Middlesbrough boost promotion hopes by returning to winning ways at Birmingham

Matt Targett’s first-half double helped Middlesbrough return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham and further boost their hopes of promotion to the Premier League.

Third-placed Millwall’s triumph at the weekend cut the gap to just the one point coming into the match, but Kim Hellberg’s side responded to restore their four-point advantage in second place.

Blues lost just their second league game at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead since May 2024, which saw their chances of finishing in the play-offs slip further away and remain eight points behind the top six.

The visitors were on a three-game winless run ahead of their trip to the Midlands, but quickly extinguished any doubt their season was beginning to stutter when Targett hit a first-half brace to double his season tally.

Marvin Ducksch brought Birmingham back into the game with his ninth goal of the season, but David Strelec restored Boro’s two-goal advantage with his first goal of the calendar year.

The night did not begin too comfortably for Boro, who were almost punished in the third minute when Tommy Doyle took advantage of a misplaced pass and rifled an effort towards goal but Sol Brynn managed to palm behind.

However, the promotion chasers flexed their quality with the first proper opportunity of the match to open the scoring in the 13th minute.

Aidan Morris hit a diagonal ball into the path of Targett, who timed his run perfectly to get behind the defence and tuck home a composed finish beyond James Beadle.

Targett made 89 appearances for Birmingham’s arch rivals Aston Villa, and he was quick to silence the home supporters with his celebration.

The goal completely shifted the momentum and Middlesbrough capitalised once again by doubling their advantage 13 minutes later.

Christoph Klarer lost possession in a dangerous area to Hayden Hackney and the midfielder nodded to Targett, who was on hand to expertly bury his second goal of the night.

The home fans were not happy with what they were seeing as boos and jeers started to ring around St. Andrew’s, mainly aimed at goalkeeper Beadle who had made a couple of sloppy passes.

Just like the first half, the Blues came out of the traps in the second period, with Kai Wagner taking aim straight at Brynn.

It took just three minutes of the second period for the hosts to halve the deficit after Jay Stansfield broke the offside trap and cut the ball back for Ducksch to roll home.

All of a sudden the away side looked nervous and Brynn produced a fine save to deny Ducksch from equalising.

Middlesbrough settled those nerves as they re-established their two-goal lead on the hour.

Luke Ayling provided a dangerous cross for Strelec to guide his header in off the post to earn a much-needed three points for Boro.