Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admits the Riverside reaction to new signing Afonso Alves was key in their 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday.
"I knew the sort of reception that Afonso would get and I knew if we did it at half-time we wouldn't get that added impetus," Southgate said. "I knew he would struggle physically because he's not ready yet. But I had to counter that with the lift it would give the crowd for 20 minutes and the fact that he might just pinch something on the break for us. Afonso will be an asset but we'll have to give him time."