Middlesbrough 2-1 Stoke City

Aug 31 2008 Graham Bell Reports

HITMAN Tuncay saved Boro's blushes with a late clincher against the 10-man Premier League rookies.

Gareth Southgate's men wasted a glut of chances - including a Stewart Downing penalty - to seal the win after Afonso Alves' first-half opener.

They looked like throwing away two points when a Justin Hoyte own goal levelled for Stoke in 71 minutes. But Turk Tuncay netted five minutes from time.

The win puts Boro joint top on six points and that's their best league start in nine seasons. But Southgate said: "We could have seven points from the first few games so I'm a bit disappointed.

"We know the team can grow and improve together."

Alves (below) scored from a free-kick in 35 minutes after Amdy Faye's red for mowing down Mohamed Shawky.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "That changed the game but the ref made the right decision."