Photo via Sky Sports

Boro edge Norwich in seven-goal thriller

Middlesbrough secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Norwich City at the Riverside Stadium, marking their third consecutive triumph on home turf while denying the visitors a third straight win. The contest burst into life inside the opening minute when Mohamed Toure capitalized on Andre Brooks's hustle, overpowering Alfie Jones to blast the Canaries into the lead off the post with only 50 seconds elapsed.

The hosts staged an immediate turnaround, as summer arrival Sebastian Berhalter smashed home his maiden club strike via the crossbar after Tommy Conway and Will Lankshear seized on Ruairi McConville's error, before debutant starter Amario Cozier-Duberry curled in a neat effort from Conway's setup to make it 2-1. Following a crucial stop by Boro keeper Radek Vitek against Brooks, Berhalter struck again on 36 minutes by diverting Callum Brittain's off-target attempt past Vladan Kovacevic to give Kim Hellberg's men a commanding halftime cushion.

Philippe Clement's Norwich mounted a spirited late comeback through their bench, as Jovon Makama converted from a Jacob Wright assist in the 70th minute before Wright himself lashed in a rebound after Vitek parried Anthony Musaba's effort five minutes later. However, Tottenham loanee Ashley Phillips became the hero in the dying moments, meeting Lankshear's cross into the penalty area to notch his first professional league goal and seal all three points for Boro.