Will Lankshear’s brace helped Middlesbrough condemn West Bromwich Albion to a first league loss of the season in a 3-1 win at the Riverside Stadium.
Lankshear nodded Middlesbrough in front with a 48th-minute headed rebound opener from a deflection off the back of Max O’Leary.
The 21-year-old then swept in Boro’s 73rd-minute winner from O’Leary’s deflection of Kyle Joseph’s shot, before Ayling sealed victory with a 87th-minute finish.
West Brom got a brief consolatory equaliser through Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s 65th-minute header into the top-left corner from Isaac Price’s dinked cross.
Middlesbrough now sit fourth and above West Brom who slipped to sixth on goal difference in the Championship table.
Unbeaten at home this season, Middlesbrough began on the front foot but struggled to break down West Brom’s resiliently organised line-up in the opening 15 minutes.
West Brom almost punished Boro’s lack of quality in the 16th minute as Jayson Molumby slipped a low diagonal cross in from the right, yet Felix Hom Myhre flicked his shot wide of the far-bottom left corner on his right foot.
Price then forced a save from Boro’s Radek Vitek just three minutes later as he swung a cross into the box which evaded his own teammates.
Boro eventually crafted their first notable opportunity on the half-hour mark as Callum Brittain slipped Riley McGree in, but the Aussie fired his shot wide across goal past the far-bottom right corner.
West Brom stood firm to keep the game goalless into half time as Boro finished the opening half on top in which Will Lankshear saw a shot blocked by George Campbell in additional time.
Middlesbrough quickly continued their late first-half momentum on the restart as three minutes into the second half, Morgan Whittaker’s curled strike rebounded off the left post onto O’Leary’s back and away for Lankshear to nod in to put the hosts in front.
O’Leary however spared West Brom’s blushes with a save to prevent Ousmane Diakite nearly flicking Lankshear’s cutback pass into his own net in the 56th minute.
West Brom however remained composed going forward and found a 65th-minute equaliser after Morgan nodded Price’s cross into the top left corner.
Harry Whitwell then saw a shot blocked two minutes later after he met an exceptional left-flank dribble from Campbell.
Boro however restored their lead in the 73rd minute as Joseph’s shot was deflected by O’Leary for Lankshear to swiftly sweep in on the rebound.
Vitek maintained Boro’s lead with a 83rd-minute deflection of Price’s curled strike towards the top-right corner.
Boro eventually sealed victory in the 87th minute after Joseph’s shot was deflected for Ayling to rifle into the far-bottom left corner, albeit via a final touch from Alfie Jones but Ayling was credited with the goal.
What’s Next?
Middlesbrough head to Burnley on Wednesday 2 September in their first midweek league fixture of the season at Turf Moor, with kick-off set for 8pm BST.
West Brom are too in action on 2 September as they host Charlton at The Hawthorns in a 7:45pm kick-off.
Teams
Middlesbrough: Radek Vitek, Callum Brittain, Luke Ayling, Adilson Malanda, Neto Borges, Myles Peart-Harris (Berhalter 46′), Riley McGree (Joseph 69′), Morgan Whittaker (Jones 69′), Aidan Morris, Jeremy Sarmiento (Arfsten 40′), Will Lankshear (Conway 86′)
Substitutes: Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Sol Brynn, Leo Castledine, Tommy Conway, Alfie Jones, Kyle Joseph, Ashley Phillips, David Strelec
West Brom: Max O’Leary, Nolan Galves, Nat Phillips, George Campbell, Callum Styles, Harry Whitwell (Nzingoula 70′), Jayson Molumby (Tunde 77′), Ousmane Diakite, Isaac Price, Felix Hom Myhre (Heggebo 77′), Jimmy-Jay Morgan
Substitutes: Tammer Bany, Matt Ingram, Chris Mepham, Rabby Nzingoula, Aune Heggebo, Barney Stewart, Conor Townsend, Kareem Tunde, Alex Williams,
Referee – Paul Tierney
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