West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Middlesbrough: Daryl Dike double beats Boro to end bad Baggies run
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Jed Wallace (left) helped set up both Daryl Dike's quickfire first-half goals
Daryl Dike scored his first goals in over a month as West Bromwich Albion ended automatic Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough's five-match winning run.
The USA international struck twice in quick succession to give a much-needed boost to Albion's own promotion hopes after a run of just one win in six league and cup matches.
John Swift and Jed Wallace combined to set up the eighth-minute opener for Dike, who slid the ball home at the near post from close range.
Swift picked up the ball on the left and slipped in Wallace, who had held his run to avoid the offside flag, but then delivered a pin-point low left-foot centre for Dike to round off with a right side-foot finish.
That was Dike's first goal in seven games - but his next took just another couple of minutes after Albion stunningly pounced on a loose headed clearance from Paddy McNair.
In a superb first-time passing movement, Boro were cut open as Wallace interchanged with both Dike and Swift, who sent the Albion striker clear.
Dike needed two attempts to beat Zack Steffen, who parried his first effort, from which the Baggies man followed up to bury the rebound - his fifth goal for Albion.
Dike, who hit his first double in English football since a brace at Luton for Barnsley on Easter Monday 2021, had a chance to complete a hat-trick after the break. He was put clean through against Steffen, but he was denied by his American compatriot's legs.
Albion's third Championship win of 2023 was also only their third clean sheet of the year - and importantly a first for young keeper Josh Griffiths on only his third appearance.
It lifts Carlos Corberan's side back up to 10th in the Championship table, level on points with Midlands rivals Coventry City - and within five of the play-off places.
Boro remain third, just two points ahead of fourth-placed Blackburn Rovers. But Michael Carrick's side are now seven adrift of second-placed Sheffield United - and 19 behind runaway leaders Burnley.
Who's next?
Albion are back in action next Friday night at Hull.
Middlesbrough's next game is the following day, at home to Boro old boy Paul Ince's Reading.
West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan:
"Goals are key to win football matches, For the striker it's important to increase his confidence by scoring goals.
"But, for me, I value a lot Daryl Dike's defensive commitment, as much as his goals.
"Strikers, playmakers and wingers have responsibilities to score goals - and the team have responsibility to create chances."
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick:
"We actually started well for six or seven minutes, looked good on the ball and composed. But we then give away two soft goals in quick succession and that's the difference.
"That puts you on the back foot because there is a long way to get back into the game. Even then, I believed we could get back in it, but they defended very well.
"I can't fault the boys for their efforts and attitude and the way they went about it. It was just one of those days that we have to learn from and be better next time."