Middlesbrough 2-1 Swansea City: Boro beat Swans for first league win of season

Swansea City striker Joel Piroe scored 22 goals in the Championship last season

First-half goals from Riley McGree and Matt Crooks secured a first win of the season for Middlesbrough at home against Swansea City, who drop into the relegation zone.

The Swans struggled to get out of the blocks, and were behind after 14 minutes when McGree beat Andy Fisher after a poor pass from Cameron Congreve was intercepted.

Middlesbrough continued to dominate, and doubled their lead after half an hour when Matt Crooks got in front of his man to tap in Ryan Giles' low cross from close range.

The visitors were handed a lifeline when Darragh Lenihan was penalised for handball in the box and Joel Piroe slotted home to set up a grandstand finish.

But Ben Cabango, who was already on a yellow card, was given his marching orders with two minutes remaining after shoving Isaiah Jones to the floor in a rash moment.

Victory sees Middlesbrough move up to 18th in the Championship, as they jump to six points from their opening six games.

Swansea's poor form continues. Their 10 goals conceded is the highest in the Championship, and they drop down to 22nd.

There was only one team in it for the opening 45 minutes, and Boro deservedly took the lead after Jonny Howson intercepted a poor sideways pass from Congreve.

The former Leeds United midfielder played through McGree, who calmly beat Fisher to the delight of the Riverside faithful.

Crooks' close-range finish doubled the lead after he showed more determination to get on the end of Giles' low drilled cross to toe poke in Boro's second.

Swans boss Martin had seen enough and subbed off Congreve a minute later, who was replaced by Matty Sorinola, the youngster getting a pat on the back from boss Martin on his way off.

The visitors improved after the change, Olivier Ntcham and Joel Piroe both having shots late in the first half, but neither troubled Liam Roberts.

Both teams struggled to carve out opportunities at the start of the second half until substitute Rodrigo Muniz crashed a volley off the post.

Swansea substitute Ollie Cooper was one of the few positives for the visitors on a difficult afternoon, the youngster added more tempo to their attack and won the corner which led to their penalty.

As Cabango rose highest the ball was cleared away, but to the surprise of the most inside the Riverside referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot.

Lenihan was the player penalised for handball, and Piroe immediately grabbed the ball and beat Roberts from 12 yards for his first goal of the season.

The travelling Swans fans sensed an equaliser, but their momentum was halted when Wales international Cabango shoved Jones to the floor and was shown a second yellow card.

Middlesbrough held on for victory, Swansea failing to find what would have been a dramatic late equaliser in the eight minutes of added time.