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Middlesbrough floor Bournemouth

Middlesbrough - Gaston Ramirez's brilliant solo goal inspired Middlesbrough to a 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Uruguay playmaker ran from 70 yards to break the deadlock in the 39th minute and Stewart Downing's second-half strike sealed the win.

Aitor Karanka, taking charge of Boro for the 150th time, saw his side end a seven-game winless run in the league and claim a first home victory since promotion last season.

The northeast club climbed three places to 14th in the table, three points clear of the relegation places, while Eddie Howe's Bournemouth remain five points clear of danger in 10th.

Buoyed by a four-game unbeaten run in the league, Bournemouth made a bright start at the Riverside Stadium, with Jack Wilshere prominent.

From the Arsenal loanee's corner, Josh King saw a shot cleared off the line by Adam Clayton.

Moments later, the same combination culminated in King chesting down Wilshere's lofted pass and dispatching a volley that Boro goalkeeper Victor Valdes superbly touched onto the bar.

Boro had seen a penalty appeal by Adama Traore turned down by referee Stuart Attwell in the 19th minute.

Six minutes from half-time they went in front courtesy of Ramirez's memorable strike.

After picking the ball up deep inside his own half, the former Southampton player drove to the edge of the Bournemouth box, cut inside Andrew Surman and slotted home with his right foot from 10 yards.

Any hopes Bournemouth had of engineering a comeback were nixed 11 minutes into the second half.

Traore's crossed was nodded back across goal by Alvaro Negredo and Downing side-footed in his first goal of the season.

Howe wasted no time responding, sending on Benik Afobe and Ryan Fraser for Callum Wilson and Jordon Ibe.

But Boro continued to threaten and Negredo should have made the game safe when he shot tamely at Artur Boruc.

Bournemouth full-back Adam Smith had a shot blocked and Afobe looped a header onto the bar in stoppage time, but Boro's victory was well deserved.

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