Middlesbrough beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at home, with Will Lankshear scoring twice and Alfie Jones adding a late third. West Brom had more of the ball but Middlesbrough carried the greater attacking threat throughout.
Lankshear put Middlesbrough ahead in the 48th minute, but Jimmy Morgan levelled for West Brom in the 65th after Isaac Price's assist. Lankshear restored the lead with his second goal in the 73rd minute, and Alfie Jones sealed the win in the 87th from Luke Ayling's delivery.
The stats back up Middlesbrough's edge: they had 15 shots to West Brom's 11 and six on target to four, with an expected-goals figure of 2.46 against 1.30 despite only 47% possession. Lankshear's brace proved decisive, though West Brom pushed hard after the equaliser.
