Super Eagles skipper, Mikel John Obi has now led Middlesbrough to their third consecutive victory as the Team’s Captain against Stoke City with Oghenekaro Etebo also featuring for the visitors at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough needed the win to consolidate as sixth placed Bristol City dropped points on Friday night.
Jonny Howson delivered an incisive cross which Assombalonga converted from close range to give them an early 1-0 lead.
The early goal gave the visitors plenty of courage in the game as they fought off a late onslaught from Stoke to move back to the sixth position and remain in contention for the playoff rounds.
Having failed to win their previous seven games before handing the captain band to Mikel, the Riverside club have now gone three games without a defeat, keeping three clean sheets in the process with Mikel a vital part of the success.
