Manager Tony Pulis was pleased to come through a tough challenge at struggling Birmingham City.
Patrick Bamford’s seventh goal in four games ensured a losing start for ex-Boro chief Garry Monk at St Andrew’s, while also lifting the visitors back into the play-offs.
“I thought in the first half we were good, we played some good football at times and got into some really good positions,” Pulis told BBC Tees. “In the second half, for whatever reason, we sat back a bit more and the game became scrappy which didn’t suit us.
“It was a tough game today because it was [Garry] Monk’s first game,” he added. “It gives all their players a lift, it’s a new manager, the players step up to it, the crowd are behind them so it’s difficult circumstances but the lads coped really well.”
The Teessiders next host lowly Barnsley at the weekend.
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