Middlesbrough moved into third spot in the Championship after staging a second-half comeback against Birmingham, who have slipped to 18th.

The Blues have now lost six consecutive away games but took the lead from an Adam Rooney penalty, after the striker was brought down by keeper Carl Ikeme.

Boro hit back after the break through Barry Robson and Faris Haroun.

And midfielder Malaury Martin came off the bench to secure the points for Tony Mowbray's side.

It was Boro's third consecutive victory as they maintained their impressive start to the season.

But Mowbray will be disappointed with the manner of Birmingham's goal, which came against the run of play.

Tony McMahon had already struck the post for Boro when Birmingham's lively winger Chris Burke was judged to have been felled in the area by Ikeme on 36 minutes.

Rooney fired the penalty into the bottom corner to give the Blues the half-time lead.

But that advantage lasted just three second-half minutes before Robson's free-kick crept in off the post to level the scores.

Chris Hughton's side still threatened and Rooney could have regained the lead before Middlesbrough sealed victory with two goals in three minutes.

Substitute Haroun made it 2-1 from 12 yards before Martin, who had joined the action on 67 minutes, wrapped up victory with a majestic 25-yard finish.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (3)

Middlesbrough

  • 13 Ikeme Booked
  • 03 Bennett
  • 04 Bates
  • 06 McManus
  • 14 Williams
  • 29 McMahon
  • 10 Bailey
  • 17 Robson Booked
  • 18 Arca (Martin - 67' )
  • 07 McDonald (Haroun - 46' )
  • 09 Emnes

Substitutes

  • 21 Coyne
  • 15 Hines
  • 22 Martin
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 38 Haroun

Birmingham

  • 01 Myhill
  • 02 Carr
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell Booked
  • 23 Spector (Wood - 72' )
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke Booked
  • 11 Beausejour
  • 18 Fahey
  • 22 Redmond
  • 17 Rooney

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 15 Dann
  • 37 Hubbins
  • 25 Asante
  • 39 Wood
Ref: Brown
Att: 17,567

Match Stats

Shots

15 11

On target

10 6

Corners

5 7

Fouls

11 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:12 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +2:39

Jean Beausejour takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme.

90:00 +0:32

The ball is delivered by David Murphy, Joe Bennett makes a clearance.

89:11

Barry Robson has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

88:34

Rhys Williams restarts play with the free kick.

88:34 Booking

Booking Booking for Chris Burke for unsporting behaviour.

88:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rhys Williams by Chris Burke.

85:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Wood by Tony McMahon. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Keith Fahey, Barry Robson gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour played to the near post, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Curtis Davies misses to the left of the goal.

84:37

The assistant referee flags for offside against Faris Haroun. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

83:28

Marvin Emnes is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steven Caldwell.

82:28

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon played to the near post, clearance by David Murphy.

82:22

Joe Bennett delivers the ball, Chris Burke gets a block in.

80:48

Outswinging corner taken by Nathan Redmond, clearance by Matthew Bates.

79:56

Tony McMahon sends in a cross, clearance by Curtis Davies.

79:07

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Nathan Redmond.

78:26

Foul by Barry Robson on Nathan Redmond, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jean Beausejour.

73:50

Shot on goal comes in from Malaury Martin from the free kick.

73:50 Booking

Booking Booking for Steven Caldwell for unsporting behaviour.

73:46

Marvin Emnes fouled by Steven Caldwell, the ref awards a free kick.

71:56 Goal scored

Goal - Malaury Martin - Middlesbro 3 - 1 Birmingham Malaury Martin gets on the score sheet with a goal from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 3-1 Birmingham.

71:46

The ball is swung over by Chris Burke, clearance made by Matthew Bates.

71:05

Jean Beausejour takes a outswinging corner.

71:05 Substitution

Substitution Chris Wood on for Jonathan Spector.

68:57

The assist for the goal came from Joe Bennett.

68:57 Goal scored

Goal - Faris Haroun - Middlesbro 2 - 1 Birmingham Faris Haroun fires in a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 2-1 Birmingham.

67:44

Barry Robson concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Redmond. Direct free kick taken by Nathan Redmond.

66:04

Corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Tony McMahon misses to the right of the target.

66:04 Substitution

Substitution Malaury Martin comes on in place of Julio Arca.

66:04

Faris Haroun takes a shot. David Murphy gets a block in.

64:36

The ball is sent over by Jean Beausejour, clearance by Stephen McManus.

63:51

David Murphy takes a shot. Tony McMahon gets a block in. Jean Beausejour takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Stephen McManus makes a clearance.

61:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rhys Williams on Jean Beausejour. Jean Beausejour takes the free kick.

60:45

The ball is delivered by Marvin Emnes, clearance by Steven Caldwell.

59:42

Tony McMahon crosses the ball, Steven Caldwell makes a clearance.

59:10

The ball is sent over by Joe Bennett, David Murphy makes a clearance.

58:28

Barry Robson crosses the ball, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance. Tony McMahon takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, save by Boaz Myhill.

57:58

The referee blows for offside. Curtis Davies takes the indirect free kick.

56:56

Shot from just outside the box by Adam Rooney goes over the bar.

55:54

Adam Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme.

54:57

Rhys Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Keith Fahey. Free kick taken by Steven Caldwell.

54:16

Tony McMahon delivers the ball, save by Boaz Myhill.

53:12

Centre by Nicky Bailey, clearance by Steven Caldwell.

52:16

Barry Robson challenges David Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Murphy.

50:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Bailey on Jonathan Spector. Curtis Davies takes the direct free kick.

49:23

Nathan Redmond sends in a cross, Matthew Bates manages to make a clearance.

48:16

Adam Rooney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen McManus. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick.

47:23 Goal scored

Goal - Barry Robson - Middlesbro 1 - 1 Birmingham Barry Robson grabs a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 1-1 Birmingham.

45:17

Curtis Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Emnes.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Middlesbrough) makes a substitution, with Faris Haroun coming on for Scott McDonald.

45:00 +1:01 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

44:41

The official flags Marvin Emnes offside. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

43:54

Julio Arca takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

42:55

Julio Arca is caught offside. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

41:53

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jean Beausejour, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance.

40:16

Julio Arca fouled by Chris Burke, the ref awards a free kick. Julio Arca restarts play with the free kick.

34:35

Chris Burke fouled by Carl Ikeme, the ref awards a Penalty.

37:24

Tony McMahon delivers the ball, Steven Caldwell manages to make a clearance.

36:52

Jonathan Spector gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicky Bailey. Free kick taken by Matthew Bates.

35:33 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Rooney - Middlesbro 0 - 1 Birmingham Power penalty scored by Adam Rooney. Middlesbrough 0-1 Birmingham.

34:41 Booking

Booking Carl Ikeme booked for unsporting behaviour.

34:35

Assist by Chris Burke.

34:35

Carl Ikeme gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Adam Rooney.

34:16

Jonathan Spector takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save.

33:56

Barry Robson takes a shot. Blocked by David Murphy.

32:17

Tony McMahon has an effort at goal from close in that bounces off the post.

31:01

The ball is delivered by Joe Bennett, save made by Boaz Myhill.

28:53

Rhys Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Jean Beausejour. Strike on goal comes in from Nathan Redmond from the free kick, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

25:46

Barry Robson takes the inswinging corner, Chris Burke makes a clearance. Barry Robson sends in a cross, Shot from outside the area by Tony McMahon misses to the left of the goal.

25:22

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Clearance made by David Murphy.

24:04 Booking

Booking Barry Robson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

24:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Robson on Nathan Redmond. Jonathan Spector takes the direct free kick.

23:50

A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, clearance by Curtis Davies.

22:41

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

19:55

Outswinging corner taken by Jean Beausejour, clearance by Tony McMahon.

19:50

Chris Burke sends in a cross, clearance by Tony McMahon.

14:38

Marvin Emnes produces a cross, Effort from the edge of the area by Scott McDonald goes wide of the left-hand post.

13:36

Marvin Emnes is ruled offside. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

12:37

Centre by Chris Burke.

12:17

Centre by Nicky Bailey, clearance by Curtis Davies.

10:52

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon played to the near post, Chris Burke manages to make a clearance.

10:37

Barry Robson takes a shot. Boaz Myhill makes a save.

9:06

Tony McMahon produces a cross.

8:30

The ball is crossed by Chris Burke.

7:56

Jean Beausejour has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

7:28

The ball is delivered by Jonathan Spector, Chris Burke takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Bates.

6:38

Nathan Redmond has a shot and went wide left of the target.

4:56

The ball is crossed by Scott McDonald, clearance made by Stephen Carr.

3:14

Julio Arca gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Burke. Free kick taken by Stephen Carr.

0:00

The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association