PULIS’S BORO GO TOP

club-record deal from Nottingham Forest.

He finished the campaign out of the side after Pulis’ arrival but has been handed a fresh start following Patrick Bamford’s move to Leeds and grabbed his first goal of the season in the 12th minute.

George Friend had blocked a Cheikh N’doye shot and Jonny Howson launched a long pass into the path of Assombalonga. He looped a shot over Connal Trueman thanks to a slight deflection off Maxime Colin.

Blues were let off when a Stewart Downing free-kick hit the inside of a post and Assombalonga found the same part of the woodwork just before half-time when he was played in by a Martin Braithwaite back- heel.

Ryan Shotton also hit the bar with a long throw-in which Trueman touched and would have resulted in a goal.

Monk’s side struggled to improve on their shocking Riverside record of one win in their last 19 visits and no goals in four and were reduced to 10 men for the last seven minutes when Craig Gardner saw red for a late tackle on Howson.

Boro keeper Darren Randolph made just one save in the first half, beating away Che Adams’ low shot with his foot. He saved comfortably from Gardner and Lukas Jutkiewicz after the break.

Monk said: “We showed a lot of endeavour and fight but this is a league that demands you are on your game from the start, especially away from home against one of the better teams.

“The red card made it more difficult. I looked straight at it and there was no malice. It wasn’t done dangerously, was an honest attempt to get the ball and we will consider an appeal.”