Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham City

Britt Assombalonga has scored five headed goals this season - the most in the Championship

Middlesbrough moved back into the Championship play-off places with victory over struggling Birmingham.

Boro secured a fifth home win of the season as Britt Assombalonga scored twice in the first half to take his tally to the season to 11 goals.

The former Forest striker nodded in a rebound after Tomasz Kuszczak saved Stewart Downing's shot and latched onto Fabio Da Silva's pass for his second.

Birmingham's best chances fell to Che Adams and Jonathan Grounds.

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Blues, who remain only a point clear of the relegation zone, are the joint-lowest goalscorers on their travels having found the net only three times this season, so it was no surprise that their chances were at a premium at the Riverside.

Adams had his close-range effort saved by Darren Randolph, while Grounds' glancing header hit a Boro defender and rolled just wide of the far post.

Birmingham have the worst away record in the Championship and now have only one point from nine matches, while victory for Middlesbrough means they have lost only once in their past 18 home matches against the West Midlands side.

Assombalonga, who has scored five goals in his past five games, was denied a hat-trick when a linesman's flag stopped him from converting after Da Silva's shot had hit the crossbar, while he also headed Cyrus Christie's cross straight at Kuszczak.

Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk:

"Overall, it was the response we were looking for. There was lots of good play in our game, and there were lots of good chances as well.

"I thought it was a comfortable win really. We had an excellent first half with some really good play, and should probably have come even a few more goals ahead. We didn't, and then you know there will be a response and they will have a period where they throw caution to the wind.

"They did that at the start of the second half, but I thought once we got to grips with that and came through it again, we created more opportunities."

Birmingham boss Steve Cotterill:

"Goals are what we need to add to our game, that and maybe a bit of confidence and belief. But goals are the main thing. If Middlesbrough don't have Assombalonga, then I don't think they win the game.

"He was the difference. He was on to the shot for his first goal so quickly, and then he made a great run for his second goal. When he gets in there, he's composed and he scores.

"He was the difference because I think we probably created enough chances ourselves to have put Middlesbrough on the back foot, but we didn't score."