Final score: Middlesbrough 4 Brentford 0

ON the day that marked the tenth anniversary of Brian Clough’s death, Middlesbrough produced a display fitting to one of Teesside’s greatest legends.

Before kick-off the Riverside Stadium honoured their most successful post-war goalscorer with rapturous applause and Aitor Karanka’s men duly followed with a triumphant 4-0 win over Championship new boys Brentford.

It was the Teessiders’ third win in eight days and the result provided the cherry on top for Karanka, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Thursday.

After a promising start Boro’s early season form suffered a set-back, but they are beginning to look like a squad capable of competing in the higher echelons of a league they are so desperate to leave behind.

It is still only early in the campaign, but Saturday demonstrated that Boro can see off teams with ease regardless of who plays.

Karanka has stressed the importance of utilising his entire squad in a bid to combat a gruelling schedule, and perhaps in contrast to previous managers it is clear he has more strength in depth to call upon.

The Spaniard made five changes from the team that beat Cardiff City, and while he may have had one eye on Tuesday’s Capital One Cup match up with Liverpool at Anfield, his tinkering certainly paid off.

Sticking with the recently deployed 4-4-2 system, Jelle Vossen and Patrick Bamford looked at home together up front, while debutant Ryan Fredericks impressed at right-back on his first start since arriving on loan from Tottenham.

Emilio Nsue also showed why Karanka regards him so highly by terrorising the Bees on the right and although Mark Warburton’s side never looked like getting anything from the game, Boro were solid at the back and dealt with any threat that did, albeit rarely, come their way.

Grant Leadbitter has gone from strength to strength under Karanka and having scored six goals throughout the whole of last season, the midfielder now has six in his last seven league games.

The 28-year-old’s unstoppable 35-yard pile driver gave Boro a 35th minute lead and from then on there was only ever one team in it.

“It was a great day for the team,” said Bamford, who capped his first start with Boro’s third goal in the 68th minute. “We knew we had to take our chances. We couldn't just leave it at 1-0 like the last few games because that always gives the opposition a little chance and gives them a glimmer of hope.

“The goals came at the perfect times for us and put them to bed.

“We've still got to keep our feet on the ground. It is only three games, it's a long season, so we just need to keep pushing on from this and try to repeat what we've done in the last week.”

After Albert Adomah doubled Middlesbrough’s advantage five minutes into the second half, Bamford got the third.

The striker - on loan from Chelsea - sent a glancing header past David Button from Nsue’s cross and admitted it was a relief to score on his first start.

He said: “I've had to bide my time, which is a little bit frustrating when you're young and not mature in a football way.

“But you have to wait for your chance and take it when it comes along and fortunately I've taken it.

“The good thing is with me, Jelle, Kike we're out-and-out strikers but either of us can drop in and do the number ten role, so it works well if we play two up front.”

The day was slightly soured when Dean Whitehead was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Alan Judge in the 83rd minute, but Boro grabbed a fourth through substitute Kike six minutes later to complete the rout.

“The boys have gelled well,” Fredericks said. “The gaffer has talked about consistency. Every team in this league can beat anyone on their day.

“The main thing for us is concentration. We’ve got the players to do it so hopefully we can put that into practice and win as many games as possible.

“I think we can go on a roll now. We can take the confidence from this and try to kick on. We’ve just got to keep going."

Match facts

Goals

1-0: Leadbitter (35 – picked up the ball 35 yards out and sent a unstoppable piledriver last button)

2-0: Adomah (50 – Slotted home from Nsue’s cross after good work by Vossen)

3-0: Bamford (68 – sent a glancing header beyond Button from Nsue’s cross)

4-0: Kike (89 – Received the ball from Gibson and sent a deft chip over Button and in)

Bookings: Fredericks (foul, 22); Tarkowski, (foul, 32); Bamford (foul, 53)

Sent off: Whitehead (dangerous play, 83)

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancaster): A bit hasty to dish out cards in the first half, but was right to send off Whitehead. 6

Attendance: 15,485

Rating: PPPP

Boro Brent.

Shots on 9 2

Shots off 13 4

Corners 5 2

Fouls 11 12

Offside 2 0

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2):

7 Konstantopoulos: A spectator for large parts with Brentford very rarely testing to keeper;

8 Fredericks: Hugely impressive debut from youngster on loan from Tottenham

8 Omeruo: Commanded his backline and even got involved in play further forward

8 Gibson: Strong and assured display from the defender, who made sure Brentford’s threat was limited

7 Friend: Supported in attack whenever he could and snuffed out any threat on the left;

9 Nsue: The winger caused problems all afternoon and supplied two of Boro’s goals

9 LEADBITTER: Led by example and produced yet another stunning goal to get the ball rolling

7 Whitehead: Kept Boro ticking over in midfield, but faces three games out after receiving a silly red card

8 Adomah: Just as dangerous on the left and capped off a good game with a goal;

8 Bamford: Worked hard, linked up well with Vossen and got the goal he deserved

8 Vossen: Brought players into the game with some superb hold up play and passing

Subs

Clayton (for Leadbitter 71) 6

Kike (for Bamford 76) 7

Reach (for Vossen 85)

Not used: Blackman, Woodgate, Husband, Tomlin.

Brentford (4-5-1): Button 5; McCormack 4, Dean 4, Tarkowski 4, Bidwell 5; Odubajo 3 (Toral, 75), Douglas 3, PRITCHARD 5 (Tebar, 66), Judge 4, Jota 4 (Proscwitz, 65); Gray 4. (Not used): Binham, Craig, Betinho, Moore.

Man of the match – GRANT Leadbitter – Capped off another dominant display with an absolute screamer from 35 yards to make it six goals in seven games