It was Boro's third successive win and they have yet to concede a goal, taking the pressure off Gareth Southgate, who knew he HAD to get off to a good start.
Elsewhere ...
Newcastle finished the day in second place behind Middlesbrough on goal difference after a convincing 2-0 away win over Crystal Palace - their first in the league since February.
Kevin Nolan's first goal for the club put Newcastle in front after just two minutes to make light of their off-the-field problems.
United went further ahead in the 21st minute thanks to a stunning drive into the top corner by Ryan Taylor and Palace could not find a way back into the game.
West Brom complete a trio of teams on 10 points with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich.
Richard Wright produced an inspired display in goal for the Tractor Boys but could not prevent them continuing their poor start to the season.
Roy Keane's side are still without a league win this season and had Wright to thank for keeping the score down as the former Arsenal man made a string of fine saves before stopping Luke Moore's second-half penalty.
The Baggies were at their entertaining best and Youssouf Mulumbu's first goal for the club put them in front after only 10 minutes before Robert Koren doubled their lead seven minutes before half-time.
Preston left visitors Peterborough one off the bottom with a 2-0 win at Deepdale. Preston went ahead through former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor and Billy Jones added a second on the half-hour to give North End a comfortable victory.
But Coventry slumped to ninth in the table after losing to struggling Swansea 1-0 at the Ricoh Stadium. Sammy Clingan missed a 12th-minute spot-kick for the Sky Blues and they paid the penalty when Wales international defender Ashley Williams scored the decider for the Swans in the 69th minute to record their first win of the season.
Sheffield United climbed the table with a fine 3-1 away win at troubled Reading. The home side scored their first league goal of the season through Matthew Mills in the 13th minute to give them a first-half advantage. But they could not sustain the lead and Stephen Quinn levelled before the break. Second-half strikes from Jamie Ward and a last-minute effort from David Cotterill sealed the win.
A 53rd-minute goal from prolific scorer Matty Fryatt earned Leicester a 1-0 win over bottom club Barnsley.
QPR shared a 1-1 draw with struggling Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road. Mikele Leigertwood put the home side ahead in the 25th minute but David McGoldrick equalised in the 56th minute.
A last-minute goal from Miles Addison completed a fine Derby fightback as they earned all three points with a 2-1 win over Plymouth at Pride Park.
Plymouth stunned Derby by taking the lead in the 17th minute after Jake Buxton was adjudged to have fouled Alan Judge. Judge then composed himself to put the visitors in front from the penalty spot. But Derby fought back to level before the break when Buxton redeemed himself by scoring the equaliser and Addison pounced in the final minute.
Sheffield Wednesday moved into 11th place thanks to a 4-0 demolition of Scunthorpe. Wednesday made light work of it with two goals inside the first 12 minutes. Richard Wood headed the Owls in front in the sixth minute before Michael Johnson added a second six minutes later. The home side then went three in front through Marcus Tudgay in the 34th minute. The scoring was completed by Darren Potter in the 58th minute.
Watford twice squandered the lead against Blackpool in a contest that eventually ended 2-2. Tommy Smith gave the home side the lead in the 23rd minute after collecting a pass from Danny Graham to finish in style. But Alex Baptiste levelled in the 55th minute only for Watford to re-establish their advantage through Tom Cleverly seven minutes later. But the home side were denied victory when Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck a second equaliser in the 71st minute.