Middlesbrough 1 Bristol City 3 - Nigel Pearson enjoys return to Riverside

City ended a seven-game losing run as they tore the promotion-hunting Teessiders apart, with all three of their goals coming in a 16-minute period in the first half.

Famara Diedhiou scored the first two, heading home Adam Nagy’s cross and firing home a shot from just inside the area, and then set up the third as he flicked on to send Nakhi Wells racing clear of the Boro backline.

Dael Fry pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left but former Boro player Pearson, watching on from the directors’ box, will feel he has plenty to build from.

Diedhiou was the key man as the deadlock was broken in the 21st minute. Nagy stood up a cross from the right corner of the penalty area and Diedhiou eased himself between Fry and Anfernee Dijksteel to head home his ninth goal of the season.

His 10th goal of the campaign came just 12 minutes later, with City profiting from some uncharacteristic sloppiness from Boro’s Jonny Howson.

He conceded possession and after Tyreeq Bakinson combined with Wells to tee up Diedhiou on the right of the box, the unmarked Robins striker had the simple task of sweeping home.

Diedhiou and Wells combined again as the visitors added a third goal eight minutes before the break. Diedhiou’s flick-on sent Wells galloping clear and after outpacing Howson, the Bermudan striker slotted a simple finish past Bettinelli.

Boro’s miserable first half was compounded by the loss of Ashley Fletcher to an injury and while the Teessiders dominated possession in the second period, they never really looked like getting back into the game.

Duncan Watmore curled a shot wide from the left side of the area but while the home side pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left, with Fry stabbing home from close range after Marvin Johnson crossed from the right, it was too little, too late.

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