Pulis looking up after Ayala’s double seals Boro comeback

TONY PULIS set his sights on a return to the Premier League after seeing his Middlesbrough side come from behind to secure his first win as boss. Daniel Ayala powered a header home from 12 yards from Stewart Downing’s free-kick to give Boro an early lead but Preston levelled immediately from Callum Robinson’s header. Jordan Hugill put the home side in front when his header deflected in off Ayala. And Tom Barkhuizen almost made it 3-1 before half-time when his header hit the bar. Jonny Howson’s shot found the top corner from the edge of the area to equalise for Boro after 65 minutes. And Ayala nodded the winner from Adama Traore’s cross eight minutes later. Pulis, who lost his first match in charge against Aston Villa, said: ‘We showed a lot of character in the second half, which was very encouraging. I don’t know the players that well, so it will take me a while to know what I have got and what I haven’t got. ‘I will be doing my best to get this club back into the Premier League as soon as possible.’