Stoke 2-0 Middlesbrough: Marko Arnautovic double pushes Aitor Karanka's men into the Premier League relegation zone as the Potters rise to ninth

Daily Mail | March 4, 2017

A Marko Arnautovic double moved Stoke up to ninth in the Premier League as Middlesbrough fell into the relegation zone.

Arnautovic got his fourth and fifth league goals of the season as he produced a clinical performance which Middlesbrough's defenders couldn't handle on a difficult day for Aitor Karanka.

Karanka dropped Alvaro Negredo to the bench as he tried to spark a reaction from his attackers but none could be found on Saturday afternoon.

More to follow

Marko Arnautovic rounds Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes before putting into an open net on Saturday

Arnautovic celebrates scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season with midfielder Joe Allen

The Austrian got his second of the game when he took advantage of poor defending from Middlesbrough's players

His team-mates quickly surrounded him as Stoke's supporters celebrated the goal in the stands at the Bet365 Stadium

Arnautovic attempts to put pressure on the Middlesbrough defence early on as George Friend gets across to cover

Arnautovic accepted a pass from Glenn Whelan and was able to cut in behind the Middlesbrough defence

Arnautovic kept his cool to get past Valdes and calmly slotted into the empty Middlesbrough net

The goalscorer was quickly joined by his team-mates as the Stoke supporters went wild in the background

Middlesbrough's Marten de Roon tries to get his team back in the game by driving at the Stoke defence

George Friend, who was booked in the first half, attempts to chase down and dispossess Stoke midfielder Allen

Full back Glen Johnson sprints away from Middlesbrough's Adama Troare as Stoke spark yet another attack

Peter Crouch sees the funny side after missing a chance in the first half as Valdes keeps a close eye on the game

Arnautovic doubled his tally for the afternoon and got Stoke's second when he finished from close range

The Austrian attacker raises his right hand as he wheels away from the Middlesbrough penalty area in celebration

Alvaro Negredo was dropped to the bench by manager Aitor Karanka for the trip to Stoke on Saturday

De Roon was one of Middlesbrough's livelier players and he went close with a shot from close rangeu00a0 — De Roon was one of Middlesbrough's livelier players and he went close with a shot from close range

Whelan is bundled over by Rudy Gestede as Middlesbrough try to work their way back into the game

Boro manager Karanka checks his watch during Saturday's miserable defeat at Stoke in the Premier League