Middlesbrough 3-0 Swansea City: Alvaro Negredo brace and Marten de Roon tap-in piles more misery on Bob Bradley's Welsh outfit

Daily Mail | December 17, 2016

If a successful relegation fight is based on beating your rivals, Middlesbrough appear to have the blueprint down to a tee.

Their dispatch of travel sick Swansea City means that they have now defeated all three of the teams that sat below them before kick-off, the latest courtesy of Alvaro Negredo's fourth and fifth goals of the season, and another from Marten de Roon.

The latest result following similarly positive ones against basement dwellers Hull City and Sunderland has pushed them up into mid-table.

Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo celebrates giving Middlesbroughu00a0the lead in the 18th minute against Swansea City — Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo celebrates giving Middlesbrough the lead in the 18th minute against Swansea City

Former Manchester City man Negredo pumps his fist during the Premier League encounter on Saturday afternoon

Boro's ex-Barcelona and Manchester United stopper Victor Valdes celebrates compatriot Negredo breaking the deadlock

Negredo smashes home his left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner at the Riverside Stadium

Negredo runs away to enjoy his second goal from the penalty spot with No 34 Adam Forshaw, who was tripped in the box

Here is how Alvaro Negredo's 18th-minute goal played out, courtesy of Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service. More stats, graphics and analysis HERE . — Here is how Alvaro Negredo's 18th-minute goal played out, courtesy of Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service.