Wolves 1-3 Middlesbrough: Diego Fabbrini, Grant Leadbitter and Stewart Downing score as Aitor Karanka's men come from behind

• e-mail

Middlesbrough secured their first win in four league matches as they came from behind to defeat Wolves in an enthralling Sky Bet Championship encounter.

Boro had been trailing to Dave Edwards' 22nd minute header, before launching an amazing fight-back in the final quarter of the game at Molineux.

Having failed to score in their previous three games, Middlesbrough suddenly found three goals in just 20 minutes.

Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter gave his side the lead late in the second half from the penalty spot

The former Sunderland man celebrates with the away supporters after helping his side defeat Wolves

MATCH FACTS AND TABLE

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Martinez, Doherty, Batth, Hause (Price 52), Golbourne, McDonald, Coady, Byrne (Ojo 84), Edwards, Van La Parra (Henry 61), Afobe

Subs not used: Ikeme, Wallace, Deslandes, Le Fondre 

Goal: Edwards 22

Booked: Coady, Afobe

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Kalas (Downing 59'), Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Nsue, Fabbrini, De Pena (Gibson 69), Nugent

Subs not used: Kike, Mejias, Stephens , Adomah (Gibson 88), Maloney

Goals: Fabbrini 71, Leadbitter 82, Downing 90

Referee: James Linington

Attendance: 22,006

Diego Fabbrini handed Middlesbrough a 71st minute lifeline, before skipper Grant Leadbitter scored from the spot and Stewart Downing completed the comeback in stoppage time.

The flurry of goals earned Aitor Karanka's men their first win in four games - and sentenced Wolves to a third successive defeat.

Middlesbrough enjoyed a good spell of early domination and would have made that count but for the fingertips of Emiliano Martinez.

The on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper did well to tip a 25-yard goalbound drive from Tomas Kalas over the bar in the 12th minute.

But just 60 seconds after almost giving Middlesbrough the lead, Kalas came close to handing Wolves the opening goal.

Nathan Byrne harried the Czech defender on the goal-line and took the ball off him, only to then see his shot fly into the side netting.

Boro had been trailing to Dave Edwards' (left) 22nd minute header, before launching an amazing fight-back

It was a major let off for Boro, but they could not survive a second time as Wolves broke the deadlock with a classy goal.

Kevin McDonald's pass picked out left-back Scott Golbourne and when his centre flew across the face of the Middlesbrough goal Edwards was on hand to steer his header beyond goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Wolves continued to carry the greater threat into the second period and would have quickly put the result beyond doubt but for some frantic last-ditch defending.

Twice in the space of four minutes Benik Afobe was denied - first by a challenge from George Friend and then on the hour by a perfectly-timed block by Daniel Ayala.

The Wolves midfielder wheels away in celebration after giving the hosts the lead in the first half

Wolves should really have increased their lead in the 66th minute but for Konstantopoulos, who somehow managed to beat away James Henry's close range drive.

That proved to be a turning point as it galvanised Middlesbrough and they were level five minutes later.

Wolves paid the price for giving Fabbrini too much time and space 20 yards from goal, beating Martinez with a low drive at his near post.

Wolves defender Kortney Hause was taken off on a stretcher after sustaining an injury on Saturday

That changed the entire complexion of the game and Middlesbrough were a different proposition after finding the way to goal.

Albert Adomah was twice denied by Martinez before referee Darren Drysdale, who had replaced James Linington at half-time, pointed to the spot after Byrne had brought down Friend.

Leadbitter made no mistake with his low drive, before Downing sealed the win with a stunning 20-yard free-kick. 

Wolves striker Benik Afobe (left) battles to win possesion for his team  with Middlesbrough's Daniel Ayala