BORO RISE TO THE TOP OF TABLE

Middlesbrough swept to the top of the Championship following a confident 3-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday at the Riverside.

Defender Justin Hoyte opened their account inside the opening fifteen minutes until Gary Madine equalised shortly after the break - despite appearing to be well offside.

But Ishmael Miller and Lukas Jutkiewicz both scored during the final third of the game to take the in-form Teessiders two points clear at the top of the table.

Manager Tony Mowbray earlier made five changes from the side held at Nottingham Forest with Hoyte, Jonathan Woodgate, Emanuel Ledesma, Miller and Marvin Emnes all returning.

And it was Argentinian ace Ledesma soon picking out Hoyte inside the area, with the recalled ex-Arsenal full-back expertly despatching his finish past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

The former England shot-stopper then reacted well to keep out Grant Leadbitter's free-kick while opposite number Jason Steele had to be alert from Jay Bothroyd's low twelve-yard effort.

On loan Everton midfielder Ross Barkley also dipped a shot narrowly over for the visitors before Michail Antonio called upon Steele to again save and Miguel Llera then sliced wide.

Boro were forced into a change at the break with Seb Hines replacing Woodgate. But it was Antonio immediately nodding down for Madine to sidefoot an equaliser when clearly offside.

The hosts now faced a real challenge with the prospect of an outright leadership of the division still agonisingly close for them.

And they responded on the hour when Miller tucked in his second goal for the club from deep inside the area after Ledesma had again proved the catalyst when locating Scott McDonald.

Sixteen minutes later the victory was complete as substitute Jutkiewicz headed powerfully beyond Kirkland from Leadbitter's corner into the near post.

Wednesday goalscorer Madine later forced a great save from Steele but it was Boro's night in front of their biggest crowd in more than three years.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Woodgate (Hines 46), Bikey, Friend, Leadbitter, McEachran, Ledesma, Emnes (Haroun 73), McDonald, Miller (Jutkiewicz 66)

subs (unused): Leutwiler, Parnaby, Zemmama, Bailey

Goals: Hoyte (13), Miller (60), Jutkiewicz (76)

Sheffield Wednesday Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, D. Jones, Llera, Semedo, Antonio, Corry (O'Grady 82), Barkley (McCabe 83), Madine, Bothroyd (J. Johnson 73)

subs (unused): Davies, Taylor, Mattock, Rodri

Goals: Madine (48)

Ref: Boyeson

Att: 28,229

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