All three of the visitors' goals were scored in the second half as Boro, who also won the reverse fixture on Teesside in October, are the only team to beat the Reds at this level this season.
It was also the first time that Neil Ryan’s team had failed to find the net in a match this term, but it wasn’t for the want of trying as the lads created chances and hit the post twice.
The young Reds were back in league action after their heroics in coming from two goals down to clinch an impressive 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League Cup seven days earlier on Merseyside.