Folarin Balogun has scored twice in his past three appearances for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough moved back into the play-off places with their first away league win of 2022 at Birmingham City.
Boro took the lead when Aaron Connolly turned in from close range after some good build-up play down the right.
Paddy McNair had a great chance to make it 2-0 after the break, but Neil Etheridge turned his penalty on to the inside of the post and the ball just stayed out.
Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun smashed home a brilliant second from the edge of the area before Blues defender Kristian Pedersen was sent off late on for a second yellow card after a cynical pull back on Isaiah Jones.
- Relive Tuesday's EFL action
The win was Boro's first on the road in the Championship since 29 December and leaves them sixth, two points above Sheffield United, who have a game in hand.
With the race for the play-offs looking to be incredibly tight, Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder may well think his side should have boosted their goal difference further on a night where Birmingham failed to register a shot on target.
With eight games to play Lee Bowyer's men are 13 points above the relegation zone so their Championship status is all but secured.
Yet this was another difficult night for Birmingham and their supporters, and Pedersen's late red card summed up their evening.
They travel to Swansea City on Saturday, while Boro host Premier League giants Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals later the same day.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBirmingham
Formation 3-5-2
1Etheridge50Gordon4Roberts18Mengi24Graham8Richards6Woods20Gardner3Pedersen10Jutkiewicz25Hernández
- 1Etheridge50Gordon4Roberts18MengiSubstituted forHoganat 33'minutes24Graham8RichardsSubstituted forChongat 55'minutes6Woods20GardnerSubstituted forBacunaat 76'minutes3PedersenBooked at 86mins10Jutkiewicz25HernándezBooked at 80mins
Substitutes
- 2Colin7Chong9Hogan11Bela21Bacuna34Sunjic38Jeacock
Middlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
1Lumley2Dijksteel17McNair6Fry35Jones25Crooks16Howson7Tavernier3Taylor47Balogun26Connolly
- 1Lumley2Dijksteel17McNair6Fry35JonesSubstituted forPeltierat 88'minutes25CrooksBooked at 90mins16Howson7Tavernier3TaylorSubstituted forBolaat 67'minutes47BalogunSubstituted forWatmoreat 81'minutes26Connolly
Substitutes
- 14Peltier18Watmore22Bamba27Bola28Daniels37Coburn50Boyd-Munce
Referee:Darren BondMatch StatsHome TeamBirminghamAway TeamMiddlesbroughPossessionHome51%Away49%ShotsHome8Away10Shots on TargetHome0Away5CornersHome5Away7FoulsHome14Away11Live TextPost update
Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City).
90'+2'Post update
Aaron Connolly (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+1'Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Marcus Tavernier tries a through ball, but Aaron Connolly is caught offside.
90'Booking
Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'Post update
Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'Post update
Foul by Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough).
89'Post update
Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough).
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier with a cross following a corner.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lee Peltier replaces Isaiah Jones.
88'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lukas Jutkiewicz.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is blocked.
86'Dismissal
Second yellow card to Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City) for a bad foul.
86'Post update
Foul by Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City).
86'Post update
Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Foul by Onel Hernández (Birmingham City).
86'Post update
Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.
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Source: bbc.com