Albert Adomah’s Middlesbrough struck three times during the second-half to emerge 3-1 victors Jordan Ayew’s Aston Villa in their latest pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Villa took the lead inside fifteen minutes as Nathan Baker headed in Lauren Bacuna’s corner at the back post.

However, Boro levelled on the hour when Viktor Fischer’s effort was saved by Pierluigi Gollini and Alvaro Negredo followed up to score.

The visitors duly forged in front with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Fischer on the end of a flowing move and curling in from just inside the area.

Two minutes later substitute Jordan Rhodes added a third goal when starting a break and then finishing at the far post.

Villa began the match on the front foot with Jack Grealish evading a couple of challenges down the left before feeding the overlapping Aly Cissokho, but his cross was too pacey for Rudy Gestede.

Jordan Ayew tricked his way past three players before firing a low shot which Boro ‘keeper Victor Valdes could only parry behind for a corner.

Ayew, now out on the right side, floated inside before scooping the ball into Gestede, the Frenchman returned the favour, but the Ghanaian poked agonisingly wide of the post.

Ayew lasted the entire duration of the game while his compatriot, Adomah was substituted by Christian Stuani in the 75th minute.

Aston Villa: Gollini, Baker (Amavi 87), Bacuna (Green 75), Gestede, Elphick, Westwood, Ayew, Hutton, Gardner (Tshibola 46), Cissokho (Clark 87), Grealish

subs (unused): Steer, Bennett, Okore, Sinclair, Sanchez

Middlesbrough: Valdes, Nsue Lopez, Fry, Gibson, Friend), Adomah (Stuani 75), Clayton, De Roon (Forshaw 70), Downing (Reach 75), Fischer (Nugent 75), Negredo (Rhodes 75)

subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Barragan, Baptiste, De Pena, De Sart