MIDDLESBROUGH grabbed their first away win of 2012 at Millwall last night to give their promotion push a huge shot in the arm.

Marvin Emnes scored twice and teenager Curtis Main opened his account for Boro, who ran out 3-1 winners at the New Den.

Going into the game, Tony Mowbray opted for an adventurous four-three-three formation, making one change from the side which beat Nottingham Forest in a tense encounter last week.

That switch was forced upon him due to Kevin Thomson's one-match ban following his dismissal against Forest and Barry Robson returned for his first start since February 1.

The Scottish midfielder, who signed a pre-contract agreement with MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday, played with minimal protection on the broken hand which sidelined him for three games as well as the abandoned fixture at Ipswich.

Boro made a scintillating start to the match and could have been 3-0 up inside six minutes.

The first chance stemmed from a long punt forward by Jason Steele which Marvin Emnes helped on to Lukas Jutkiewicz.

He chested the ball down before breaking across the edge of the box from right to left and cutting a lovely low shot just inches wide of the Millwall woodwork.

Two minutes later Boro were back on the attack and Jutkiewicz was again involved, receiving a short pass inside the box before dinking a shot towards goal which keeper David Forde did well to claw behind.

The resulting corner was delivered from the right by Robson to Seb Hines at the near post and the centre-back flicked the ball on to Marvin Emnes, who somehow headed over from just two yards out at the back stick.

Boro kept up the pressure and Robson sent over a fine cross from the left channel which Jutkiewicz met with a stunning header from 18 yards which Forde had to tip over at full stretch.

It was a breathtaking start and, not surprisingly, the pace slackened briefly before the visitors finally took a deserved lead.

Robson, who had started the game like a man possessed, delivered his third corner of the game - and second from the right flank - into the box, the ball fell to Rhys Williams via a Millwall defender and the Australian hooked in a shot which struck Emnes on the back of the head and looped into the net.

There may have been an element of fortune about the goal but it was nothing less than Boro deserved after an enterprising start.

They continued to dominate as the half wore on and some of their inter-passing in the opposition half was a joy to behold.

As was the second goal in the 38th minute. Emnes was again the scorer and if his first was fortuitous his second was sheer class.

The Dutch playmaker picked up a short pass from Robson in the inside left channel 10 yards outside the penalty area.

He proceeded to cut across the defence before changing gear and then striking a stunning 20-yard shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Five minutes later Millwall grabbed a scarcely deserved toehold in the game and Boro only had themselves to blame. Scott Barron floated a free-kick into the box from the right, Liam Trotter directed the ball further into the danger area and Darius Henderson headed the ball over Steele and into the net.

Boosted by their goal, Millwall took the game to the visitors after the interval.

The half-time introduction of Alan Dunne and in particular Jimmy Abdou helped the home side wrest control of the midfield battleground.

However, it took a rare mistake from Matthew Bates to set up the first genuine opening of the half, Trotter latching on to a misplaced pass before charging towards goals before blazing a shot over the bar on the hour mark.

In a rare breakaway, Jutkiewicz tested Forde with a shot on the turn and the keeper needed two attempts to gather the ball.

Harry Kane then forced a superb reaction save out of Steele with a well-struck half valley from a tight angle.

Millwall then squandered a glorious chance when Feeney's corner fell to Henderson at the back post but the prolific striker glanced a downward header wide.

Boro took full advantage of the let off to grab a crucial third in the 86th minute through sub Main, who recieved an incoming ball from Julio Arca before lashing an unstoppable shot past Forde.

Not surprisingly, the goal knocked the stuffing out of Millwall and Boro played out time to record their eighth away win of the campaign.

MILLWALL: Forde, Smith, Robinson, Lowry, Barron (Dunne 46), Feeney (Henry 85), Trotter, Wright (Abdou 46), Kane, Keogh, Henderson. Subs (not used): Allsop, N’Guessan. Booked: Henderson, Wright, Trotter, Abdou. Goal: Henderson 43.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Steele, Hoyte, Bates, Hines, Bennett, Haroun (Main 65), Rhys Williams, Robson (McMahon 86), Arca, Jutkiewicz, Emnes (Smallwood 82). Subs (not used): Ogbeche, Martin. Booked: Rhys Williams, Bennett, Hines. Goals: Emnes 15, 38, Main 86.

Referee: James Linnington (Isle Wight) Att: 9,286