MIDDLESBROUGH'S Championship climb continued with a third successive league win, as second half goals from Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath secured all three points against Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

We run through some of the talking points to emerge from the Riverside:

NO EXCUSES BUT ONE COMPLAINT

Cardiff might well have been tipped for a season of struggle before a ball was kicked but they made a surprisingly bright start to the campaign and headed for Boro on the back of four straight wins. That's a rarity in the Championship.

Their strength in the early weeks of the season, though, has been playing at home rather than on the road, where their only win was a smash and grab at Sunderland.

Visiting boss Erol Bulut felt fatigue and injuries played a part in his side's second half downfall at the Riverside, though was at pains to stress he didn't want to make it sound like he was making excuses.

He did have one complaint, however. He felt Isaiah Jones' opening goal was offside.

He said: "After the first goal, which changed the game, it leaned totally to the side of Middlesbrough. If you watch the first goal, it was a clear offside. I don't want to say anything. I will report to the EFL or wherever I have to report, so they will read it. For me it was a clear offside. The referees see something different

"After the first goal, we had to push more to score a goal, so we had to run more and we couldn't manage it. But in the first half, the chance KG (Karlan Grant) had, if we score that goal, the game would be much, much different. But in football, it's like this, you have to score."

Bulut's complaint was put to Michael Carrick, who was second in to speak to the press after the game, but the head coach at that stage said he hadn't seen a replay of the goal.

Regardless, Boro weren't complaining. It was the moment that set them on their way.

THE CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP TEST

The Southampton win at the Riverside was a massive moment in Boro's season and the victory that followed at Watford was hugely impressive. But Boro will take particular confidence from this victory because it was the classic Championship test on home turf.

A visiting team that was well organised and put the onus on Boro to break them down. How many times have we seen that in the Championship in recent years? It was a weekly occurrence during Aitor Karanka's tenure.

"First half it was a tactical game," said visiting boss Bulut.

Carrick's half-time message was unchanged from what he preached pre-match: be patient, don't panic.

He said: "We could sense the frustration around the stadium in the first half, which doesn’t really help the players. But I thought they stuck to it, which is pleasing.

"They believed in what they were doing and I thought the last 10 minutes of the first half we finished it very well. Teams are going to come and make it difficult for us at times, so we can’t always expect it to be free-flowing all the time."

Boro succeeded where Sunderland had failed earlier this season. In a similar game, the Black Cats quickly took control, dominated the ball and had more than double Cardiff's efforts on goal. But failed to force a breakthrough, and were stunned by a late winner from the Bluebirds.

This for Boro was a confidence building reminder that points will come with patience rather than just powering through teams like they were able to do last season.

DEPTH AND IDEAL SUBSTITUTES

What Boro will also take heart from is the fact this win came despite the fact a number of key players were missing and Carrick was forced to shuffle his pack.

We've seen on several occasions of late how sorely missed Jonny Howson is. And the Rav van den Berg injury on the back of Lewis O'Brien's setback was a real blow. But those who came in took their chance.

Plenty has been said and written about Lukas Engel. Huge credit must go to the left-back. Despite his Hillsborough horror show and the fact he clearly wasn't the pass of choice in the early stages on Tuesday night, he kept showing for the ball, kept asking for it. His display was a show of real resilience. Whether he starts at Sunderland or not - Carrick might well opt for van den Berg at left-back if fit - he can now kick on from what will hopefully be looked back on as a breakthrough night.

Tommy Smith was back to his reliable self, while Sam Greenwood - in for the rested Matt Crooks - caught the eye with his clever movement, urgency and drive. When the game was crying out for an injection of tempo in the first half, it was Greenwood who charged towards the visiting box and stung the hands of Jak Alnwick. He had a hand in the second goal as well - which leads us onto the bench and the changes.

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Emmanuel Latte Lath clearly wasn't signed to be a substitute but in that sort of game, with the opponents committing bodies and trying to force their way back into the game, he's the perfect replacement to take advantage of a tired and outnumbered backline. And Marcus Forss, again, while he'd obviously prefer to be starting, has the football brain, qualities and speed to be a nightmare late introduction if you're the opposition and chasing a game against Boro. The win on Tuesday night was a big tick for the depth of the squad.

PAT ON THE BACK FOR KEY MAN

On the eve of Cardiff's visit, Carrick was talking up Seny Dieng and the way in which the keeper has settled at Boro since his summer arrival. Naturally, with the way Carrick wants his keepers to play, there's always focus on what the No.1 does with his feet. And in that department, Dieng is very comfortable.

But the bread and butter is protecting the goal and, on the back of his fine display at Vicarage Road on Saturday, Dieng played his part on Tuesday night.

In the first half, with the game goalless, Karlan Grant ran in one on one and tried to find the far corner, but Dieng was equal to it, saving well with his feet. It was a crucial moment from a player who has quickly established himself as a crucial figure for Boro.