ASHLEY FLETCHER has got a smile on his face again after signs his partnership with Britt Assombalonga could be exactly what is required to fire Middlesbrough to Championship safety.

For the third game in a row one of that pairing found the net to help Boro end a ten-match winless run against Barnsley on Wednesday night, taking Jonathan Woodgate’s side out of the bottom three.

Fletcher hit the winner just days after he ended his wait since August to find the net and those followed on from an improved display against Queens Park Rangers from him in the final third.

Assombalonga scored both of Middlesbrough’s goals that afternoon at Loftus Road and he has also looked much sharper and happier on the pitch in the two games Fletcher has struck his goals. He had also only scored since August.

The energy shown by the duo reflects a pair that is happy to play together – having previously been asked to play in different ways but rarely as a front two.

And Woodgate’s decision appears to be paying off, so Fletcher is keen for that to continue because he is convinced Fletcher and Assombalonga can continue to hit it off and help Middlesbrough turn things around.

“I do suit playing with someone up front,” said Fletcher. “Even when I was at Barnsley I had Sam Winnall up front with me and we complimented each other really well.

“I would say me and Britt too, we are also good mates and that helps. We spend time together, you see that on the pitch. You could see that with the goal on Saturday, I knew where he would be and he put me in.

“If people take notice of the fact I did well at Barnsley with a striker alongside me then so be it, but I do think I am suited to that. Me playing with someone helps me.

“I think Britt would say the same. The relationship does help. I have heard people say about Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, they used to spend a lot of time together at Man United and that was reflected on the pitch. They helped each other.

“Me and Britt are like that, a lot of us socialise together. Me and Britt know there is extra responsibility on us because there aren’t many options. We have to take that on. We know we haven’t scored as many as we should do but hopefully this is the turning point.”

Fletcher and Assombalonga have shown greater movement in the final when working together as a two, having previously been on the pitch more often as lone striker or as part of a three.

Their confidence reached new highs on Sunday when their clever play and understanding ended with Fletcher scoring the second against Hull after playing a lovely one-two with Assombalonga.

“Someone said it was like Boro-celona,” said Fletcher. “We practised that move day in and day out so when it comes off it is sweet. They are the performances we need to make more consistent and we won’t be in trouble at all if we repeat those.”

Middlesbrough are now unbeaten in three and have only lost one of their last six games, even though the victory over Barnsley was the first in ten.

The three points were crucial in lifting Middlesbrough out of the bottom three ahead of this Saturday’s trip to title-chasing Leeds United.

Fletcher said: “We said to each other we have to start taking ownership of the position we are in and we did that on Tuesday. The last two games we have done that.

“Football is a funny game. Like me, I hadn’t scored for nine games or something and now I have scored in the last two. It’s crazy. The turning point I hope was Wednesday and we can go in to Saturday positive.

“100 per cent we have deserved to win. The manager has stayed positive throughout our wait for a win and that has been key, as players we have never felt worried.

“We have felt the position wasn’t good enough but we have too much quality in the squad to be where we are. Hopefully we can turn these performances in to wins.”

Middlesbrough will head to Elland Road with a few more injury concerns to think about, with Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel added to the treatment room.

Having finally got the victory Middlesbrough needed in midweek, there is a feeling that more will soon follow because they had not got the rub of the green on many occasions during their slump.

Fletcher said: “You can look at three or four performances where we have been well and truly beaten. But Huddersfield I missed a good chance, two yards out, if that goes in we win. The 3-3 at Luton, we could have been 4-2 up with Britt’s penalty.

“Just talking here that’s six points where we could be higher. These fine margins are crucial and can shoot you up the table. We have been hard done by but we can’t let our heads go down.

“We are a positive group. I knew our fortunes would change, we had tricky conditions on Wednesday but it was one of those results where we had to grind it out and we have done.”