MIDDLESBROUGH clawed further away from the Championship drop zone after defeating second-bottom Scunthorpe.

A deft first half lob from Kris Boyd sent the Teessiders on the way a somewhat fortuitous free-kick from Tony McMahon sealed the points – although Scunthorpe did give them a helping hand when Abdi Ibrahim saw red for a second yellow card in 74 minutes..

Boro took the lead in eight minutes as Seb Hines launched a long ball towards the box which was latched onto by Boyd whose lob left the Scunthorpe keeper helpless.

Boro threatened in 20 minutes as McMahon pushed a ball from the right into Boyd’s feet in the box but as he tried to turn onto it he was bundled over by Reid but the ref waved play on.

Then a McMahon free-kick from the left fell to Boyd but his snap shot flashed well wide. And two minutes later another McMahon deadball from the left dipped into the box but Seb Hines charged through but he could only glance his diving headed effort wide.

Boro should have had a second goal in 34 minutes as Julio Arca carried the ball to the edge of the box then slotted a neat ball out to the left for Andrew Taylor to push it to the by-line then send a low ball flashing across the face of goal and Leroy Lita came sliding in at the far post but he could only get the slightest contact on the ball and it squirted just wide from three yards out.

Scunthorpe went close on 36 minutes when they won a free-kick 30 yards out but Duff’s effort drifted just wide of the top corner.

Then on 41 minutes Boro went close again as McMahon put a low ball into the box that Boyd got a glancing touch to and when it rebounded off a defender it feel to Arca who sent a stinging shot straight at the keeper.

Then in a scramble soon after Boyd latched onto a loose ball with his back to goal and twisted to crack in a shot that was charged down.

Then in first half stoppage time Boro had a strong shout for a penalty as Marvin Emnes knocked down a ball into the box and as he turned it bounced up and appeared to catch an opposing arm but the claim was waved away.

After a bright start to the second half Boro almost broke through on 53 minutes as Bailey played a sublime 50 yard ball out of defence to send McMahon racing forward but as he closed in on the box he was chopped down and Grant was booked then from the resulting 22 yard free-kick Arca sent his effort wide.