FULL-TIME: Rotherham United 0 Middlesbrough 3

A superb debut goal from Yanic Wildschut helped Middlesbrough move up to third in the Championship with a 3-0 win at Rotherham United.

Goals from Patrick Bamford, Wildschut and Lee Tomlin secured Boro’s first win in three.

Karanka made four changes to the side that drew with Watford last weekend with Adam Reach, Emilio Nsue, Grant Leadbitter and Yanic Wildschut – making his debut – coming in.

It didn’t take long for the Teessiders to take the lead and it was Bamford who got the ball rolling in the eighth minute.

The striker collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned before firing a low shot past Adam Collin in the Millers’ goal.

Yanic Wildschut made it two ten minutes later with a memorable debut goal.

The Dutch winger breezed past former Boro defender Frazer Richardson on the right, cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts on the half hour mark when substitute Jordan Bowery was sent off.

The striker had only been on the field five minutes after replacing the injured Alex Revell when he was shown a straight red card for kicking out at George Friend on the touchline.

Referee Mick Russell’s decision incensed the home crowd and Millers’ boss Steve Evans and it gave them a mountain to climb with Boro already two goals to the good.

Kike had two identical efforts to put the Teessiders further ahead when Wildschut’s crosses found him in the box, but on both occasions the Spaniard blazed his efforts over the bar.

Evans made a double change at half time in a bid to get his side back into the game and in the early stages the Millers pressed Boro.

Lee Frecklington forced a good save from Dimi Konstantopoulos from the edge of the area, but Karanka’s men were dangerous on the break with more chances falling to Kike.

The first was palmed away for the corner by Collin, but the second was a disappointing low drive the striker should have done better with.

Karanka introduced Lee Tomlin and Jelle Vossen in place of Bamford and Kike midway through the second half, and the latter should have made it three when he latched on to Wildschut’s cross and shot wide.

The Millers came close to pulling a goal back with seven minutes left when Matt Derbyshire caught Ayala in possession and closed in on goal, but his shot hit the upright to the Boro defender’s relief.

Tomlin made it three in the 87th minute with a superb solo effort that saw him weave through the Millers’ defence and hit a low shot past Collin.

ROTHERHAM (4-4-2): Collin; Richardson, Morgan, Broadfoot, Arnason; Frecklington, Green, Pringle (Derbyshire 46), Revell (Bowery 26); Clarke-Harris, Taylor (Smallwood 46).

Subs (not used): Loach (gk), Hall, Swift, Milsom.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend (Husband 88); Wildschut, Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach; Bamford (Vossen 72), Kike (Tomlin 60).

Subs (not used): Mejias (gk), Fredericks, Whitehead, Veljkovic.