Aitor Karanka's Boro kicked off pre-season as a Premier League club with a resounding victory against York City at Bootham Crescent.





Karanka's men looked in impressive shape, displaying good passing and movement in cruising to a 6-0 victory in a game that saw 22 players used, with a different XI in each half.





There are absences for a number of players, including new signings Victor Valdes, Bernardo Espinosa, Viktor Fischer, and promotion winners Ben Gibson and Grant Leadbitter, but the 1600 travelling fans will have been delighted with what the saw.





It took just 19 minutes for those fans to celebrate first goal of the summer, Scott Flinders being officially credited despite Carlos de Pena making the vital touch for Boro, and it proved the first of a flurry on the afternoon.





Albert Adomah provided the cross from the right and while de Pena applied what appeared to be the finishing touch, the ball bounced back off the inside of the upright and hit Flinders before bouncing back across the line.





Less than three minutes later it was 2-0. David Nugent and Alex Pattison linked up well in the York half and when Flinders saved Nugent's initial shot, the Boro striker showed a cool head to follow up and double the advantage with a clinical finish.





It wasn't all good news in the first half for Boro with James Husband being forced out of the action before the half-hour mark, clutching his wrist after falling awkwardly. George Friend replaced Husband who headed straight to the dressing room for treatment.





Injury aside, it was a great start to the summer for Boro and it was 3-0 shortly after the half-hour with Adomah and Nugent combining well this time.





Adomah burst from the halfway line and played a delightfully disguised pass to Nugent. The striker's first time shot was blocked by Flinders but he reacted quickly to seize on the loose ball and unselfishly squared for Adomah who converted from close range.





The two combined again moments later with Adomah supplying another good cross, but Nugent lifted his shot over the top.





The second half was a similar story in terms of Boro possession and domination. A completely different XI brought fresh legs and the passing and movement was again bright and lively.





Stewy Downing almost profited from some good build-up play but his shot was just wide. It could have been 4-0 moments later Jordan Rhodes hound himself in acres of space with only the keeper to beat, but he paid the price for hesitating with finish and was denied.





Rhodes made no mistake on 64 minutes when he showed his class with a great touch and swift turn before ramming the ball into the back of the net.





A fifth goal came on 75 minutes with Adam Reach delivering a superb finish. Konstantopoulos sent a long ball forward and Reach, spying the keeper off his line, showed great confidence with a first time finish to make it 5-0.





There was still time for a sixth goal and Rhodes bagged his second of the afternoon three minutes from time with a neat close range finish after good work by Reach.





York City (first half): Flinders, Rooney, Whittle, Kamdjo, Higgins, Fry, Connolly, Heslop, Brodie, Klukowski, Galbraith.

York City (subs): Robinson, Trialist, Clappison, Walton, Nti, Felix, Dixon, Fenwick, Wardle, Kennedy, Thompson.





Boro (first half): Mejias, Nsue, Baptiste, Morris, Husband (Friend 27), Pattisom, Forshaw, Adomah, de Sart, de Pena, Nugent.

Boro (second half): Konstantopoulos, Halliday, Jackson, McGhee, Friend, Clayton, de Roon, Carayol, Downing, Reach, Rhodes.





Att: 2,812 (2,000 Boro - approx)