Middlesbrough 2 Barnsley 1: Boro climb over Barnsley with perfect birthday gift

The former Leeds United captain had enjoyed only three wins in his first 16 games as Boro manager but is now unbeaten in five after shaking things up during the New Year transfer window.

Goals from Chris Killen and Gary O'Neil gave Boro a 2-0 lead at the interval before Argentinian midfielder Hugo Colace pulled one back to give Barnsley late hope.

Victory hoisted Boro into eighth spot, two points adrift of the play-off zone, but Barnsley, who were in a relegation fight just a few months ago, are still in the running and only four points off the pace.

Defender Kieran Trippier made his debut for the Tykes as a replacement for Ryan Shotton, who started a four-game ban.

Trippier, 19, had arrived on a month's loan from Manchester City where he has yet to play for the first team.

The youngster made a crucial block on the goalline early on after Boro striker Killen beat the offside trap and knocked the ball over visiting goalkeeper Luke Steele.

Barnsley, buoyed by three wins in the last four games, were seeking to complete a league double over Boro, who had been beaten at Oakwell just after Christmas

But Boro manager Strachan – who played alongside Barnsley manager Mark Robins in the final stages of his time at Manchester United – had been busy in January, bringing in seven new players so his side were a different proposition, playing better football and looking more solid at the back.

Striker Scott McDonald and defenders Kyle Naughton and Stephen McManus all made their home debuts last night alongside other recent arrivals Willo Flood, Barry Robson, and Killen. Striker Lee Miller came off the bench to make his home debut near the end.

Boro mounted a prolonged spell of early pressure and took the lead from a corner on 24 minutes.

Gary O'Neil's kick flicked off a head at the near post and feel invitingly at the feet of Killen who converted from close range.

Barnsley defender Darren Moore might have equalised but his far post header, from Colace's free-kick, bounced narrowly wide.

It proved a crucial miss as O'Neil broke clear a few moments later to double Boro's advantage.

The goal raised questions about Barnsley's marking, questions which Nathan Doyle immediately directed at Moore.

Strachan had clearly told his players to exploit the lack of pace at the heart of Barnsley's defence by playing balls over the shoulders of the centre-backs for Boro's strikers to chase.

The Tykes struggled to create opportunities and were lucky to go in at the break trailing by only two goals as Steele produced a fine low save to deny O'Neil and Jonathan Franks threatened with a header.

Robins sent on striker Jay Rodriguez at half-time as a replacement for Anderson De Silva, who had made little impact on the game.

Rodriguez, on loan from Burnley, was soon involved but failed to find Colace with a pass after finding space in the Boro box.

Barnsley grabbed a lifeline in the 65th minute when Colace scored from edge of the box after Boro failed to clear a throw.

It was the spur Barnsley needed and Boro were left breathing a mighty sigh of relief five minutes later when Andy Gray fluffed a chance to equalise.

The striker was picked out by a neat cross from Filipe Teixeira but, despite being unmarked, could only direct his header straight at Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne. With greater accuracy, striker McDonald would have celebrated his debut with a late goal for Boro but twice shot wide when in good positions.

In the final minute, substitute Rodriguez sent a close-range header wide which could have salvaged a point for the Tykes.

Boro supporters must have been biting their fingernails as Barnsley threatened again but Iain Hume was denied.

Middlesbrough: Coyne; Naughton (Hoyte 90), Grounds, McManus, Pogatetz; Flood, O'Neil, Robson, Franks; McDonald, Killen (Miller 68). Unused substitutes: Steele, Lita, Bennett, McMahon, Williams.

Barnsley: Steele; Trippier (Hume 78), Moore, Foster, Dickinson; Teixeira, Colace, Doyle, Hallfredsson (Hammill 68), Anderson (Rodriguez 45); Gray. Unused substitutes: Preece, Butterfield, Macken, Potter.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).