IT was a night when Middlesbrough were due some good fortune and, in conditions that must have had the Riverside crowd fearing the worst beforehand, it finally arrived.

And Jonathan Woodgate got to enjoy a third win as head coach, preventing a winless run extending to 11 matches for only the third time in the club’s history in the process – the second time since World War Two.

He was, though, quick to point out that Middlesbrough head to Leeds United on Saturday unbeaten in three, saying “focus on the positives” rather than dwell on what could have been.

Yet how Middlesbrough and Woodgate needed this, and the relief was clear at the final whistle as he applauded the fans who stuck with him on a night when those who stayed out of the rain and remained at home could hardly be blamed.

Middlesbrough have improved of late, but Woodgate’s methods and his message needed a victory to maintain the belief in the dressing room that things would turn around. Now that it has arrived, the challenge is on to build on it.

Ashley Fletcher, revitalised in his striker role with a partner and friend in Britt Assombalonga, scored for the second time inside a week, only this time it proved to be the winner.

It might not have been created in the quality of his second against Hull, but the difference this time was that it proved to be vital in the 54th minute – when Barnsley’s two men trying to stop him slipped comically across the sodden surface.

Not that that mattered. Middlesbrough climbed out of the relegation zone courtesy of that goal, when anything could easily have happened in the atrocious weather. Barnsley, who didn’t play too badly themselves, threatened aplenty but remain rooted at the foot of the table and without a win in 17 games.

Something had to give as the two teams with the worst winless runs in the division went head-to-head, and the wind and heavy rain suggested an unpredictable evening would be on the cards.

The sight of water splashing up off the surface every time a player kicked the ball was hardly ideal, neither was a couple of men slipping as they shaped to cross or path.

There was also an early chance at both ends when the defenders clearly looked reluctant to go to ground. Barnsley’s was first when Aynsley Pears let Dimitri Cavare’s cross slip from his grasp after the fullback got to the byline.

The loose ball looked like ending in the Middlesbrough net but Lewis Wing did well to block Luke Thomas’ initial effort and then Jonny Howson, operating in the back three again, was on hand to prevent the rebound flying in.

Almost immediately, with the home fans sensing Barnsley could play a bit in the final third, Middlesbrough went on the attack. Assombalonga darted beyond Bambo Diaby and his shot that beat Samuel Radlinger had to be incredibly hooked clear by Ben Williams on the line.

After that there was a period where neither side took control of possession, but Middlesbrough’s chances were not helped with just 23 minutes on the clock courtesy of yet more injury frustration.

This time Anfernee Dijksteel fell victim to the conditions. He appeared to jar his knee when he slipped as he ran on the wet surface, so left-back Marc Bola was asked to slot in on the right. Within seconds he was beaten down his line, and soon after Mike Bahre had an effort held by Pears.

Just before the break Cauley Woodrow hammered over a drive from 25 yards after Thomas run at the Middlesbrough defence was followed by a tidy little pass to his right for the former Liverpool forward to hammer at.

But as a few boos and heavier rain greeted the half-time whistle, there was something even greater for the Middlesbrough fans to worry about … Assombalonga limping towards the tunnel. They needn’t have, he had a crucial role still to play.

Barnsley had probably edged the first half in terms of possession and getting into good areas, although there was nothing in it. Woodgate needed his players to conjure up something a bit different after the restart, and he had his men out during the break for a warm-up.

But Middlesbrough were soon on the back foot. Within four minutes Brown, who caused Bola problems every time he had the ball, curled an effort against the bar. Barnsley sensed they could take advantage.

Then Middlesbrough got the bit of luck they needed. Assombalonga’s poor pass down the line looked comfortable for Cavare, but the conditions put enough doubt in his mind to allow Marcus Tavernier to beat him to the ball.

Tavernier squared to the onrushing Fletcher and his heavy first touch, when he could have shot, led to Radlinger and Mads Andersen slipping and sliding so the forward could just tap into the empty net.

Having finally enjoyed a bit of good fortune that Woodgate and his players have cried out for, it was suddenly a case of whether or not Middlesbrough could hold on to their lead. Barnsley pressed occasionally, but the hosts defended well enough.

Assombalonga went close to extending the lead too. He drilled a low effort that had to be well saved by Radlinger’s feet, and the loose ball fell kindly for Barnsley to clear.

There was also another Radlinger save when Coulson went clean through, with the wingback’s finish rolling through the keeper’s legs and behind when a second seemed a certainty.

In the end the biggest surprise was that Middlesbrough did not win by a bigger margin. They certainly had the chances and Barnsley’s Austrian keeper was the reason why they didn’t score more. Assombalonga was denied twice by him inside a couple of minutes.

There was one more late chance for Assombalonga, denied again after rounding the keeper, but it didn’t matter. The wait for three points was finally over.