AN EARLY Joe Bryan goal proved enough to condemn Middlesbrough to a first defeat of the season to stun the Riverside Stadium.

Bristol City wing-back Bryan made his way inside from the left to find Dimi Konstantopoulos’ far corner with less than eight minutes showing on the giant screen and 1-0 was how it remained for the rest of the afternoon.

Middlesbrough, who many fancy to go up this year, could find no way back and had to watch Bristol City goalkeeper Ben Hamer make a number of brilliant stops in the second half to frustrate the Teessiders.

After draws with Derby and Preston plus a comprehensive victory over Bolton seven days earlier, Middlesbrough had been expected to brush aside the ambitious Robins with relative ease.

But it just never happened for Aitor Karanka’s side and the Spaniard’s decision to tinker with his starting line-up again could well have played a part.

Despite hinting that he could rest ever-presents Daniel Ayala and Adam Clayton, Karanka chose to make changes in other areas with David Nugent, Cristhian Stuani and Yanic Wildschut all drafted in at the expense of in-form Diego Fabbrini, Albert Adomah and Kike.

The changes did not have the impact in an attacking sense he was looking for, but more bizarrely there were a few worrying moments at the back even before the first goal arrived inside eight minutes.

An attack down the left ended with Aaron Wilbraham laying the ball off invitingly for Bryan to pounce on to with a side-foot finish which curled inside Konstantopoulos’ far corner. The home side had an uphill battle from that moment on.

Despite Middlesbrough attacking regularly, Bristol City actually had the best other chances of the half too. They would have had a second had Bobby Reid not somehow blasted over from six yards when he reacted first to the rebound following Konstantopoulos’ save from Wilbraham at his near post.

And then the Greek goalkeeper made an even better stop after half an hour when he somehow got a strong hand to a powerful drive from Jonathan Kodjia. Middlesbrough’s failure to break down the visiting defence prompted Karanka to introduce Fabbrini at half-time. He replaced Wildschut, who had got himself in to plenty of good positions but then wasted the final ball.

Downing’s switch to the wing did provided Middlesbrough with the extra quality out wide and he was instrumental in creating a couple of efforts as the hour approached. From two of his deliveries, City keeper Hamer denied Stuani and then Ayala with point blank reaction stops.

Hamer made another incredible stop when he got down low to turned away Grant Leadbitter’s low effort with his outstretched left hand after Adam Clayton’s initial effort was blocked in his direction.

After that Middlesbrough struggled to threaten Hamer’s goal and ending the day as the first team to lose to Bristol City this season was not what Karanka had hoped for.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos ; Nsue (Kike 76), Kalas, Ayala, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Wildschut (Fabbrini 46), Downing, Stuani (Adomah 61); Nugent. Subs (not used): Mejias, Gibson, Stephens, Forshaw.

BRISTOL CITY (3-5-2): Hamer; Ayling, Flint, Williams; Little (Fredericks 70), Smith, Pack, Reid (Wagstaff 78), Bryan; Wilbraham, Kodjia (Burns 61). Subs (not used): O'Leary, El-Abd, Robinson, Agard.