Middlesbrough moved into the top ten with Emmanuel Ledesma’s early goal being enough to see-off ten-man Charlton Athletic at the Riverside.
The winner came when Ledesma’s long-range strike on sixteen minutes somehow escaped new French goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien. The visitors later had Rhoys Wiggins sent-off following an 84th minute challenge on Dean Whitehead.
Charlton saw an early opportunity when Yann Kermorgant couldn’t find the target after a defensive mix-up while Curtis Main struck wide in reply.
Boro soon went in front as loan Standard Liege keeper Thuram-Ulien misjudged Ledesma’s 35-yard effort and the ball finished in the back of the net.
The Addicks’ recent signing then blocked with his legs from Mustapha Carayol while all opposite number Shay Given had to do was turn away a late first-half cross.
The visitors were first to threaten upon the restart through Richard Wood before Thuram-Ulien got fully behind Carayol’s drive.
Charlton were actually appearing more dangerous and forcing their opponents into some strong defensive work, although their chances weren’t helped when Wiggins later received a straight red card.
The Teesiders looked to take advantage with substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz twice going close, until the visitors almost stole a late point when Given made a great save to keep out Dale Stephens.
Middlesbrough: Given, Varga, R. Williams, Ayala, Friend, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Ledesma, Emnes (Jutkiewicz 58), Main (Smallwood 79), Carayol (Kamara 88)
subs (unused): Butterfield, Gibson, Woodgate, Konstantopoulos
Goals: Ledesma (16)
Charlton Athletic: Thuram, Wilson, Wiggins, Cousins (Ajdarevic 77), Morrison, Wood, Cook (Church 67), Stephens, Kermorgant, Jackson (Green 67), Harriott
subs (unused): Hughes, Evina, Dervite, Phillips
Ref: K. Stroud
Att: 14,548
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