Middlesbrough 1 Wolves 2 – Report and pictures

Helder Costa and Ivan Cavleiro put them ahead at the break and a routine win looked on the cards.

But Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty were both sent off for picking up two yellows cards in the second half, giving Boro hope.

Patrick Bamford pulled one back in injury time and then Conor Coady made a last-gasp block as Wolves held on for a memorable win.

Analysis

There are predominantly three reasons why anyone of a Wolves persuasion who attended will never forget this game.

Firstly, they watched a crazy, frantic football match unfold which descended into The Battle of Boro™ in a ludicrous second half where Wolves lost their heads were reduced to nine men, writes Tim Spiers at the Riverside.

Secondly, they saw their team move a big step closer to realising their promotion dream, on a day when Cardiff and Fulham also won.

Thirdly, they witnessed history in what was Wolves' first win away at Middlesbrough since 1951, ending a remarkable run of 25 matches in 67 years without victory.

King George VI was on the throne when Wolves last tasted success here, mankind wouldn't put a human on the moon for another 18 years and Stan Cullis was Wolves' manager.

Their disbelieving supporters hope and pray that their beloved Nuno becomes even half as successful as the great man Cullis. Well, this win took the Portuguese head coach some way to achieving the first of Wolves' big goals – promotion.

This barmy encounter saw them at their best – clinically despatching two first half goals which put them in charge at half time, and their worst – bizarrely losing all semblance of discipline in a madcap second half.

But at the end of it all, Wolves won. Again. That's what they do under Nuno, almost whatever the circumstances. And the foundations put in place as far back as the start of pre-season – defensive organisation and a never-say-die attitude, stood them in good stead during this toughest of tests.

The wild celebrations at full time, with Nuno sprinting onto the pitch and going bananas in front of an esctastic 2,000 or so fans, told you all you needed to know.

"Wolves are going up," they sang back at him. It's impossible to argue with that now.

Match report

As expected Nuno named the same XI that beat Burton before the international break. There were a couple of changes on the bench with Ruben Vinagre and Kortney Hause in for Rafa Mir and Roderick Miranda.

Tony Pulis' Boro came into the game in good form, earning 10 points from four games, and after an even opening few minutes it was the home side who looked the more likely scorers.

Pacey winger Adama Traore was the obvious danger-man and he soon went through the gears, literally running a ring around Barry Douglas at one point and later taking on three players at once, showcasing phenomenal ability.

John Ruddy had a couple of iffy moments in goal and the Wolves back line looked occasionally suspect, with Willy Boly not his usual commanding self.

Meanwhile in midfield Pulis seemed to have instructed his players to kick Wolves repeatedly in the shins. Ivan Cavaleiro was on the end of a filthy challenge from Grant Leadbitter and then Douglas was kicked off the ball by Ryan Shotton.

But this is nothing new for Nuno's team and they rode the storm before gradually eking out opportunities.

Two of those came from the piercing right boot of Ruben Neves who clearly fancies scoring one of his wondergoals, testing Darren Randolph in the extreme with two swerving 25-yard thunderbolts which both required top drawer saves.

Wolves were also getting plenty of joy down the flanks – and that's where their opening goal came from. Matt Doherty played inside to Heler Costa who showed quick feet before firing at Randolph – Cavaleiro kept it alive and Douglas chipped right-footed to the unmarked Costa whose firm volley flew into the net.

While Boro had enjoyed the better of the clash, Wolves showed the confidence and clinicalness in front of goal that their opponents lacked.

Soon it was 2-0. Douglas again had a hand with an inswinging corner, Boly's header was saved and Cavaleiro couldn't miss from a yard out.

It was devastating efficiency from Nuno's team, who went into the dressing room in complete control.

What happened at the start of the second half, then, was completely unnecessary. Wolves looked content soaking up pressure and trying to hit Boro on the counter attack.

They almost did just that when the superb Neves sent Costa clean through on goal – he was clear of the last man but suddenly went down, however referee Stuart Attwell gave neither a foul nor a dive.

With the Wolves bench raging, the players lost theirs heads to in what was a shocking display of indiscipline for the next 20 minutes.

Neves picked up two yellows in the space of a minute, one for trying to foul Traore and then another for very much fouling Friend.

The best player on the pitch was no more and he certainly wasn't the only one to lose their head. Ryan Bennett and Romain Saiss both earned deserved bookings as the game descended into a scrap – exactly what Boro wanted.

And then Matt Doherty also saw red, leading with an arm with an aerial challenge and giving Attwell no choice.

The referee was struggling to keep control but Wolves weren't helping themselves. They'd been in charge just 20 minutes earlier and were now forced to defend for their lives in their own box. Douglas crucially got a toe onto the ball with Bamford about to shoot and then Ruddy brilliantly saved low from Traore as the pressure mounted.

It was all Boro but Wolves were defending resolutely and Boly typified it with a magnificent block to deny Howson.

Nuno had sent on N'Diaye and Bonatini to help shore things up and now Morgan Gibbs-White replaced a limping Costa with six to go.

Boro continued to press and pulled one back in the fourth minute of six added on through a Bamford strike.

They threw bodies forward and almost grabbed a last gasp equaliser but Coady blocked a goalbound shot with his chest and then Downing fired the rebound wide with the goal gaping.

It was a furious end to an absolutely breathless encounter.

Teams

Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Randolph; Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton (Assombalonga, 70), Leadbitter (Howson, 63), Besic; Traore, Bamford, Downing. Subs: Dimi, Cranie, Fry, Baker, Harrison.

Goals: Bamford (94)

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Costa, Afobe (Bonatini, 62), Cavaleiro (N'Diaye, 58). Subs: Norris, Batth, Hause, Gibbs-White, Vinagre.

Goals: Costa (32), Cavaleiro (37)

Red cards: Neves (56), Doherty (71)

Attendance: 27,658

Referee: Stuart Atwell