Garry Monk was delighted with Wednesday’s emphatic 4-1 win on his return to the Riverside.
Monk, sacked by Middlesbrough in December 2017, saw us go into a 4-1 lead inside 34 minutes and the manager said afterwards: “We showed how devastating we can be in the first half. It was exceptional, we were clinical and ruthless and followed the game plan.”
He said they knew Boro would show some fight after the break, Britt Assombalonga missing two excellent openings, adding: “We were a little bit disjointed in the second half at certain moments but overall we controlled their fightback, which we expected, and had a great opportunity to extend our lead.
“Overall, it was a very pleasing day and when you score four goals away from home you know you have done something right.”
Monk said he felt Middlesbrough would be vulnerable to Wednesday’s aerial threat, with Steven Fletcher and Atdhe Nuhiu up front, and that proved to be the case.
He also praised the players for taking many of his plans from training onto the pitch, “doing so with determination, desire and intensity”.
The victory means Monk has taken seven points from his three Championship games in charge and sees Wednesday moving into seventh place.