It’s now back-to-back home defeats for Middlesbrough after Heung-Min Son struck twice in a 2-1 victory for Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside.
The South Korean forward opened the scoring with a low finish on seven minutes before expertly curling in his second midway through the first-half.
Defender Ben Gibson managed to reduce the deficit after the break but it wasn’t enough to get his colleagues back on track.
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes tipped over an early Dele Alli effort before Son skipped through challenges inside the area and placed a low shot into the net.
Things soon got worse for the hosts when Son curled in a second after turning out of a tight situation – and that could have been added to as Valdes denied Moussa Sissoko after Christian Eriksen was blocked.
England midfielder Alli then lifted over when debutant Calum Chambers was caught in possession.
Boro improved after the break but had to wait until Stewart Downing’s 65th minute free-kick was headed in by Gibson before they were rewarded.
At least substitute Adama Traore continued to be a likely presence, while fellow replacement Adam Forshaw was wide before Erik Lamela forced another save at the other end.
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Barragan, Gibson, Chambers, Friend, de Roon, Clayton (Forshaw 82), Stuani, Ramirez (Traore 59), Downing, Negredo (Rhodes 59)
subs (unused): Ayala, Fischer, Guzan, Nsue Lopez
Goals: Gibson (65)
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies, Wanyama, Sissoko (Lamela 70), Alli, Eriksen (Nkoudou Mbida 90), Son Heung-min, Janssen (Winks 86)
subs (unused): Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers
Goals: Son (7, 23)
Ref: G. Scott
Att: 32,703
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