Emmanuel Latte Lath scores a hat-trick as Middlesbrough hit Oxford United for six

Emmanuel Latte Lath's hat-trick helped Middlesbrough hit Oxford United for sixth as Michael Carrick's side climbed into the Championship top-six in quite some style.

Carrying on their fine pre-international break form, Finn Azaz also bagged a brace, with Tommy Conway off the bench to also grab one as Boro won 6-2 on what turned out to be a fine first visit to the Kassam Stadium. Their six goals added to the nine scored in the two before the break to make it three consecutive wins and 15 goals scored, in a really positive sign for the promotion-chasers.

Carrick made four changes to the side that beat Luton Town so emphatically before the break. Three were enforced as Seny Dieng (illness) and Aidan Morris and Hayden Hackney (injury) missed out, with Sol Brynn, Dan Barlaser and Jonny Howson taking their places. As expected, the fourth swap saw Neto Borges come in for Anfernee Djksteel.

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Coming into the game having been in fine goalscoring form before the break, the challenge for Boro was making sure the two-week break had not halted momentum. They were emphatic in doing that, as they scored three goals away from home for the third game running by half-time.

They had to show character to do it though. Having dominated the opening 20 minutes of the game and coming close on a couple of occasions to breaking the deadlock, it was the homside who did take the lead on 24 minutes.

Boro failed to deal with a couple of set-pieces, starting with a dangerous long throw into the box, and they were eventually punished. Not clearing their lines as a corner came to the back post, it ended up back in the middle, with Greg Leigh on the penalty spot to slam the ball past Brynn on his league debut.

The response from Carrick's side was emphatic though. Quickly re-establishing control, they then fired three goals within the final eight minutes of the first half to take a comfortable lead into the break. Once again, having been relatively quiet in the opening 20 minutes, it was Liverpool loanee Ben Doak to light the Boro spark.

They equalised through Latte Lath's penalty, which was won by Doak after Azaz played him in behind one-time Boro target Ciaran Brown. Getting to the byline, just as Doak pulled it back across goal, Elliott Moore recklessly flew into a challenge to leave the Boro star down in a heap. Referee Josh Smith took a moment before pointing to the spot and giving Latte Lath the opportunity to pull Boro level.

Having done so, the Ivorian then turned provider five minutes later. Showing short for the ball as he peeled left of the penalty area, he held off the defender well before sliding into Azaz's path. The Ireland international continued his fine form with a delicate finish from the edge.

And Boro's turnaround was complete in the 45th minute when Azaz returned the favour for Latte Lath. As the striker split the defenders and beat the offside trap, he turned and finished clinically to see Boro taking a 3-1 lead into the break.

Boro weren't finished there though. It took Latte Lath just four minutes of the second half to complete his hat-trick and ensure he left the Kassam Stadium with the match ball. Another wonderful ball over the top from Azaz, Latte Lath let it bounce before unleashing a vicious half-volley that beat Cumming for pace at his near post.

To Oxford's credit, they didn't crumble. While Boro didn't ever look likely to lose their grip on the game, Oxford who grabbed a second through substitute Dane Scarlett found himself in behind and finished smartly beyond Brynn.

But that only fired Boro up more. They added two more goals in the final ten minutes to make it 6-2, with substitute Tommy Conway firing into the bottom corner from the edge, before Azaz added his second from similar range three minutes later.

It was another ruthless display for Boro. In hitting Oxford for six, they made it 15 goals in three games and showed no signs of halted momentum from the break. The three points lifted Boro into the top six after what was a real statement of their promotion credentials.