Middlesbrough's Cristhian Stuani sinks Sunderland with first-half double

Cristhian Stuani scored twice to give Middlesbrough a 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Premier League.

The Uruguayan notched both goals in the first half – one long-range effort and one tap-in both created by Alvaro Negredo– as Premier League new boys Middlesbrough moved up to sixth place in the table.

Sunderland, who slip into the bottom three after a second straight defeat following last weekend's 2-1 reverse at Manchester City, were booed off at half-time, but improved in the second period with substitute Jeremain Lens providing an extra threat up front in a revamped 4-4-2 formation.

Dutch defender Patrick van Aanholt pulled one back for the home side from close range with 20 minutes remaining, finishing a move he himself started after Boro goalkeeper Brad Guzan could only half block Duncan Watmore's initial effort.

David Moyes’ men huffed and puffed in the final stages but could not find the equaliser, despite the Boro players visibly tiring in the final half-hour.

The stats speak for themselves. Since Defoe made his league debut for Sunderland on 17 January 2015, the former England striker has scored 20 Premier League goals. To put that into context - no other Sunderland player has managed more than five league goals in this period. But the 33-year-old's body language against Middlesbrough was dreadful – he was peevish with Duncan Watmore for a misplaced pass, he berated Paddy McNair for not playing the ball to his feet, and he showed his irritation with second-half substitution Jeremain Lens for his failure to play one pass into his run.

Is he not happy with new boss David Moyes' tactics? Moyes brought on Lens at half-time to play alongside Defoe up front, so it is not as if the former Manchester United and Everton boss wasn't listening to his star striker. Or is he just finally getting sick of having to do everything himself?

The Uruguay international netted perhaps the most crucial goal for Aitor Karanka's promotion-winning side last season, his strike against Brighton on the final day of the season ensuring that the Teesiders went up at the expense of Chris Hughton's team.

The 29-year-old's link-up play with Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo was excellent at the Stadium of Light, and if the former Espanyol player can contribute regularly from midfield this season, his goals will help take the scoring pressure off the heralded front pair.

Sunderland: Mannone 6, van Aanholt 7, Djiliobodji 6, O’Shea 6, McNair 6, Love 6, Rodwell 6, Gooch 7, Watmore 5, Januzaj 7, Defoe.6. Subs. Pienaar 6, Lens 7, Asoro 6.

Middlesbrough: Guzan 7, Nsue 7, Barragan 7, Gibson 7, Friend 8, Clayton 7, Forshaw 8, Stuani 9, Ramirez 7, Downing 7 Negredo 8. Subs: Adomah 6, Ayala 6, Nugent 6

13' – GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Middlesbrough. Stuani cuts inside from the right and lashes the ball past Mannone from 30 yards, from Negredo's short pass. Mannone really could do nothing - Stuani's shot was right into the top corner of his goal.

23' – CHANCE! Januzaj skips past a couple of challenges in the Boro box but the Belgian is unable to find a red-and-white shirt with his cutback.

37' – CHANCE! Watmore wins a corner down the left, but Djilobodji heads wide Gooch's whipped-in set-piece under pressure from Friend.

44' – GOAL! : Sunderland 0-2 Middlesbrough. Stuani taps in following a good move and a low pass across goal from Negredo. What a reverse pass in the build-up by Forshaw as well.

48' – CHANCE! Djilobodji heads a weak header from a Januzaj free-kick straight at Guzan. At last, an effort on goal for Sunderland!

60' – CHANCE! Guzan tips a van Aanholt effort round the corner of his post following a one-two after good build-up work from Januzaj.

71' – GOAL! Sunderland 1-2 Middlesbrough. Van Aanholt taps into an empty net after Watmore's shot is saved by Guzan. The Dutchman finishes off a move he started, and there was a big contribution from Lens in the build-up too.

Nine of Cristhian Stuani's 13 Boro goals have been scored away from the Riverside. Middlesbrough have never lost a match the Uruguayan has scored in (eight wins and a draw).

The Black Cats are winless in their last 16 Premier League games in the month of August (D8, L8)

The win at the Stadium of Light is Middlesbrough's first Premier League away win in 14 matches. Their last victory on the road came against Aston Villa in November 2008.