Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 2

MIDDLESBROUGH have lost three games in a row in the Premier League despite a spirited second half performance that had threatened to claim a point against Tottenham.

Boro had struggled to come to terms with an impressive Spurs at a packed Riverside for an hour but burst into life for the closing stages after the introductions of Jordan Rhodes and Adama Traore.

Local lad Ben Gibson pulled a goal back for Middlesbrough shortly after and that led to some greater play by the home side who had it all to do because of two Tottenham goals in the first half.

Middlesbrough, with the exception of a couple of early forays forward, never looked like they were confident of keeping a Spurs team quiet in that opening period; even if Harry Kane was ruled out through injury.

And after a free-flowing counter-attack earned a corner in the seventh minute, Tottenham gained the lead. The flag-kick was half dealt with before Heung-Min Son was allowed to cut inside from the left and he was afforded too much space by Adam Clayton and Calum Chambers so he slid a finish beyond Victor Valdes.

Tottenham always looked to create something for the first hour, while Middlesbrough set out to hit on the break and that led to a second in the 23rd minute for Son.

The South Korean, who could have been sold in the summer, was handed possession by Antonio Barragan, who was turned near the byline. Son moved his way through the box, left by Cristhian Stuani, and he curled a lovely finish inside the far post.

Before half-time Tottenham could have had a penalty for a Stuani shove in the back of Dele Alli. The Tottenham midfielder also wasted a fantastic chance after Christian Eriksen had robbed Chambers in the area.

But Middlesbrough, who started with Chambers ahead of Daniel Ayala and Clayton rather than Adam Forshaw, did find a way of making a game of it when the Riverside was lifted by the quick Traore and former Blackburn striker Rhodes.

Five minutes later Gibson arrived at the back post to power a Stewart Downing free-kick inside the far corner to breathe new life into a game that had looked far too easy for Tottenham.

Rhodes had a header saved and Forshaw scuffed a late volley wide but Tottenham had already done enough to get the points.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; Clayton (Forshaw 82), De Roon; Stuani, Ramirez (Traore 59), Downing; Negredo (Rhodes 59). Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Ayala, Fischer, Nsue.

TOTTENHAM (4-1-4-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama; Sissoko (Lamela 69), Alli, Eriksen (Nkoudou 89), Son; Janssen (Winks 85). Subs (not used): Vorm (gk), Trippier, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers.