Adama Traore struck twice as Middlesbrough accounted for Reading by a 2-1 scoreline at the Riverside.
The 22-year-old claimed his first immediately prior to the interval and then added another early in the second period.
Substitute Chris Martin reduced the deficit with twelve minutes remaining before Boro’s record signing Britt Assombalonga missed a late penalty.
The Royals had threatened much earlier with Liam Kelly off-target following decent work by Sone Aluko.
Stewart Downing volleyed wide at the other end, but it was Traore veering in from the right to drill low past Vito Mannone with the interval approaching.
And he rapidly added his second early in the second period, while Patrick Bamford later dragged wide and Grant Leadbitter drove against the inside of an upright.
However, substitute Martin replied when a corner wasn’t properly cleared, although Traore was then brought down inside the area and Assombalonga hoisted a late penalty over.
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Howson, Downing (Cranie 90), Traore, Gestede (Assombalonga 79), Bamford (Clayton 66)
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Fry, Harrison, Besic
Goals: Traore (44, 49)
Reading: Mannone, Bacuna, Moore, Ilori, Gunter, Edwards, van den Berg, McCleary (Kermorgant 74), Kelly (Clement 63), Aluko, Bodvarsson (Martin 63)
subs (unused): Blackett, Jaakkola, Richards, Smith
Goals: Martin (78)
Ref: D. Coote
Att: 23,491
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