Jeremie Aliadiere grabbed a brace as Middlesbrough heaped further misery on Roy Keane's Ipswich with an emphatic victory at the Riverside Stadium.

The Tractor Boys have yet to win in the league this season and this latest defeat leaves them second-bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship table, with only Barnsley beneath them.

Middlesbrough, by contrast, move up to second, having enjoyed a fine start to life back in the second tier.

Gary O'Neil, back in the Middlesbrough side following a hernia operation, headed home Marvin Emnes' cross to open the scoring in the 17th minute.

Ipswich had chances to draw level, with Jonathan Walters proving a lively presence in attack, but Keane's men fell further behind with 24 minutes remaining as substitute Aliadiere scored with a close-range header.

The visitors rarely threatened thereafter and Aliadiere duly added a third with five minutes remaining before Walters grabbed an injury-time consolation from the spot.

O'Neil replace Mark Yeates in Boro's starting line-up, with Seb Hines replacing Jonathan Grounds in the only other change to the side that lost 2-1 at Bristol City before the international break.

Keane made five changes to his Ipswich side and handed debuts to new signings Liam Rosenior, Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter.

It was Leadbitter who had the first goalbound effort of the game in the third minute, but his strike was well blocked by Rhys Williams.

Williams then had a shot of his own blocked by Gareth McAuley before O'Neil put Boro in front in the 17th minute.

The former England Under-21 midfielder initially went down in the area looking for a penalty, but picked himself up to flick home a header from Emnes' cross.

Walters saw a header comfortably saved by Danny Coyne as Ipswich looked to respond.

And shortly after the half hour the visitors threatened again as McAuley's goalbound header was cleared away by Hines.

Walters then nodded a Jaime Peters cross wide of Coyne's right hand post when he really should have tested the Middlesbrough goalkeeper.

However, Boro almost extended their lead on the stroke of half-time as Adam Johnson's 20-yard shot was tipped around the post by Richard Wright.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action at the start of the second period, although Alex Bruce and Walters both saw efforts blocked by Middlesbrough defenders.

The hour mark saw a flurry of substitutions, with the home side introducing Aliadiere in place of Leroy Lita and Ipswich introducing Alan Quinn and Tamas Priskin, with Jack Colback and Pablo Counago making way.

Lee Martin replaced Damien Delaney soon after as Keane's side went on the offensive in search of an equaliser.

But the Tractor Boys were undone in the 66th minute as Johnson glided past his man before delivering a fine cross for Aliadiere, who coolly guided his header past Wright.

O'Neil fired wide from 25 yards as the hosts pushed for a third, while McAuley tested Coyne at the other end with a header from Edwards' corner.

Aliadiere then added a third for Boro late on with a fine turn and shot before Walters grabbed a consolation from the spot after he was fouled by Johnson.

Teams:

Middlesbrough Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Hines,Taylor (Grounds 41), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 77),Adam Johnson, Emnes, Lita (Aliadiere 61).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Bennett, Franks.

Booked: Adam Johnson, Arca, O'Neil.

Goals: O'Neil 17, Aliadiere 66, 85.

Ipswich Richard Wright, Rosenior, Bruce, McAuley,Delaney (Martin 64), Edwards, Peters, Leadbitter,Colback (Quinn 60), Walters, Counago (Priskin 60).

Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Stead, Smith, Trotter.

Booked: Leadbitter, Delaney, Colback, Bruce, Martin.

Goals: Walters 90 pen.

Att: 19,742

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).