place.

“That’s why I went to supporters at the end, they were here today in their numbers, and it was a thank you. They were fantastic.

“There has been a lot of negativity because the club hasn’t had a go, not getting promoted … you have just seen the players out there wanting to get promoted.”

Assombalonga emerged from the bench to turn up the heat on their Championship promotion rivals at a freezing cold Hawthorns.

The £15m striker, who was a substitute when he hit the winner at Birmingham in these parts a few weeks ago, was only introduced after Dwight Gayle had put West Brom ahead in the 63rd minute.

Newcastle striker Gayle’s effort looked to have put West Brom, sitting a place above Boro in the play-off zone, on course for victory having already seen Jay Rodriguez (42) cancel out George Saville’s 16th minute opener.

But Assombalonga did the rest. Despite being one of the players who could have left before the window closed on Thursday, he hit two fine goals in the 75th and 83rd minutes to seal the points for Middlesbrough.

Pulis, under fire from West Brom fans throughout, celebrated as Middlesbrough climbed level with their opponents in fourth and to within four points of second.

The Middlesbrough manager said; “The Albion have got more players in their squad who can step up in the Premier League than any other team in the Championship.

"They have a fantastic young manager, Darren Moore is going to be a top manager, and his team play for him, they are a really good team.

“The two goals they scored are two scuffed deflections that have gone in, but they still had lots of opportunities and they have real quality.

“We tried to make a change just before their second because I felt there were spaces in certain areas opening up, we tried to get Britt on and those spaces were there. They are so open, play attractive football, and when Britt came on he was very good.

“He should have had a hat-trick and I have just told him that in there!”

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-3-3): Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Field (Brunt 83), Barry (Livermore 79), Harper; Gayle, Rodriguez, Robson-Kanu (Murphy 75). Subs (not used): Bond, Bartley, Adarbioyo, Montero.

MIDDLESBROUGH (5-4-1): Randolph; Shotton, Ayala, Flint, Fry (Assombalonga 64), Friend; Mikel (van la Parra 75); Wing, Besic (Howson 54), Saville; Hugill. Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), McNair, Clayton, Downing.