Middlesbrough 2-0 Ipswich Town
- Published
Patrick Bamford doubled Middlesbrough's lead with his first league goal of the season
Middlesbrough returned to winning ways as goals either side of half-time were enough to see off Ipswich.
Martin Braithwaite gave Boro the lead just before the break when he pounced at the back post as the visitors failed to clear a Stewart Downing cross.
Patrick Bamford doubled the lead after the restart, finding space in the box for a shot off the base of the post.
Ipswich failed to build on back-to-back wins and could only muster one shot on target from substitute Joe Garner.
Victory for Garry Monk's side came after three defeats in their previous four games and saw them leapfrog Ipswich into eighth place on goal difference.
Moments before Denmark international Braithwaite broke the deadlock for the hosts with his fourth league goal of the season, Britt Assombalonga was denied from close-range by Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Boro had the better of the first half chances as Ben Gibson and Fabio also went close to an opener with a mis-hit shot and a volley respectively.
Bamford effectively put the game out of Ipswich's reach six minutes into the second half with his first league goal of the season as Ipswich dropped two places to ninth after a second consecutive away defeat.
Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk:
"I'm pleased for the players, and I'm pleased for our fans. The main thing today was to show a response, both for our fans and for ourselves.
"Overall, I thought we were very comfortable in the game, and were deserved winners.
"We were on top throughout, and it was a step forward in terms of showing the possibilities of what we can be. Of course, I still think we can be a lot better and there's a lot more to come, but as I've said to the players, we have to learn the lessons from the last few weeks."
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy:
"I thought we let them off the hook in the 44th minute, and then we let them off the hook again six minutes into the second half.
"I don't think Bart (Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski) had a lot to do before they scored. They had a lot of possession in front of us, but we had a couple of half-chances we should have done better with.
"They were a couple of very poor goals. We didn't stop the cross for the first one, and then the second one was bonkers from our point of view. Having said that, though, it was a £10m striker putting the ball in the net."