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Boro went some way to answering two of the most pressing questions raised by promotion in their creditable opening day draw with Stoke.

Aitor Karanka’s team dominated long spells of most games last term but struggled to break sides down and lacked a killer touch in the box.

That left sceptical fans wondering if Boro could find a way past stronger, better organised teams to create chances in the Premier League.

And they had a rock solid defence in the Championship but that was when they bossed possession and territory and were rarely under sustained pressure.

Whether they could hold out when a strong opposition attacked and turned the screw was the great unknown.

The early signs are that Boro can be positive on both those fronts.

Against Stoke, a good side who finished ninth last term, Boro showed they could attack, cause problems in the penalty area and create chances.

Early on they played with intensity, aggression and intelligence and imposed themselves with incisive passing and assertive movement.

Alvaro Negredo’s goal was well worked but it wasn’t a freak. Boro had a lot of early pressure with Gaston Ramirez the fulcrum of a fluid attack and only the woodwork prevented him claiming a killer second.

Once Stoke regrouped and stepped up the pressure though, the Boro defence came through a stress test.

The team defended from the front, worked hard at the back, tracked and tackled and closed down quickly to prevent any serious incursions into the box and largely restricting Stoke to set plays that they defended by hook or by crook. They were punished by one of those free-kicks but may feel agrieved at the referee who then pulled play back despite a generous advantage fizzling out in the box.

As Boro soaked up the pressure they looked sharp on the break and twice may have snatched it, offering the prospect of effective counter-attacks this term.

It is early days yet and while Boro may not have solved the big questions, we can at least see their workings out.