Middlesbrough opened their season with a 2-0 victory against Birmingham City at the Riverside.
Defender Daniel Ayala headed them in front from Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick shortly after the half-hour.
Boro then doubled their advantage following the break when new striker Kike netted after Lee Tomlin’s shot had fallen in his direction.
England Under-21 international Ben Gibson had to be replaced inside the opening five minutes due to an ankle problem but that failed to distract the home side.
Albert Adomah struck directly at Darren Randolph and the visiting keeper also blocked from George Friend while Kike missed a great opportunity to add a third goal.
Substitute Luke Williams also went close as Randolph came to the rescue again.
Teenage winger Demarai Gray sent a free-kick narrowly over in reply for the visitors.
Middlesbrough: Mejias, Hines, Ayala, Gibson (Omeruo 4), Friend, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Reach, Adomah (Nsue 67), Tomlin (L. Williams 87), Kike
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Husband, Fewster, Smallwood
Goals: Ayala (33), Kike (66)
Birmingham City: Randolph, Grounds, Robinson, Eardley, Hall, Shinnie (Duffy 55), Edgar, Gleeson, Gray, Novak, Thomas (Donaldson 67)
subs (unused): Gunning, Cotterill, Doyle, Brown, Caddis
Ref: G. Salisbury
Att: 18,371
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