Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the match as the visitors recovered from a sticky start on Teesside. We look back at some of the talking points, what the two managers made of it and who impressed. Scroll down and flick through our picture gallery to find out.
5. How the opposition looked: Brentford
Operating with a 3-4-3 system, Brentford struggled to execute their neat passing game in the first half as Boro pinned the visitors back from the off. Space opened up after the break though, when playmaker Sergi Canos found space to work his magic. The Bees were dangerous on the counter attack and capitalised when Watkins struck. Photo: Jan Kruger
6. Tactical battle
Brentford recorded 76 per cent possession against Birmingham last weekend but were suffocated by Boro's high press in the first half. Fletcher and Marvin Johnson closed down space in wide areas and were backed-up by their teammates behind them. Boro's intensity dropped in the second half, though, and they looked short of ideas after falling behind. Photo: Jan Kruger
7. What the managers made of it: Jonathan Woodgate
"We had two goals ruled out - one is onside and the other isn't handball. People can't be making these mistakes, this is big business. The first half performance, I thought we were excellent. We dominated and should have been two or three up at half-time, and I thought we deserved the victory." Photo: Jan Kruger
8. Thomas Frank (Brentford)
"I was disappointed with us in the first half because we gave the ball away too much, and I was impressed with Middlesbrough. We kept throwing the ball away and making bad decisions. At half-time, I said we needed to be much more aware, that we were too soft, and that we had to make better decisions." Photo: Jack Thomas