Middlesbrough lead Crystal Palace 1-0 at half-time through a 40th-minute header from Seb Hines.
The visitors almost took an early lead through Darcy Blake, but he found home goalkeeper Jason Steele in good form.
Boro had an opportunity to edge their noses in front on seven minutes, when Faris Haroun jumped high in the box only to see his header come back off the post.
Tony Mowbray's men kept up their early pressure, with chances falling to Ishmael Miller and Adam Reach, but neither could find a way through.
One-way traffic ensued until the half-time whistle. Merouane Zemmama fired over the bar and Haroun forced a save from Julian Speroni, but Boro didn't have to wait long for their opener.
Hines leaped high in the area on 40 minutes to connect with Grant Leadbitter's cross and give the home side a much-deserved lead at the break.
Mark Langshaw
