Chuba Akpom's winner against Birmingham was his third goal in three games
Managerless Middlesbrough beat Birmingham City at the Riverside to move out of the Championship relegation zone.
Chuba Akpom reacted quickest to Blues' failure to deal with a low corner to crash home the decisive goal in Boro's first game since Chris Wilder's sacking.
Zack Steffen ensured they held on to the lead at the break, denying Scott Hogan after he intercepted a weak backpass from Anfernee Dijksteel.
Steffen also crucially saved efforts from Tahith Chong and Emmanuel Longelo, while Boro were prevented from scoring another goal in the second half for offside when Marcus Forss steered the ball home after Rodrigo Muniz hit the bar.
A wretched run of just two wins from 11 games to start the Championship season - Boro's worst beginning to a campaign since 1985 - cost Wilder his job on Teesside on Monday.
Defeat by bottom club Coventry City on Saturday ended the 55-year-old's tenure, leaving goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich to oversee the victory that ends their three-game winless run.
- Relive Wednesday's Championship action as it happened
Boro appeared fortunate not to have Paddy McNair sent off in the 15th minute when he pulled the shirt of Hogan as the ball broke behind the defence. A yellow card was all that was issued, with Juninho Bacuna then flashing a free-kick wide.
A low corner from Ryan Giles, which skipped across the box and hit a Blues defender at the back post, teed Akpom up for his goal.
A stray back pass from Dijksteel almost gifted Blues an equaliser, with Hogan picking up possession only to be denied by onrushing goalkeeper Steffen.
Both sides threatened early in the second half, with Steffen saving from Chong while Boro's Hayden Hackney sent an effort over the bar at the other end.
A fingertip save from Steffen sent a Longelo free-kick over the bar as Blues pressed for an equaliser, while the assistant referee's flag was all that denied Forss from making it two for the hosts when he tapped home from point-blank range after Muniz's header off the bar fell into his path.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
1Steffen17McNair6Fry27Bola15Dijksteel25Crooks16Howson30Hackney3Giles29Akpom9Muniz Carvalho
- 1Steffen17McNairBooked at 15mins6Fry27Bola15DijksteelBooked at 29minsSubstituted forSmithat 82'minutes25Crooks16Howson30HackneySubstituted forMcGreeat 63'minutes3GilesSubstituted forLenihanat 70'minutes29AkpomSubstituted forForssat 70'minutes9Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forWatmoreat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Mowatt8McGree14Smith18Watmore21Forss23Roberts26Lenihan
Birmingham
Formation 3-4-1-2
21Ruddy2Colin28Sanderson5Trusty11Graham31Bielik18Chong23Longelo7Bacuna8Deeney9Hogan
- 21Ruddy2ColinSubstituted forJamesat 88'minutes28Sanderson5Trusty11Graham31BielikSubstituted forHallat 79'minutes18ChongSubstituted forBellinghamat 88'minutes23Longelo7BacunaBooked at 13minsSubstituted forMejbriat 45'minutes8DeeneySubstituted forJutkiewiczat 79'minutes9Hogan
Substitutes
- 1Etheridge6Mejbri10Jutkiewicz14Leko19James27Bellingham35Hall
Referee:Michael SalisburyAttendance:22,374Match StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBirminghamPossessionHome46%Away54%ShotsHome13Away13Shots on TargetHome3Away4CornersHome6Away6FoulsHome11Away10Live Text Post update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Birmingham City 0.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Birmingham City 0.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jordan Graham.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Jordan Graham (Birmingham City).
90'+1'Post update
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'Post update
Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Marc Bola (Middlesbrough).
88'Post update
Jobe Bellingham (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Tommy Smith (Middlesbrough).
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Duncan Watmore (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Jordan James replaces Maxime Colin.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Jobe Bellingham replaces Tahith Chong.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Tommy Smith replaces Anfernee Dijksteel.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Duncan Watmore replaces Rodrigo Muniz.
81'Post update
Foul by Maxime Colin (Birmingham City).
81'Post update
Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Lukas Jutkiewicz replaces Troy Deeney.
79'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. George Hall replaces Krystian Bielik.
78'Post update
Foul by Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham City).
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Source: bbc.com