Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Cristhian Stuani has scored six goals this season

A goal in the opening minute from Cristhian Stuani helped Middlesbrough go back to the top of the Championship with a win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Stuani gave the hosts the lead after just 44 seconds when he tapped home Stewart Downing's cross from six yards.

The Owls had won their last two games and nearly levelled when Daniel Pudil's effort from a Barry Bannan corner was cleared off the line by Daniel Ayala.

The visitors piled on late pressure but Boro held out.

Middlesbrough, who equalled a club record of seven successive clean sheets in the league, are now five points clear of third-placed Hull with a game in hand on the Tigers.

The hosts could not have wished for a better start after the Uruguayan got across his man at the near post to convert Downing's inviting centre inside the opening 60 seconds.

They should have led by more at the break, with Emilio Nsue seeing a shot deflect just over before the Spaniard fired wide at the back post.

Wednesday made a double substitution at half-time and improved after the break.

Bannan sent a dipping long-range volley straight at home keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos and Fernando Forestieri failed to scramble the ball home when it fell to him after a corner.

Ayala headed over from Grant Leadbitter's deep free-kick before keeping out Pudil's effort on his own line.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka:

"It's always nice to win, especially against a good team.

"We knew that they played on Saturday, but they have a good squad and players who can change the game. They are really dangerous.

"I said to the players at half-time we had to score the second because the game was going to go how they wanted - to put long balls in our box and it finished that way."

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:

"I'm very disappointed because I think we deserved more from this game.

"In the conditions we went into this game I expected the players to come down in the second half but it was the opposite.

"I am happy with the players, especially in the second half. We had players who played two days ago and players who had not played for a long time and I think they deserved more.

"The main thing from this game is I wish we could have played Middlesbrough with the same conditions. But given the conditions we went into the game, I couldn't ask for anymore from my players."

Aitor Karanka's side have kept seven successive clean sheets - equalling a club record