Huddersfield Town 1-2 Middlesbrough: Duncan Watmore double earns Chris Wilder first win
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Duncan Watmore scored twice in seven minutes having netted once in his opening 15 appearances this season
Duncan Watmore's double sank Huddersfield to give Chris Wilder his first win as Middlesbrough manager at the third attempt.
Jonny Howson sent Isaiah Jones away down the right and his cross picked out Watmore unmarked to sidefoot Boro ahead.
Former Terriers midfielder Matt Crooks then played a ball in behind Town's defence for the winger to beat goalkeeper Lee Nicholls with a fine lob.
Huddersfield rarely threatened, but pulled one back deep in stoppage time through Luke Daniels' own goal.
The Terriers kicked off unbeaten in their past five home matches, including four successive clean sheets, but conceded when Watmore netted with the first chance of note.
It was Watmore's first goal in 10 matches, but soon after he had his second to give Boro a cushion.
Watmore almost completed a 15-minute first-half hat-trick when he dribbled into the box and forced Nicholls to save at his near post.
Wilder had seen his Boro side fail to keep leads in both of his first two games in charge, but they were rarely troubled and created a string of chances to extend their lead after half-time.
Marcus Tavernier forced Nicholls into a good close-range stop, Andraz Sporar sent a first-time shot wide when well-placed and Watmore also flashed a shot off target before the Terriers' late consolation.
Huddersfield have dropped 11 points in their past five matches and remain eighth, four points outside the Championship play-off places, while Boro are a further two points back in 12th after their first win in six matches.
Huddersfield Town manager Carlos Corberan:
"We didn't perform well. The attacking and defending of the team was really poor.
"When they scored the first goal it made us go higher up the pitch but we didn't defend well or win our challenges.
"We changed structure in the second half and the team were more aggressive, but we didn't make many chances.
"With both goals, Middlesbrough were superb in their change of pace and we didn't respond to it. Their final balls and finishing were excellent. but our defensive response was wrong."
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Tees:
"We got there in the end. It (first win) should have been Tuesday night, could have possibly been last Saturday, but it wasn't and you have to go again.
"I think the scoreline flattered them. I thought we were more comfortable than it possibly looked, but we'll take a win.
"Another goal in the ridiculous catalogue of own goals, again, which is a little bit disappointing because I didn't think we really deserved that, but we have to take that on the chin and move on.
"On Tuesday I thought we had a little too much of a swagger about us in the second half, but today we got it right and we've beaten a decent side."