Middlesbrough came from a goal down to move back into second place in the Championship and condemn injury-hit Stoke to a home defeat.

Boro were off the boil in the opening 45 minutes and deservedly trailed to Tomas Rigo’s fortunate first goal for the Potters.

But Kim Hellberg’s visitors were revived after the interval and goals from Alan Browne and Tommy Conway moved them above Ipswich Town into an automatic promotion place.

Mark Robins’ home side badly need forward reinforcements if they are to continue any sort of promotion challenge.

They fell two points and a place outside the play-off positions and ended the game with 10 men when Bosun Lawal was shown his second yellow card of the night.

The threadbare Potters are without all four of their forwards – they have scored five goals in their last seven league games – and have also lost new goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to a thigh injury after just one appearance.

Despite their issues, they ran all over a sluggish Boro in the first half and were rewarded when Rigo hit a dipping shot from 20 yards which pitched in front of the dive of goalkeeper Sol Brynn and squirmed through his grasp.

Brynn then made a brilliant one-handed save to turn Million Manhoef’s shot on to the crossbar and denied makeshift striker Lamine Cisse with his legs as Stoke continued to impress.

Boro made a double change at the break and they were level within three minutes. Hayden Hackney drove into the area and while his shot was saved, the ball was fired back across and Browne was on hand to smash into the roof of the net.

Manhoef scooped over before Conway completed the Boro turnaround before the hour mark.

Browne, a midfielder converted to right-back, whipped in a wonderful cross which had the Championship’s second-best defence in a mess and allowed Conway to swivel and turn home.

Brynn was troubled by two fine Sorba Thomas free-kicks and a Cisse strike as Stoke looked for a response but Lawal was then dismissed to add to Robins’ squad woes.

With four of their next six games at home, Middlesbrough look well placed as they bid for a Premier League return.