middlesbrough 2 Friend (18), Ayala (68) Bristol city 1 Djuric (13)
Middlesbrough climbed up to fifth in the race for a play-off spot by overcoming promotion rivals Bristol City at the Riverside Stadium.
Spanish defender Daniel Ayala headed his seventh goal of the season to secure the points for Tony Pulis’ side despite an early scare from the Robins.
Bristol City, who are now four points shy of the top six, took the lead in the ninth minute when Milan Djuric volleyed in.
Mo Besic should have done better with a dropping ball on the edge of his area, but Marlon Pack jumped higher to nod the ball into the box.
There should still have been enough red shirts around to deal with it, but Djuric reacted quickest to arch his body and volley low past Darren Randolph.
George Friend was the man to make amends nine minutes later when he jumped in the penalty area to glance an Adama Traore corner inside the far post.
That provided Middlesbrough with the lift they needed. They controlled the rest of the half, before and after a clash with Aden Flint which left Patrick Bamford requiring oxygen and being stretchered off just after the half-hour mark.
Despite 11 minutes added on at the end of the opening period there was to be no breakthrough before the second half on a day when both teams needed the victory.
Middlesbrough had plenty possession and yet could not do enough with the ball, and City goalkeeper Frank Fielding was kept relatively quiet.
Adam Clayton, playing for the suspended Grant Leadbitter, blasted an effort over, while Britt Assombalonga headed wide – but that was all they could muster before the hour mark. Had Friend not been positioned in the right place to block a low goalbound drive from Josh Brownhill, Middlesbrough would have been behind.
But then Brownhill suffered further frustration at the other end when he was unable to clear Ayala’s header from Traore’s corner off the line, and Middlesbrough took the lead.
There was still one last chance for Bristol City to claim a point, but Bobby Reid powered over an effort from 12 yards to leave Middlesbrough the winners.