New Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson watched his new side end a run of six straight Championship defeats with an impressive win at Middlesbrough.
Dael Fry did manage to pull a goal back for Boro with 10 minutes left but they were unable to undo the damage from a dominant first-half display by the Robins.
Victory was City's first in the league since the end of January and their first away from home since 1 December.
Defeat for Boro dented their hopes of breaking into the play-off places after back-to-back wins had moved them to within three points of the top six.