Full-time: Middlesbrough 4 Ipswich 1

MIDDLESBROUGH got a crucial week in the Championship promotion race off to the perfect start by defeating play-off contenders Ipswich Town 4-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro, who also travel to title rivals Derby County and Bournemouth in the next seven days, had too much for the Tractor Boys after an early scare and cruised to a victory which lifted Aitor Karanka’s men to the top of the league before the 3pm Saturday fixtures.

Karanka’s decision to finally play Patrick Bamford as a centre-forward paid off when he scored two goals in the final 26 minutes to finish off the win and take his tally to 15 for the season.

Middlesbrough had taken the lead early in the game when Daniel Ayala had marked his return to the team with a lovely header.

But Ipswich hit back when Daryl Murphy levelled seven minutes later to raise hope for Mick McCarthy’s side until Middlesbrough took command.

Albert Adomah powered Middlesbrough back in front on half hour before Bamford, who could have had a hat-trick by the final whistle, got in the groove in the second half.

Ayala had been thrust straight back in to the side because of the injury to Ryan Fredericks. It was a gamble which appeared to have paid off when the Spaniard arrived in the area to glance Adam Clayton’s cross beyond goalkeeper Dean Gerken in the fourth minute.

The Northern Echo:

Gerken was floored in that move when he came out to punch and he was eventually replaced after seven minutes of stoppage with Bartosz Bialkowski.

The delay in restarting benefited Ipswich more, though, as Middlesbrough and in particular goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos was caught cold.

Konstantopoulos, who has been excellent this season, should have dealt with Jonathan Parr’s 25 yard should with ease. Instead he made a mess of it and Murphy was on hand to knock in the rebound in the 11th minute.

The Northern Echo:

Murphy, who caused problems throughout the first half for the home defence, also hit the post with a deflected shot before Middlesbrough reclaimed the lead on half an hour.

A finely worked corner, with intricate passes, ended with a loose ball dropping to the edge of the penalty area where Adomah charged on to it and drilled a low shot beyond the keeper.

After that there were chances at both ends before half-time and Bamford should have had a penalty when Christophe Berra shoved him down in the box. But Middlesbrough still reached the break in front.

And after a nervy start to the second half, the crucial third arrived in the 64th minute. Jelle Vossen, asked to play in attack rather than Lee Tomlin or Kike, flicked a lovely pass beyond the defence for attacking side-kick Bamford to run on to.

The Northern Echo:

The Chelsea youngster had all the time to round Bialkowski and tap in to an empty net to give Middlesbrough the breathing space required for the final stages.

Quarter of an hour later he was sent through again. This time he decided to shoot early and it found the bottom left corner of the Ipswich net. After that Middlesbrough could have had more, but they had already done enough to hit top spot - albeit temporarily.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos; Kalas, Ayala (Woodgate 23), Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter (Nsue 88), Clayton; Adomah, Reach; Vossen (Forshaw 67), Bamford. Subs: Ripley (gk), Whitehead, Tomlin, Kike.

Ipswich (4-4-2): Gerken (Bialkowski 10); Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings; Parr, Skuse, Bishop (Varney 84), Tabb (Wood 69); Sears, Murphy. Subs: Clarke, Anderson, Chaplow, Bru.