Hayden Hackney's ninth career goal continued his happy knack that, whenever he scores, Boro never lose
Tony Mowbray lost on his return to football management with West Bromwich Albion as his Baggies side were well beaten by his boyhood heroes Middlesbrough.
Hayden Hackney followed up on his winner for Boro at The Hawthorns on 1 October by firing the hosts ahead just before the half-hour.
On-loan Liverpool winger Ben Doak then scored a superb second to double the lead and earn Boro their first win in four games.
In Mowbray's first game in the dugout since first quitting as Birmingham City boss in February to undergo surgery for bowel cancer, that lifted Boro back into the top six ahead of Albion, who drop to seventh as their winless run was stretched to four matches.
- Published20 January
After watching Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City from the Halfords Lane Stand, Mowbray had no involvement other than nipping in at half-time to suggest his side try a few more pots at goal.
And, although his hands were tied by the absence of top scorer Josh Maja, after only being able to squeeze in one training session on Monday, he opted for an unchanged side.
After a relatively bright opening from the Baggies, in which winger Tom Fellows went closest with a fluffed far-post chance, Boro went ahead after 29 minutes.
Midfielder Hackney tried his luck from almost 30 yards and his dipping, powerful, low right-footed shot beat Palmer in the flight, rearing up off the turf and into the back of the net over the Albion keeper's outstretched arms.
Emmanuel Latte Lath then twice went close to a second goal, with a spectacular right-foot scissors kick just wide, followed by a deft close-range header that he could have done much better with, not getting enough purchase on it.
All three of Ben Doak's goals for Middlesbrough have come at Riverside Stadium
Having got the lead, Boro became the better side and it was only a matter of time before they got their clinching second goal to put the seal on victory.
Mason Holgate did hit the post for Albion but that second Boro goal finally came seven minutes from time, when home centre-forward Latte Lath broke powerfully down the middle.
He switched the ball to Doak, and the 19-year-old Scot cut inside to curl a left-footed beauty into the top-left corner.
That earned Michael Carrick's Boro their first home win in five attempts since 14 December.
Who's next?
Mowbray's Albion host Portsmouth at home on Saturday (15:00 GMT), at the same time as Middlesbrough's trip to Deepdale to face Preston.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"When you have a sticky run, it's all about getting the win - the fact that we kept a clean sheet too was great.
"There's loads of football to be played this season. We hadn't felt any pressure. Why do we need to be 'glass half-empty' all the time?
"It was an important win for us. We played some really good football. They were two fantastic goals - both of them, for different sort of reasons.
"We had to defend a little deeper in the second half but we did it well. And we controlled it, against a good team."
West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio WM:
"The first goal was a bit disappointing. The shot came from 30 yards out and it bounced in front of the keeper.
"Then we got sucker-punched by a second goal from outside the box. But it just felt they had a bit more menace than us.
"The reality is that we need to score a few goals - and that is not a new thing. It's about taking responsibility in the final third.
"Maybe it's about confidence. There was one at the end that just needed to someone to be there to put away at the far post."
