Goals from Daniel Ayala and Kike gave Middlesbrough a comfortable 2-0 opening-day win over Birmingham City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Former Liverpool defender Ayala rose highest just after the half-hour mark to power an effort beyond Darren Randolph in the visitors net, before new signing Kike marked a fine debut with a goal in the second half.
Home defender Ben Gibson was brought off after just two minutes after picking up an injury and he was replaced by on-loan Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo.
Boro were lively in the opening exchanges and Albert Adomah was causing the Blues some problems down the right, while debutant Kike was also in the thick of the action.
Kike combined well with fellow new boy Lee Tomlin on 21 minutes, but the former couldn't supply the finish after shooting over when well placed.
Lee Clark named six new starters in his side and it showed as they struggled to put together anything resembling fluid football, and the home side started the second period in similar fashion to the first.
Kike then capped off his Boro bow with a goal on 66 minutes when he rifled home inside the box.
Paul Gorst
