Famara Diedhiou took his tally to eight league goals for the season with his first-half brace
New Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson watched his new side end a run of six straight league defeats with an impressive win at Middlesbrough.
Famara Diedhiou's brace - a header and a coolly-placed right-foot shot - and Nahki Wells' superb solo run and finish had the visitors 3-0 ahead before half-time.
Dael Fry did manage to pull a goal back for Boro with 10 minutes left but they were unable to undo the damage from a dominant first-half display by the Robins.
Victory was City's first in the league since the end of January and their first away from home since 1 December.
Defeat for Boro dented their hopes of breaking into the play-off places after back-to-back wins had moved them to within three points of the top six.
- Relive Tuesday's Championship action
Former Boro centre-back Pearson, who was appointed as successor to Dean Holden on Monday, watched on from the stands at the Riverside while one of Holden's former assistants, Paul Simpson, and Keith Downing took charge on the touchline.
The ex-Leicester City and Watford boss, who has agreed a deal until the end of the season at Ashton Gate, would have been delighted with what he saw from his new side.
They made a terrific start even before Diedhiou headed home a cross from Adam Nagy for the opener and his 50th goal for the club.
New Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson watched from the stands at Middlesbrough
Wells had a goal-bound effort stopped on the line as Paddy McNair raced back to cover while Diedhiou then forced a superb left-handed save from Marcus Bettinelli with his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
But once they took the lead, there was seemingly no stopping a resurgent City.
Diedhiou soon added to his opening goal when he and Wells combined on the break to set up a low finish under Bettinelli's body.
Moments later, they had a third as a hopeful clearance by Tomas Kalas from his own byline was flicked on by Diedhiou for Wells to meet on halfway and then outpace a despairing Jonny Howson before he rounded Bettinelli for the finish.
Boro tried to find a way back into it in the second half but Fry's goal, after Sam Morsy's shot was parried away, was all they had to show for it.
City keeper Dan Bentley clawed away an in-swinging Marvin Johnson corner onto his crossbar and Boro's Neeskens Kebano had a shot on target blocked after Duncan Whatmore's through ball, but the visitors kept them at arm's length.
Pearson will officially take full charge for the first time when Bristol City travel to Swansea on Saturday.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Bettinelli2Dijksteel6Fry17McNair20Fisher16Howson5Morsy27Bola21Kebano11Fletcher18Watmore
- 1Bettinelli2Dijksteel6Fry17McNair20FisherSubstituted forMendez-Laingat 45'minutes16Howson5Morsy27BolaBooked at 63minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 77'minutes21KebanoSubstituted forSavilleat 67'minutes11FletcherSubstituted forAkpomat 23'minutes18WatmoreSubstituted forAssombalongaat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Johnson4Hall9Assombalonga10Akpom13Archer19Mendez-Laing22Saville29Spence33Coulson
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
1Bentley26Vyner19Mariappa22Kalas2Hunt45Palmer30Bakinson4Nagy34Towler9Diédhiou21Wells
- 1Bentley26Vyner19Mariappa22Kalas2HuntBooked at 90mins45PalmerBooked at 61minsSubstituted forPatersonat 81'minutes30Bakinson4Nagy34TowlerSubstituted forS Sessegnonat 81'minutes9DiédhiouSubstituted forSemenyoat 73'minutes21WellsSubstituted forMassengoat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Paterson12O'Leary18Semenyo23Moore28Pearson33Bell42Massengo43S Sessegnon
Referee:Tim RobinsonMatch StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBristol CityPossessionHome59%Away41%ShotsHome17Away6Shots on TargetHome3Away6CornersHome6Away2FoulsHome10Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Bristol City 3.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Bristol City 3.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. George Saville (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marvin Johnson with a headed pass.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough).
90'+3'Post update
Han-Noah Massengo (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Booking
Jack Hunt (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+1'Post update
Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Jack Hunt (Bristol City).
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Han-Noah Massengo replaces Nahki Wells.
85'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jamie Paterson.
85'Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvin Johnson.
83'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Steven Sessegnon.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Steven Sessegnon replaces Ryley Towler.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Jamie Paterson replaces Kasey Palmer.
80'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Bristol City 3. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
80'Post update
Attempt blocked. Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
79'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryley Towler.
77'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marvin Johnson replaces Marc Bola.
76'Post update
Foul by Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough).
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Source: bbc.com