Middlesbrough dragged themselves back into the top half of the Championship with a 3-1 victory away to Stoke City, ending a five-match losing streak in the process.

Marcus Forss got the away side going with brilliant strike into the top corner, which was deserved after they had dominated the opening stages of the match.

Tommy Conway then had a great chance to double the lead, but lifted his shot high. Soon after, Lewis Baker forced Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Travers into a save with a shot from the edge of the box, with the latter up quickly to deny Million Manhoef.

Stoke did get their equaliser on the stroke of half-time through Bae Jun-ho. Andrew Moran sent a perfectly weighted cross through to the South Korean, who clinically finished into the bottom corner.

But Michael Carrick's team got back ahead seven minutes into the second half, with Finn Azaz netting his first goal since Boxing Day. Conway then made amends for his earlier miss with a 73rd-minute goal, set up by Azaz.

The victory leaves Boro four points off the play-off places and will alleviate some of the growing pressure on Carrick. Stoke are 20th, five points above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Cardiff City earned a vital three points with a 1-0 win at home to Hull City in a clash of two relegation-threatened sides.

The first half produced little to shout about, with just six shots combined from both teams and an accumulated 0.31 expected goals.

Yet Callum Robinson was able to net the decisive goal for Cardiff seven minutes into the second half.

The visitors had half-cleared Chris Willock's delivery, but it fell to Robinson, who poked in via a deflection.

Cardiff held firm to move six points above the relegation zone, while Hull are just one place and three points above third-bottom Plymouth Argyle.