Last updated on .From the section Championship

Rudy Gestede has played in all four of Middlesbrough's victories over the festive period

Rudy Gestede's first goal in almost two years helped Middlesbrough to a victory at Preston that secured a fourth straight Championship win.

The striker, blighted by injury over the past two seasons, hooked the ball in acrobatically late in the first half after the hosts failed to clear a free-kick.

Gestede had more chances to add to his tally either side of a defensive mix-up that saw Ben Davies poke the ball into his own net to make it 2-0.

A below-par Preston created little with Ben Pearson's volley their best effort as they slumped to a second home defeat in three days.

Middlesbrough appeared to be in a relegation fight before Christmas, but wins against Stoke, Huddersfield, West Brom and now the victory at Deepdale has moved them 10 points clear of trouble.

Gestede's last goal came against Hull in February 2018, although he has only played 18 games since.

His finish was one of pure instinct as Dael Fry kept a bobbling ball alive in the box and the 31-year-old guided it home clinically from eight yards.

Boro continued to look the more likely to score in the second half and they eventually made their dominance count when Davies prodded past Declan Rudd under pressure from Ashley Fletcher.

North End have now only won two of their past 10 matches but are just a point outside the play-offs in a congested table.

Preston North End boss Alex Neil:

"Our home form has been built on being aggressive and getting the first goal and, in the last two games when that hasn't happened, we've struggled.

"We're not carrying the threat in terms of getting the number of goals we would like. We had possession, but to be honest, possession doesn't really matter.

"I'm trying to commit more bodies forward and be more offensive, but when they've got that first goal, they're happy to sit back and not commit too many men forward. We're naturally disappointed."

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate:

"I thought the performance they put in was outstanding.

"It comes down to team spirit. Even when we were losing games, we had that team spirit, whether people believe me or not.

On Gestede: "I told Rudy Gestede he was playing two days before the West Brom game (on Sunday). I said that's your game so go and get yourself set, you are going to play that game. I thought he was unplayable at times," he added.

"It was the right decision to bring Rudy in. You have to look after players and, when other players do come in, they show a real will to work for the shirt and the team."