AFC Bournemouth
Goals from Phil Billing, Jefferson Lerma and Dominic Solanke saw AFC Bournemouth earn head coach Jonathan Woodgate victory against his hometown club.
Woodgate served Boro as a player and managed them last season before he was replaced by current boss Neil Warnock.
Billing drew first blood for the Cherries when he beat Boro goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli with a clinical finish in the 14th minute.
It was his fifth goal of the season – and fourth under Woodgate – and owed much to good work from Solanke and Arnaut Danjuma in the build-up.
And although Duncan Watmore levelled for the visitors in the 63rd minute, Lerma’s deflected strike four minutes later saw the hosts regain the lead before Solanke completed the scoring seven minutes from time.
Victory lifted the Cherries back into sixth place ahead of Barnsley’s clash with Reading in the teatime kick-off in south Yorkshire.
Adam Smith, Junior Stanislas and Jefferson Lerma returned to the Cherries starting line-up as head coach Woodgate made three changes following defeat by Southampton in the FA Cup.
Smith and Stanislas were declared fit having recovered from injury while Lerma was available after serving a one-match FA Cup suspension in the quarter-final.
Lerma fashioned the first shooting chance after Billing had laid Danjuma’s cross into his path but the midfielder dragged his effort wide from 20 yards.
Billing, however, found the target in no uncertain terms when he opened the scoring with an emphatic strike in the 14th minute.
Solanke did well to hold up the ball in the build-up before Danjuma’s hooked assist fell invitingly to Billing just inside the 18-yard box.
And the Denmark international made no mistake when he rifled left-footed into the bottom corner, giving Middlesbrough goalkeeper Bettinelli no chance.
The teams then traded opportunities in quick succession, Marc Bola’s shot flying well wide and Danjuma’s effort blocked by defender Grant Hall.
As Boro looked for a response, Asmir Begovic did well to punch clear Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s dangerous centre and Billing headed a free-kick from Neeskens Kebano out for a corner.
Cherries’ appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Stanislas appeared to have been blocked by Mendez-Laing as he went for a return pass from Billing in the 31st minute.
Steve Cook was well placed to block Jonny Howson’s volley before Bola’s header from a Kebano cross flicked off Smith and landed on top of the crossbar as the first half drew to a close.
Yannick Bolasie fired narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards as the visitors created the first goalscoring opportunity of the second half six minutes after the break.
Bolasie’s next attempt also failed to trouble Begovic as it went for a throw before a mix-up between the Cherries goalkeeper and Cameron Carter-Vickers almost gifted the Boro frontman a sight of goal.
But Carter-Vickers, who had been put in a spot of bother by Begovic’s roll-out, recovered to prevent Bolasie taking aim from close range.
Danjuma picked up the first booking of the contest for a foul before Jack Stacey replaced Stanislas on the hour.
Watmore levelled in the 63rd minute when he received Bolasie’s pass, turned sharply and squeezed a left-foot shot past the outstretched arm of Begovic.
As the Cherries went in search of an instant reply, Stacey’s cross was cleared at the near post from under the nose of Solanke.
The hosts regained the lead just four minutes after Watmore had equalised with Morsy the unwitting villain of the piece for Boro.
After Billing had rampaged down the left wing and centred, Morsy failed to deal with his cross which had been intended for Lerma.
The ball ran free to Lerma on the edge of the box, his first-time effort deflecting off Morsy and wrong-footing Bettinelli before finding the back of the net.
Solanke netted the goal his endeavours had richly deserved, his 12th of the season making it 3-1 seven minutes from time.
Having been found by Stacey, the striker drove into enemy territory and let fly from the edge of the box, his effort unconvincing parried by Bettinelli.
And Solanke reacted quicker than a posse of Boro defenders, rolling the loose ball past Bettinelli to complete the scoring.
Late on, Bettinelli pushed Stacey’s rasping drive past the post.
AFC Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, S Cook, Carter-Vickers, Rico, Stanislas (Stacey, 60), Wilshere (Pearson, 68), Lerma, Danjuma, Billing, Solanke (Long, 85).
Unused subs: Kelly, Mepham, Surridge, Riquelme, Anthony, Travers (g/k).
Booked: Danjuma, Stacey.
Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Fisher, Hall, McNair, Bola, Howson, Morsy, Watmore (Johnson, 86), Mendez-Laing (Coulson, 69), Kebano (Akpom, 86), Bolasie (Fletcher, 74).
Unused subs: Saville, Spence, Coburn, Archer (g/k).
Booked: McNair, Bola.
Referee: Simon Hooper.
