MIDDLESBROUGH continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory away at Burnley, taking them third in the Championship table.

Nicky Bailey's tenth minute volley put the visitors into the lead, while Joe Bennett bundled over four minutes into the second half to give Boro their fourth win of the season, and to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions – after an April defeat at Turf Moor - to 12.

Tony Mowbray's gameplan was disrupted in the first minute when Stephen McManus suffered an injury, which forced Rhys Williams to slot in at centre-half, bringing Faris Haroun into midfield.

However, Boro took the lead on 10 minutes when Barry Robson broke clear down the left flank, before swinging in a cross which was cushioned at the back post by Justin Hoyte, where David Edgar's defensive header was volleyed in by Bailey. It took a bounce before beating Brian Jensen, but Bailey showed some quality in getting the shot under control in the first place.

Both teams were unable to get into a comfortable passing game, with a succession of rash challenges and stoppages by referee Mark Haywood stifling the proceedings.

However, Boro did settle down and put some decent moves together, Robson going close from 25 yards out after some fine approach play from Bennett and Bailey.

Tony McMahon's free-kick from 30 yards out whistled by Jensen's right-hand post on 37 minutes after Edgar had hooked a shot over for Burnley, while former Sunderland winger Ross Wallace floated a shot wide five minutes before the interval.

After a fractious first half, Burnley did not look to be out of the game, but their chances of victory took a hit four minutes after the restart when Bennett burst into the Burnley box, slid a pass out to McDonald, whose shot was parried by Jensen, straight into the path of the England under-21 international to bundle in.

The hosts introduced loan signing Junior Stanislas in an attempt to effect a change, and the second goal did seem to wake Burnley up. Edgar's header from Wallace's corner drifted just over Ikeme's crossbar, while the on-loan goalkeeper did well to parry out Chris McCann's driven shot.

At the other end, Robson's floated effort almost deceived Jensen in the Burnley goal, but the Scotland international's shot dropped over the bar.

Championship player of the month Marvin Emnes spurned a glorious opportunity to make it three on 76 minutes when through on goal from Hoyte's pass after McDonald's run had dragged Burnley centre-half Ben Mee out of position, however, the Dutchman could only squeeze a tame shot straight down the throat of Jensen.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Jensen; Trippier, Edgar, Mee, Easton; Wallace, Marney (Bartley, 70), McCann, Treacy (Stanislas 52); Rodriguez, Austin (Hines, 70). Subs not used: Grant (gk), Amougou.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Ikeme; McMahon, Bates, McManus (Haroun 4), Bennett; Hoyte, Williams, Bailey, Robson (Arca, 81); McDonald, Emnes (Zemmama 85). Subs not used: Kink, Martin.

Attendance: 15,220

Referee: Mark Haywood (Leeds)