Middlesbrough’s opening game of the season ended in disappointment with a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Home debutant Leo Bonatini seized upon a loose pass from Daniel Ayala and slotted past new goalkeeper Darren Randolph with just over half-an-hour played.
Fellow newcomer Martin Braithwaite headed wide in reply and record signing Britt Assombalonga was also kept out by goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Boro included six new recruits, although the opening third of the contest witnessed neither keeper seriously troubled, at least until Bonatini intercepted from Ayala and finished low under Randolph.
However, Braithwaite should have equalised when left unattended at Cyrus Christie’s cross before the break, while Bright Enobakhare was soon providing the home threat following the restart.
The Teessiders therefore introduced Patrick Bamford from the bench and he soon allowed £15m striker Assombalonga to be thwarted by Ruddy before then shooting too close to the ex-Norwich City and England keeper.
Defender Christie also struck over from the edge of the area as a crucial replying goal continued to elude the visitors.
Wolves: Ruddy, Goncalves Miranda, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Saiss, da Silva Neves, Douglas, Enobakhare (Edwards 78), Teixeira da Silva (Graham 84), Bonatini Lohner Maia (Dicko 57)
subs (unused): Bennett, Batth, Ronan, Norris
Goals: Bonatini Lohner Maia (33)
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, de Roon (Forshaw 65), Clayton, Howson (Gestede 81), Fletcher (Bamford 57), Assombalonga, Braithwaite
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Fabio, Leadbitter, Fry
Ref: D. Bond
Att: 29,692
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