Here's how Middlesbrough players rated in the 1-0 win over Swansea City:

7 Dieng: His brave stop to deny Abdulai late in the first half was crucial.

8 Ayling: Picked up where he left off last season with a typically excellent defensive display. Wore the armband and led by the example. Superb late block.

8 Van den Berg: Deserved clean sheet. Swansea didn’t manage a shot on target. Brilliant goal-saving last minute block after Ayling’s.

8 Clarke: Carried his form from last season into the new campaign. Made one excellent second half block. Brave and composed throughout.

7 Engel: Assured display at left-back. Tried to get forward at every opportunity in first half.

7 Hackney: Great to see the Teessider back in action after his injury struggles in the second half of last season. Cool and classy in the midfield, as ever.

7 Morris: One first half error when his blind pass was almost punished but that moment aside the American enjoyed a tidy and busy debut. All-action in the midfield.

8 Jones: Boro’s best player. Went close early on with ambitious lobbed effort, created chances and won the penalty. Sharp and full of attacking intent. The perfect reaction after Micah Hamilton’s arrival.

7 Azaz: Linked up play well and found pockets of space. Decision making let him down in first half when he had good opportunity and went close in the second when he was denied by a good save.

7 McGree: Promising return for the forward after injury-disrupted season. Will be crucial player this season.

8 Latte Lath: Wasted no time in getting off the mark. Emphatic penalty and energetic display. Went close to a second goal on a couple of occasions, heading just wide and seeing a well-struck volley deflect off Matt Clarke and bounce just wide. Looked full of confidence.

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Substitutes:

Burgzorg (for Azaz, 81): N/A

Coburn (for Latte Lath, 86)

Howson (for McGree, 95): N/A

Subs not used: Glover, Barlaser, Gilbert, Dijksteel, Hamilton, McCormick

Swansea City: Vigouroux 7; Key 6 (Naughton, 63), Cabango 6, Darling 6, Tymon 5; Fulton 5 (Vipotnik, 63), Grimes 6, Franco 5 (Cooper, 78) ; Abdulai 5 (Ronald, 46), Cullen 6, Eom Ji-Sung 6 (Thomas, 93)

Subs not used: Broome, Pedersen, Tjoe-a-on, Watts

Man of the Match: Isaiah Jones. Caused Swansea problems throughout. Full of running even in the last minute when he was set away on the counter and should have scored.