Delano Burgzorg joined Middlesbrough from Bundesliga club Mainz in the summer
Delano Burgzorg scored his first two Championship goals for Middlesbrough as they thrashed Luton Town to heap further pressure on Hatters boss Rob Edwards.
Burgzorg’s first strike came from a well-worked corner before Emmanuel Latte Lath showed sublime skill and composure to add a second before the break.
After playing a part in both first-half goals, Finn Azaz made it three early in the second half before Burgzorg added a fourth three minutes later against the dazed visitors.
Jordan Clark pulled one back only for Azaz to complete the Boro's comprehensive win with a stunning curled finish that leaves the visitors at risk of dropping back into the relegation places if other results go against them later on Saturday.
The loss was Luton's eighth in 15 Championship games since their relegation from the Premier League, having spent just one season in the top flight after Edwards guided them to a historic promotion 18 months ago.
Rob Edwards has been in charge of Luton since November 2022
Both bosses rejigged their sides following midweek wins, with the injured Alfie Doughty among five that started in Luton’s triumph against Cardiff who were swapped out, while Michael Carrick recalled Dutchman Burgzorg as he made four changes.
And the striker made an immediate impression on his return as he scored the opener, coolly finishing a clever set-piece routine from12 yards after Ben Doak directed a low Azaz corner into his path with a neat near-post flick.
Boro captain Luke Ayling had sent an earlier effort wastefully over, but the opener came against the run of play after Cauley Woodrow tested goalkeeper Seny Dieng and Liam Walsh pulled an effort just wide in quick succession at the other end.
The hosts went on to dominate what remained of the first half following Burgzorg’s goal, and Latte Lath added a deserved second in fine style as he controlled a scooped pass from Azaz before twisting in the box to find the bottom corner with an excellent finish.
It was the Ivory Coast international’s second goal in five days, having come off the bench to score in Boro’s comprehensive win against QPR.
Azaz combined with on-loan Liverpool winger Doak to add to Boro’s lead and, moments after Dieng made an excellent low save to again deny Woodrow, Burgzorg rolled home another into an empty net after Latte Lath drew Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski off his line.
Clark’s goal with 13 minutes remaining was merely a consolation and Azaz capped an outstanding performance with a wonderful finish from the edge of the area to put Boro sixth, pending results in the later games.
Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Tees:
"It was a really good day. We had to be good to win because the way they play, they make it really difficult and you could see that at the start of the game with the way they pressed man for man.
"The longer the game went, we got to grips with it, and the ideas we were looking at started to come off and you could see the front lads were really good today.
"As a team I thought we were terrific, I thought we defended really well. The midfield boys were fantastic off the ball and picking up second balls and starting our attacks.
"That is two or three weeks now where we have scored a good number of goals and it is a great feeling for the boys to have."
Luton manager Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"The people I feel for most are the supporters who either got up really early this morning to make it for kick-off or came up last night and spent even more money.
"I obviously feel quite numb, it's a horrible, horrible day for us, one of those days when you want the ground to swallow you up.
"I thought for the first 30 odd minutes we were playing really well but a couple of errors and we go in 2-0 down, and then a few more errors and all of a sudden it's 4-0.
"Some of them (who started) performed well, and maybe one or two didn't, but it's not their fault, it's mine."
