Middlesbrough completed back-to-back away victories with a 3-1 triumph against Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.
Summer recruit Martin Braithwaite gave them an early lead that was improved by club record signing Britt Assombalonga prior to the interval.
However, substitute Kamil Grosicki replied inside the final twenty minutes, only for Grant Leadbitter to convert a late penalty after Michael Hector was sent-off for bringing down Ashley Fletcher.
Seventh-placed Boro are now only separated from the play-offs on number of goals scored.
Darren Randolph had already been called into action by Jackson Irvine before Braithwaite drove low across Allan McGregor and into the bottom corner.
That was a couple of minutes after George Friend replaced limping Brazilian full-back Fabio. Marcus Tavernier then almost forced Hector into an own-goal when conceding a corner.
The Teessiders still extended their lead as Cyrus Christie’s excellent delivery was headed in by Assombalonga from around six-yards.
Tavernier had a further effort deflected behind after the break while Nouha Dicko produced more work for Randolph.
His opposite number McGregor next kept out Ben Gibson’s far post header before Hull substitute Grosicki fired into the net from the edge of the area.
But their challenge was ended when Leadbitter slotted in an initially delayed 85th minute penalty after Hector was given his marching orders.
Hull City: McGregor, Tomori, Dawson, Hector, Clark, Stewart (Dicko 46), Meyler, Larsson (Grosicki 53), Bowen, Campbell (Diomande 67), Irvine
subs (unused): Marshall, Henriksen, Lenihan, Aina
Goals: Grosicki (72)
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio (Friend 11), Howson, Leadbitter, Downing, Braithwaite, Tavernier (Johnson 71), Assombalonga (Fletcher 79)
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Fry, Forshaw, Traore
Goals: Braithwaite (13), Assombalonga (36), Leadbitter (pen 85)
Ref: T. Robinson
Att: 15,454
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