Wolves 1-3 Middlesbrough

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Diego FabbriniImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Middlesbrough forward Diego Fabbrini equalised with his fourth goal of the season

Middlesbrough came from a goal behind to beat Wolves and end a run of three Championship games without a win.

Wolves took the lead through a Dave Edwards header but Diego Fabbrini beat Emiliano Martinez with a low drive from the edge of the box to equalise.

The visitors went 2-1 up when Nathan Byrne fouled George Friend and Grant Leadbitter placed the resulting penalty into the corner.

Substitute Stewart Downing completed the turnaround with a late free-kick.

Wolves had won each of the past four fixtures between the two sides at Molineux and had the better of the first half.

Boro defender Tomas Kalas forced goalkeeper Martinez to tip the ball over the bar with a stinging drive, before Edwards capped off a flowing move for Wolves with a well-placed header from Scott Golbourne's deep cross.

The hosts continued on the front foot after the break, with Benik Afobe denied by a Daniel Ayala block before keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was forced into a reaction save from James Henry's close-range half-volley.

Middlesbrough had failed to score in their previous three games but found the back of the net against the run of play when Fabbrini's shot went past Martinez's dive and into the bottom corner.

With legs tiring Friend drew a rash challenge from Byrne and Martinez could not add to his two penalty saves this season as Leadbitter found the net.

Downing summed up Middlesbrough's clinical nature when he curled a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner to condemn Wolves to a third straight Championship defeat.

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Kenny Jackett:

"In the end Middlesbrough had too much for us. We showed a lot of endeavour but key injuries weakened us at just the wrong time when we needed our full energy.

Media caption,

Jackett on Wolves v Middlesbrough

"We created many chances but Middlesbrough's defending was heroic even at the end when they have headed two off the line. In both boxes they had too much for us despite our endeavour and spirit which is very good.

"We have just conceded nine goals in three games and we do need to address that because that doesn't give you a chance to earn points and build up confidence."

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka:

"For me the main thing was the spirit that the players have shown on the pitch. In the second half I liked their attitude since the first second. At half-time I told them that we were not playing well.

"In the first half we needed to play calmer and I told them that at half-time because the attitude and intensity was really good. If we always play with this spirit we will only lose a few games.

"But again we have to play like that always and it was important to me after the last three games that we had the reaction that we had because the atmosphere was a little strange."

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