CITY produced one of their most complete performances of the season so far in seeing off a strong Middlesbrough side 2-1 at Ashton Gate to go third in The Championship table.

Despite last week’s brilliant comeback at Hull, since the November international break our overall performance levels haven’t been great.

But Saturday saw a real return to form for Lee Johnson’s men in front of the Sky cameras.

Middlesbrough were favourites for promotion to the Premier League back in August, partly due to the fact that they spent more money on players than any other club in the division – over £40 million.

Their strike force alone cost some £25 million. But City were comfortably the better side in the first half, creating several decent opportunities that really tested Randolph in Middlesbrough’s goal.

Fielding in the City goal meanwhile had very little to do as Middlesbrough’s attack lacked any penetration.

If City lacked anything in the first half it was a cutting edge, but it didn’t take long in the second half for Johnson’s charges to find one.

In the 51st minute Bailey Wright, filling in at right-back hit a sweet first time cross into the box that was met by the head of Joe Bryan who coolly finished from close-range for his first league goal of the season.

Wright’s strongest position is undoubtedly centre-back but he has been doing a fine job recently out-wide. The home crowd didn’t have to wait long for City’s second – just three minutes to be precise.

As Middlesbrough fluffed a free-kick just 30 yards from Fielding’s goal City won the ball through Korey Smith and attacked with urgency.

Amazingly one of the furthest men forward was centre-back Aden Flint and the big man chipped the ball into the box from the right channel for Jamie Paterson to score his fourth of the season and give City an unassailable lead.

Middlesbrough got a consolation as Magnusson misdirected a header past Fielding but City saw the game out reasonably comfortably.

uWe are on Sky again this Friday at Sheffield United for another big game at the top of the table with kick-off at 7.45pm.