RELIVE Boro's win over Stoke as seen through the eyes of the local and national press...

Sunday Mirror: Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson gave manager Gareth Southgate a ringing endorsement as goals from Afonso Alves and Tuncay cemented the Teessiders' best start to a season in nine years.

News of the World: Gareth Southgate kept faith with his shot-shy strikers - and his instincts were rewarded in dramatic style.

The Mail on Sunday: There were few thrills in the visitors'' approach - tough, rugged and plenty of brawn.

Daily Star: Stoke's beef and brawn proved an effective counter to Boro's more refined approach until Amdy Faye was deservedly sent off for a two-footed lunged on Mohamed Shawky.

People: Middlesbrough flourished only after the dismissal. There is a new confidence and a swagger to their play when they get it right, but finishing remains a problem.

Sunday Telegraph: Afonso Alves, who had earlier shown such profligacy that he missed the ball when attempting to score from 15 yards, curled a superb free-kick from twice as far past Thomas Sorensen.

Independent on Sunday: It was unstoppable; Sorensen did not move.

Evening Gazette (Anthony Vickers): Dave Kitson could maybe claim an assist after applying a half-nelson that Kendo Nagasaki would be proud of - but it was definitely a Justin Hoyte own goal. A timely nudge from the ginger grappler did enough to throw Hoyte off balance and, when the testing ball in from Liam Lawrence bounced up and in off his chest, there was nothing the full-back could do.

Sunday Express: Tuncay struck an 85th-minute winner for Boro as they indulged in yet more self-harm with their third own goal in as many Premier League games this season.

Daily Mirror: Turkey star Tuncay neatly finished when Didier Digard's shot was blocked with five minutes remaining.

Daily Express: Mido is no sulking Dimitar Berbatov and he was the first to celebrate Tuncay's late winner against the ten-man Potters.

Sunday Times: Another lambent Middlesbrough performance underlined the notion that manager Gareth Southgate's mix of local youth and international sparkle might be on the cusp of something more substantial than their usual half-hearted tussle with relegation.

Sunday Sun: The start Middlesbrough have made to the season has made people sit up and take notice.

Observer: Middlesbrough for Europe anyone? OK, so two wins from three league games plus a 5-1 victory over Yeovil in the Carling Cup don't make a season, yet judging by their results and performances so far they might just be worth a flutter.

Other Boro stories

Sun: Gareth Southgate has backed Stewart Downing to solve England's left-sided problem. He said: "Stewart deserves his chance in the starting line-up."

Daily Mail (Dean Windass column): "I was at Middlesbrough when Gareth Southgate walked in as Steve McClaren's first major signing. He made an immediate impact simply with his presence and reputation. He took every problem seriously, and if you needed an arm round your shoulder, he wouldn't be too embarrassed to offer one. Paul Ince was the previous skipper; Gareth wasn't a ranter but got his pointer across quietly and methodically. And when he spoke we all listened, mainly because he made pretty good sense. He'll be a good manager.

Man of the Match

Website: Robert Huth
BBC Tees: Robert Huth
Daily Star: Robert Huth
Sunday Telegraph: Tuncay
Sunday Express: Tuncay
Observer: Tuncay
News of the World: Gary O'Neil
Sunday Times: Afonso Alves
Sunday Sun: Jeremie Aliadiere
Northern Echo: Thomas Sorensen
Sunday Mirror: Thomas Sorensen
Guardian: Thomas Sorensen
People: Thomas Sorensen
Mail: Thomas Sorensen
Daily Mirror: Thomas Sorensen
Sun: Thomas Sorensen
Independent: Abdoulaye Faye